In The Seat | Marcia Pereira, Senior Quality Engineer

As Senior Quality Engineer, what does your role involve?

My role as part of the quality team, is varied and brings me into contact with many other departments within Mirus from Metrology through to After Sales. I support my direct team with any arising queries and questions in relation to quality. Additionally, I assist my manager, Brian Slinn, with documentation and compliance ensuring all regulations are met.

Regular reviews and updates are needed to produce a wide range of documentation which is then released to all departments. This includes standard operating procedures, policies and forms from across the business.

Currently I am the responsible signatory for raising of Form 1’s, which means that I need to be able to ensure the traceability of all parts moving through Mirus. This regularly puts me in contact with the Sales and Aftersales team as we liaise raising Form 1s with the despatch of goods.

Within the Metrology department, I can support the team on inspections and suppliers FAIRs approval, and act as a bridge between Metrology and Suppliers, supporting them with any paperwork issues, to alleviate pressure on the buyers within Supply Chain.

I also support Nick Targett with MTEST’s QMS, and Paul Stapleton to organise the calibration for Mirus and MTEST.

Reflecting on my role, documentation is my favourite thing to do.

You have a wealth of experience in engineering, tell us about this and how your journey lead you to Mirus?

I have a degree in Quality Engineering based on ISO 9001 and gained aerospace experience when I came to the UK in 2013.

In 2013, I began working at STG Aerospace as a quality assistant based in Swaffham. STG manufacture emergency exit marking and cabin lighting solutions. I ensured production processes complied with company standards and left in 2018 and began my next step as a Quality Manager at TML Precision Engineering.

I enjoyed my time and the support given to me at TML, working with the team on quality assured parts through CNC turning, milling and spark and wire erosion.

During 2021, I was contacted by a recruitment agent for a role at Mirus as a Quality Engineer, and was offered Senior Quality Engineer. I promptly accepted the offer and within a week I became part of the Mirus team. This was a great step for me to continue my career in aerospace and balance my family life.

There were 3 of us in the Quality Team at Mirus when I first started, the team has now grown to 5.

You’ve worked in aerospace for more than a decade, what is the biggest change that you have seen in the industry in that time?

I think the biggest change I have seen is the global movement towards sustainability. Customers, Airlines and Aerospace suppliers are all considering the effect they have on the environment. As a leading manufacturer of aircraft seats, with innovation at our core, we are well placed to ensure the products we develop contribute to achieving greater sustainability.

Born and raised in Portugal, what brought you to the UK?

I was born and raised in beautiful Porto, Portugal. After leaving education I worked in consultancy, quality audits and quality systems, for different companies and sectors from glass manufacturers to medical equipment to auto repairs.

Things were not great with the Portugal economy wise, so I began looking for other opportunities elsewhere and seeing what other countries could offer me and my family. I decided upon the UK, booked tickets, packed bags and arrived in the UK in 2013.

We do miss the good weather in Portugal and some foods that you can’t cook here in the UK, like Arroz De Cabidela and Papas De Sarrabulho. When I go back to see family in Portugal, my dad cooks these dishes for me which is a real treat.

Tell us about some of the standout moments for you so far at Mirus…

Being part of an exciting rapidly growing company, makes every day different and a challenge. A standout has been the successful growth of Mirus and to see the introduction of our Kestrel and also Hawk Infinity seat into the Airbus A320 BFE selection catalogue as a future product.

Another standout with being part of the quality team, has been to see the Kestrel seat reduce its weight from 7.5kg to 6.9kg per pax, fully dressed, with no compromise on quality. I feel that I am part of something much bigger.

What do you love about your job at Mirus?

I love dealing with paperwork and helping people. I’m a people person, and like to work not only with my direct team but the wider Mirus team. I feel the team have supported me on my continued journey into the aerospace, and I now feel I understand the industry and am truly comfortable to support Mirus and the Quality team.

Outside and alongside Mirus, what do you enjoy doing?

I enjoy walking, especially at the park with my daughter, and curling up and reading a good book. I love dogs as grew up with dogs, my grandparents at one time had 13!, and hope to have another dog sometime soon. Cooking is a passion of mine, with a new family favourite being Yorkshire pudding, with strawberry jam and whipped cream. I brought in homemade Pasteis de Nata earlier in the year for my birthday and had to bring in two more the next day!.