Quality Assurance Engineer | 40 hr | Leiden/Oegstgeest area | Space industry | Quality Assurance | Start date: December/January | 1 year deta-vast | Airbus Defence and Space Netherlands

Start date: December 2026 / January 2027
Hours: 40 hours per week (minimum 3 days on-site)
Location: Leiden, with a possible move to Oegstgeest
Duration: 1 year, deta-vast with the possibility of permanent employment
Contract type: Detachering only, no freelance
Reason: Additional capacity needed

Company description

At Airbus Defence and Space Netherlands, we work at the frontiers of technology in one of the most challenging and rapidly changing industries in the world: Space. Our products and services – including Solar Arrays, Launcher Structures, Instruments and Optical Communication – are among the best in the world. They enable missions that are of great importance for our everyday life on Earth.

Our multidisciplinary teams develop, integrate and test innovative space systems that contribute to some of the world's most advanced satellite missions.
 

About the role

For the Quality & HSE department, Airbus Defence and Space Netherlands is looking for a Quality Assurance Engineer.

In this role, you will ensure that production processes, products and supplier deliveries meet the required quality and technical standards. You will identify and manage non-conformities, coordinate solutions with Engineering, Production, AIT and suppliers, and contribute to continuous improvement of product quality.

This is a hands-on role for someone who takes initiative, communicates easily with different stakeholders and is comfortable taking ownership of quality issues.

Your role & responsibilities

As a Quality Assurance Engineer, you will:

• Monitor and control quality processes during production and integration.
• Identify, report and coordinate the resolution of non-conformities.
• Work closely with Engineering, Production, AIT, Product Assurance, Safety and suppliers to resolve quality issues.
• Perform inspections on supplier deliveries, production parts and finished products.
• Review production-related documentation, drawings and quality records.
• Coordinate and participate in quality reviews, including Manufacturing and Test Reviews.
• Monitor supplier quality and support continuous improvement.
• Prepare quality reports and maintain quality documentation in the relevant systems.
• Support Product Assurance activities and contribute to successful project delivery.
• Intervene when production processes do not meet the required quality standards.

Your profile

You are a proactive and independent professional who enjoys working in a technical and multidisciplinary environment. You take initiative, think critically and are comfortable taking responsibility for quality-related decisions.

You bring:

• MBO+/HBO or Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline.
• 3–5 years of relevant experience in Quality Assurance or a technical production environment.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive, hands-on and independent approach.
• Ability to critically assess processes, documentation and technical issues.
• Experience working with SAP or similar ERP systems is an advantage.
• Experience in the automotive industry is highly relevant and considered a strong advantage.
• Ability to understand technical documentation and drawings.
• Experience in aerospace or space is an advantage, but not essential.

You should be living within approximately 45 minutes of the Airbus location, as the role requires a minimum of three days per week on-site.
 

What we offer

• A hands-on Quality Assurance role within a leading international space organization.
• The opportunity to contribute to advanced satellite and space programs.
• Close collaboration with Engineering, Production, AIT, Product Assurance and suppliers.
• An international and multidisciplinary working environment.
• A one-year deta-vast assignment with the possibility of permanent employment.
• The opportunity to make a direct impact on product quality and production performance.

Recruitment process: First interview on-site. A second interview may be scheduled, with Product Assurance potentially involved.

For questions: robert.vandenouwelant@headfirst.nl