Prin Supplier QA Engineer (Remote/Southern California)
About The Position
The Principal Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) is responsible for ensuring the quality and reliability of components sourced from suppliers specializing in metal casting and mold manufacturing. This role provides technical leadership for supplier qualification, process validation, quality improvement, and ongoing risk management across our supply base. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience with cast metals, mold tooling, foundry processes, and metallurgy. This is a fully remote role for someone based in Southern California, though the team is based in Saco, ME.
Requirements
- Associate's Degree and 8-10 years' experience OR Equivalent Combination of Relevant Education &/or Experience
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor's Degree
- ISO9001 Lead or Internal Auditor
- Six Sigma Green Belt
- Mechanical, Metallurgical, or Manufacturing Engineering, preferred.
- In-depth knowledge of common casting methods (investment, sand, die, permanent mold, gravity, etc.).
- Understanding of mold design, gating/feeder systems, metallurgical testing (NDT), and dimensional control.
- Experience conducting supplier audits and leading corrective action activities.
- Familiarity with quality tools such as PPAP, APQP, FMEA, MSA, SPC, GD&T.
- Strong problem‑solving, communication, and negotiation skills.
- Experience working directly with domestic foundries.
- Knowledge of heat treatment specifications and alloy behavior (aluminum, steel, iron, specialty alloys).
- Proficiency with 3D CAD models and interpreting complex technical drawings.
- Experience with ISO 9001, A9100, or other relevant quality system standards.
Responsibilities
- Focuses on planning, organizing, directing, and reporting on supplier provided raw materials, designed/manufactured goods, and packaging materials to ensure they meet or exceed requirements.
- Verifies and validates that suppliers and/or subcontractors have received and understand engineering, manufacturing, and quality requirements.
- Monitors quality control activities and systems at supplier and subcontractor facilities.
- Ensures programs are in place to improve supplier performance and productivity.
- Reviews and analyzes corrective action reports to reduce/eliminate defects.
- May perform root cause investigations into quality issues.
- Conducts audits and supports testing of products, materials, and processes to measure effectiveness and compliance with company expectations and regulatory requirements.
- Review and dispositions supplier deliverables to ensure requirements are met.
- Qualify and audit casting/tooling suppliers
- Verify foundry/mold shop compliance
- Implement supplier process controls
- Approve PPAP, FMEA, flows, certs
- Lead RCA and corrective actions for defects
- Drive CI and scrap reduction
- Review metallurgy and dimensional data
- Support DFM and casting feasibility
- Monitor KPIs and manage changes/issues
Benefits
- medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, and basic life insurance
- pre-tax spending accounts
- 401k plan
- Non-Contributory Retirement Contribution
- Critical Illness Insurance
- Accident Insurance
- Identify Theft Protection
- Enhanced Legal Services
- Auto and Home Insurance
- Pet Insurance
- Commuter Benefits
- Hospital Indemnity Insurance
- Educational Assistance
- 11 paid holidays
- 120 hours of PTO annually
- up to 3 weeks paid family leave
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
Education Level
Associate degree
Number of Employees
11-50 employees
