Senior Quality Assurance Engineer

Kenya Airways PLC is seeking a Senior Quality Assurance Engineer (SQAE) to oversee quality assurance activities within the Technical division in Nairobi. The role focuses on aircraft maintenance quality, regulatory compliance, audits, investigations, staff authorization, corrective actions and quality systems to support safe, reliable and airworthy aircraft operations.

Job Overview

• Organization’s Name: Kenya Airways
• Job Title: Senior Quality Assurance Engineer (SQAE)
• Employment Type: Permanent
• Division: Technical
• Location: Kenya Airways Headquarters, Nairobi
• Expiry Date: September 28, 2026 at 9:47pm

Purpose

The Senior Quality Assurance Engineer is responsible for reviewing maintenance procedures and work instructions, supervising Quality Assurance Engineers, conducting audits and investigations, and supporting the delivery of an airworthy, reliable and quality aircraft product or service. The role also ensures technical staff work within Kenya Airways procedures and coordinates company approval examinations for engineers seeking authorization.

The position supports compliance with KCAA/EASA Part 145 and related requirements, including the coordination of Quality Assessment Board approval examinations and recommendations for the issuance of Kenya Airways authorizations.

Responsibilities

• Develop planned internal audit, surveillance, inspection and spot-check programmes in liaison with the Principal Quality Assurance Engineer (PQAE), and follow up their execution.
• Conduct audits, surveillance, inspections and spot checks according to approved programmes and assignments.
• Ensure audit findings receive timely responses and that feedback is verified before effective closure.
• Monitor the effectiveness of corrective actions and provide independent assessments of findings, corrective actions, implementation and completion.
• Feed maintenance and technical findings into Technical Training to support the continuation training programme.
• Coordinate action on SAFA findings, ramp and airworthiness inspections, customer aircraft surveys and inspections, including root cause analysis, corrective actions and effective closure.
• Handle and follow up external planned audits conducted by Civil Aviation Authorities, certification bodies and customers, ensuring timely responses and closure of findings.
• Coordinate and conduct approval examinations for technicians, certifying staff, support staff and other authorized personnel seeking aircraft, component or equipment approval categories.
• Review and process staff authorization renewal applications and ensure accurate and timely records for certifying, support and authorized staff.
• Support the timely issuance and renewal of aircraft certificates, including Certificates of Registration, Certificates of Airworthiness and radio licences.
• Coordinate, process and review applications for aircraft and aircraft component capability inclusion.
• Supervise the initial issue and subsequent renewal of AMO certificates.
• Review vendor applications, recommend appropriate actions, prepare vendor authorization certificates and manage the approved vendor listing.
• Support applicable aircraft dispensations, concessions and extensions, and ensure KCAA-related requests are appropriately handled.
• Monitor changes in applicable regulatory and certification requirements and initiate necessary actions.
• Maintain the quality database with current regulatory and certification requirements and review AMO manuals against applicable standards.
• Ensure reported MORs, ASRs and CSRs are handled according to the applicable roster and follow up reporting to relevant authorities, customers and OEMs.
• Follow up closure of incidents, occurrences, office hazards, near misses and health and safety issues.
• Supervise the preparation of quality communications and reports for relevant audiences and provide performance updates during sectional and related meetings.
• Mentor, motivate and provide direction and guidance to staff under the role’s supervision.
• Perform other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Skills

• Effective communication skills.
• Proven supervisory skills.
• Basic audit process and root cause analysis skills.
• Management skills.
• Project management skills.
• Procedure writing skills.
• Report writing skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or Diploma in Aeronautical, Mechanical, Electrical or Electronics Engineering.
• Completed Quality Management System (QMS) training.
• Completed Audit Techniques training.
• Current training in Human Factors and Safety Management Systems.
• At least one aircraft type training or one component training.
• Knowledge of using standard aircraft manuals and engineering procedures manuals.
• Conversant with all relevant regulatory requirements and technical procedures.
• Basic knowledge of audit processes and root cause analysis.
• Team leadership training.
• Relevant engineering degree with at least 4 years of aviation engineering experience, including at least 2 years in quality; or a Diploma in a relevant Engineering field with at least 6 years of aviation maintenance experience, including at least 2 years in quality.
• Conversant with relevant IT tools and systems.
• Knowledge of statistical analysis and industrial safety standards.
• Demonstrated experience in report writing.
• Experience participating in the issuance of variations, dispensations and extensions.
• Experience participating in aircraft certificate issuance and renewal processes.
• Successfully carried out audits as a Lead Auditor.
• Experience in closing external regulatory and customer audit findings.
• Experience in product audits.
• Knowledge of contracts.

How To Apply

If the candidate fits the profile, applications should be submitted through the Kenya Airways career portal with a detailed Curriculum Vitae. The job is based at Kenya Airways Headquarters, Nairobi. Only qualified applicants with the right to live and work in Kenya Airways Headquarters, Nairobi will be considered.

Due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.