Metrology, Inspection & Product Quality Manager

ABOUT EDGE

At EDGE bold ideas are engineered into technologies that protect, improve and save lives.

Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, EDGE is a leading advanced technology group working at the forefront of defence and emerging technologies. Spanning more than 35 specialised companies and multiple centres of excellence, we are purpose-built to move fast. Free from heavy legacy processes, we give our people the autonomy, accountability, and agility to bring breakthrough technologies from concept to reality.

Based in Abu Dhabi, a globally connected hub at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, EDGE is home to a truly multicultural community where bold ideas thrive, and the future is shaped.

Together, we are shaping the future.

ABOUT THE ROLE

About POWERTECH

POWERTECH is a center of excellence for propulsion technologies, specializing in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of combustion engines, expendable turbojet engines, and turbofan engines for a wide range of aerospace, defence, and autonomous applications, including fixed- and rotary-wing UAVs and other advanced platforms.

Purpose

The Metrology, Inspection & Product Quality Manager leads inspection and metrology technology strategy, inspection methods development, and product approval authority for Powertech's propulsion programs, including turbofan, microjet and piston engines. The role combines inspection and metrology engineering — measurement strategy, equipment, gauging, key characteristics and inspection planning with product quality engineering authority over supplier advanced product quality planning, production part approval and first article inspection. The position works in close collaboration with Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrialization & Supplier Development, Supply Chain, Assembly, suppliers and equipment vendors.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Inspection Technology Strategy & Capital Investment

• Define and lead Powertech's inspection and metrology technology roadmap aligned with propulsion program needs.
• Lead capital investment planning for advanced inspection equipment including CMM, optical systems, laser scanning, industrial CT, in-process gauging and inspection automation.
• Define the metrology laboratory and incoming inspection facility requirements, and support their establishment.

Product Approval Authority

• Hold final approval authority for supplier product approval submissions across all propulsion programs.
• Govern review and approval of supplier APQP submissions including process flow, PFMEA, control plans and measurement systems analysis, in line with AS9145.
• Govern review and approval of first article inspection reports in accordance with AS9102, including full and partial FAI determination arising from design, process, material, tooling, location or sub-tier change.

NPI, FAI & Industrialization Ownership

• Own inspection and metrology activities during NPI from prototype through FAI approval and production release.
• Define inspection concepts, datum strategies, tolerance verification approaches and measurement plans for new parts and assemblies.
• Define key characteristics with Design Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering, and ensure correct flow-down to supplier control plans.

Nonconformance, Material Review & Concession

• Own material review record creation and administration during new product introduction, coordinating disposition with Design Engineering as design authority.
• Govern review of supplier concession and deviation requests, including technical justification, containment and read-across assessment.
• Support Supply Chain on serial-phase nonconformance matters requiring product approval or configuration expertise.

Configuration & Change Management

• Govern coordination of design change implementation between Design Engineering, Supply Chain and suppliers, ensuring changes reach suppliers only through released, revision-controlled drawings and formal change notices.
• Ensure change classification correctly determines resulting FAI, PPAP and inspection plan impact.

Design for Inspectability & Concurrent Engineering

• Actively support concurrent engineering by influencing design for inspectability, tolerances and datum schemes.
• Provide inspection and metrology input during design reviews, tolerance trade studies and configuration decisions.
• Identify and mitigate inspection-related risks early in the development cycle.

Supplier Inspection Readiness & Incoming Inspection

• Lead supplier inspection readiness during NPI, including review and approval of supplier inspection plans and gauging.
• Define incoming inspection strategies, sampling approaches and inspection methods, and issue inspection plans to Assembly for execution.
• Conduct or direct source inspection and on-site product verification where required.

Leadership & Governance

• Build, lead and mentor the Metrology, Inspection & Product Quality Engineering team across metrology engineering, inspection engineering, NDT and product quality engineering.
• Assign Product Quality Engineers to programs and ensure their participation in industrialization gate reviews, while maintaining their independence from supplier development execution.
• Establish inspection and product approval standards, procedures and governance aligned with aerospace quality requirements.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Mechatronics, Aerospace, Manufacturing or Metrology Engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in aerospace inspection, metrology, product quality, supplier quality or industrialization.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven experience leading inspection systems during NPI, FAI and production readiness.
• Demonstrated authority-level experience approving supplier APQP, PPAP (AS9145) and first article inspection (AS9102) submissions — this is essential, not desirable.
• Strong expertise in GD&T, datum systems, measurement uncertainty, measurement systems analysis and inspection capability.
• Working knowledge of statistical process control and process capability assessment.
• Experience of nonconformance and material review processes, concession management and structured problem solving.
• Experience of configuration and change management in a regulated engineering environment.
• Sound understanding of manufacturing processes for machined, sheet metal fabricated and cast aerospace components, sufficient to assess submissions critically.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 and aerospace special process requirements including NDT qualification frameworks.
• Experience working with suppliers, inspection equipment vendors and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Demonstrated ability to hold product approval decisions under schedule and commercial pressure while maintaining constructive supplier and internal relationships.
• Experience building a product approval or inspection function from an early stage is strongly preferred.

WHY CHOOSE EDGE

Launched in November 2019, the UAE's EDGE is one of the world's leading advanced technology groups, established to develop agile, bold and disruptive solutions for defence and beyond, and to be a catalyst for change and transformation. It is dedicated to bringing breakthrough innovations, products, and services to market with greater speed and efficiency, to position the UAE as a leading global hub for future industries, and to creating clear paths within the sector for the next generation of highly skilled talent to thrive.

At EDGE, the real investment goes beyond compensation. Through our dedicated learning academy and digital learning platforms, employees have access to extensive opportunities to develop new skills, deepen their expertise, and advance their careers. Combined with the freedom to innovate, strong career support, and the opportunity to collaborate with world-class talent from across the globe, EDGE is a place where you can continue to grow, keep learning, and turn ambitious ideas into meaningful outcomes.

Working at EDGE also comes with a package that genuinely reflects how much we value our people. Salaries are highly competitive and tax-free and, depending on your role and seniority, benefits can include family visas, annual flight tickets, medical insurance for you and your dependents, and education allowances for your children.

CANDIDATE PRIVACY & EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

If you feel your skills, experience and potential are a strong match for a role, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every requirement. We are genuinely interested in what you can bring to EDGE.

Any information you share as part of your EDGE candidate profile or job application will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection and privacy regulations.

EDGE is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and high-performing workforce. We believe every individual deserves to be treated with fairness, respect and dignity, and our employment decisions reflect that. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

As a global organisation, effective collaboration across international teams is central to how we work, so English proficiency is required for all roles unless otherwise stated in the job posting.

Please note that EDGE does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies. Any resumes in the absence of a formally executed agreement in place will be deemed the property of EDGE, and no placement fees or compensation will be payable in respect of such submissions.