Quality Engineer Recruitment
Quality Engineers play a central role in managing risk, maintaining compliance and driving continuous improvement across manufacturing and regulated environments. QAagency specialises in recruiting Quality Engineers across the UK, supporting businesses where quality performance has a direct impact on safety, compliance and commercial outcomes.
These roles typically operate within manufacturing, engineering, automotive, aerospace, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, FMCG and food production environments. Quality Engineers are usually site-based due to their close involvement with production, investigations and audits, although some positions offer hybrid working where documentation, supplier quality or system ownership allows.
Quality Engineers commonly report into a Quality Manager, Technical Manager or Head of Quality. The role sits between hands-on inspection activity and strategic quality leadership, with responsibility for analysing issues, implementing corrective actions and ensuring quality systems operate effectively day to day. In many environments, Quality Engineers also act as a key interface between production, engineering, supply chain and external auditors or customers.
Roles we recruit for within Quality Engineering
We recruit across a wide range of Quality Engineer roles, including Quality Engineers and Compliance Engineers responsible for investigation, corrective action and system maintenance.
Many roles also include supplier quality responsibility, customer-facing quality activity or ownership of specific standards depending on sector and site complexity.
2026 salary insight: Quality Engineer roles
Based on QAagency 2026 salary benchmarking, average UK salaries for Quality Engineer roles are:
Quality Engineer (2–5 years experience): £38,200
Senior Quality Engineer (5–10 years experience): £50,300
Lead or Principal Quality Engineer (10+ years experience): £57,600
Salary progression at this level is strongly influenced by regulatory exposure, audit ownership and the ability to lead investigations independently. Engineers working within GMP, highly regulated manufacturing or customer-critical environments typically command higher salaries.
Data based on QAagency 2026 salary benchmarking.
Market and hiring trends
Demand for Quality Engineers remains strong across most regulated sectors. Employers are increasingly looking for individuals who can move beyond system maintenance and actively influence quality performance on site.
There is growing emphasis on root cause analysis, data-led decision making and the ability to work cross-functionally. Engineers who can communicate effectively with production and engineering teams while maintaining compliance are particularly sought after.
Training expectations have increased. Many employers now expect Quality Engineers to be confident supporting audits, engaging with customers or regulators and contributing to longer-term improvement programmes rather than operating purely in a reactive capacity.
Location and salary variation
London and the South East continue to offer the highest salaries for Quality Engineer roles, particularly in pharmaceuticals, medical devices and aerospace. Other regions such as the Midlands and North West show steady demand, with salary levels increasingly influenced by site complexity rather than geography alone.
Overall, Quality Engineer roles represent a key step in quality career progression, offering increased responsibility, stronger salary growth and a clearer pathway into quality management and leadership positions.