» Head of System Quality and Test

Our client is a world leading network independent supplier of radio systems and they have a vacancy for Head of System Quality and Test. Reporting to the Development Director, this important new role will bring together, enhance, and extend existing quality control functions and to continuously improve product quality by broadening, intensifying and deepening the degree of automation. A major focus will be to drive root-cause-analysis efforts and employ rigorous analysis of existing development, manufacturing and repair data to identify and drive cost-effective improvements.

Description of Job:

The role is tasked with the creation and line-management of the System Quality and Test function as a centre-of-excellence within their Development organisation. The main responsibilities and tasks are:

• Re-organisation and effective management of existing multi-disciplinary test teams
• Systematising collection and analysis of quality control data across Development
• Scaling-up automated software, mechanical and audio testing in Development
• Structuring and coordinating our client’s trials of new products and customer field trials to ensure timely feedback into product Development
• Creation of new quality controls:
• Fit-for-purpose testing — based on end-user use-cases
• Accelerated life and stress testing
• Driving root-cause analyses of defects found during Development, Manufacturing, supply-chain and Customer testing


Technical skills and experience:

Essential —

Candidates for this role should have experience and proven knowledge of some or all of the following:

• Automation of manual software testing – tools, system and scripting methodologies
• Configuration management of hardware and software designs
• Electrical and mechanical certification regimes
• Conformance testing in wireless telecommunications (PMR, GSM, GPRS, 3G, LTE etc.)
• Automated mechanical testing
• Test database integration and management
• Developing and managing systems and processes to implement the above

Desirable -

The following skills, knowledge or experience would be beneficial for this role:

Firm understanding of electronic, RF, mechanical, digital and software testing and quality controls
1. EMC
2. Vibration and shock
3. IP ratings and testing


• Audio testing – manual and automated
• Formal qualifications in quality assurance and quality control
• Understanding and appreciation of development processes
• Knowledge of intrinsically-safe requirements and conformance
• Ability to think at a system level – to understand products & features as a part of a larger whole
• Knowledge of the R&TTE Directive and general legal requirements for CE marking


Personal attributes:

Essential —

• Proven leadership, team coordination and reporting skills
• Good analysis, numerical, written and verbal communications skills
• Line management experience of teams of >20-30
• Data-driven decision maker with experience of implementing strategic change
• Able to act as a overall quality gatekeeper whilst remaining pragmatic to business needs
• Ability to consider issues from customer and product user perspectives
• Tenacity and an ability to probe issues and understand their root causes
• Ability to work to a high level of quality and detail, having understood the “big picture”
• Ability to drive the technical issues on a project forward in a time-efficient manner


Desirable –

• Passionate about test and uncovering defects as early in the development process as possible
• Ability to deal with external test houses, certification bodies and security regimes
• Flexible approach to working in a transient, project-based environment
• Can do attitude, robust and able to cope with broad based and demanding brief
• Organised and structured way of working

Cambridge, | Salary £neg.
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