Principal Quality Inspector

Principal Quality Inspector - Coatings

Location: Birkenhead
Contract: 12 months

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Principal Quality Inspector to oversee surface preparation, abrasive blasting and protective coating activities on units in build.

Working client-side, you will act as the on-site focal point for coating inspections, ensuring all work meets project specifications, approved procedures and relevant quality standards. You will coordinate inspection priorities, resolve quality issues and work closely with coating suppliers, shipyard personnel and the wider project team.

Key Responsibilities

• Inspect abrasive blasting, surface preparation and coating application to ensure compliance with project specifications and applicable standards.

• Review Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs), ensuring inspection stages, acceptance criteria and hold/witness points are followed.

• Monitor environmental conditions, surface cleanliness, profile, contamination levels and coating thickness.

• Identify defects and non-conformances, ensuring corrective actions and remedial work are completed and verified.

• Maintain accurate inspection reports, test results and quality documentation.

• Coordinate inspection activities in line with the build programme, ensuring critical inspection points are not missed.

• Act as the main point of contact for coating-related quality matters, maintaining effective relationships with suppliers, shipyard teams and client representatives.

• Take ownership of quality issues, communicate findings clearly and support continuous improvement.

Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in quality inspection, ideally within protective coatings, surface preparation or a related industrial environment.

• Strong understanding of coating specifications, inspection procedures and Inspection and Test Plans.

• Experience interpreting technical specifications and identifying and resolving non-conformances.

• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work independently, prioritise inspections and respond effectively to changing site requirements.

• Understanding of quality management systems and relevant health, safety and environmental requirements.

Qualifications

• Trade background.

• ICorr or NACE/AMPP Level 1 or Level 2 Coatings Inspector qualification, as required by the project.

• CSWIP 3.0 would be desirable.

Apply Now

If you have experience in coatings inspection and are looking for an opportunity to take ownership of quality activities within a major build programme, we would welcome your application.