Supplier Development Engineer

Vital Lyfe • Los Angeles, CA

1d

About The Position

At Vital Lyfe, we are on a mission to solve global water scarcity by creating innovative, desalination systems. This is an opportunity to join a passionate, multidisciplinary team tackling one of the world’s most critical challenges Mission Build the supplier network behind a field-deployable water system. Architect quality and reliability into the supply chain from day one and help turn a prototype into a product that can scale anywhere.

Requirements

• A builder’s mindset and a systems-level view of manufacturing
• Experience in supplier quality, NPI, or manufacturing engineering in hardware, climate tech, or industrial systems
• Familiarity with QMS tools and standards (e.g., ISO 9001, PPAP, FAI, Cpk, PFMEA)
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills in fast-paced, cross-functional environments
• A track record of owning hard problems end-to-end and getting things done under real-world constraints
• Hands on work on development hardware.
• Long periods of standing, crouching, walking.
• Lifting up to 50 lbs

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement core supplier management systems to ensure traceability, accountability, and quality control
• Develop and scale a high-performing, resilient supplier network aligned with cost, capacity, delivery, and quality targets
• Lead supplier qualification, onboarding, and technical assessments, including DFM reviews, process flow validation, and QMS audits
• Define and enforce technical and quality standards across new product introduction (NPI) and production
• Partner with internal engineering teams to ensure suppliers fully understand and can meet tight part, assembly, and metrology requirements
• Own the lifecycle of supplier issues from non-conformance reports (SDRs) to CAPAs, RTVs, and production quality investigations
• Collaborate directly with vendors to solve recurring issues and drive process-level improvements
• Conduct performance audits and risk reviews, implementing corrective actions where needed
• Provide on-site technical support as needed to ensure supplier processes are dialed for manufacturability, stability, and spec compliance
• Monitor supplier metrics and trend data to proactively mitigate risks and improve operational performance
• Source and evaluate new suppliers with unique capabilities in materials, fabrication, and metrology
• Build and enforce scalable supplier governance and escalation frameworks from scratch
• Thrive in ambiguity build process where none exists, and push for excellence where it does

Benefits

• Work on high-impact problems with global relevance
• Help scale breakthrough technology in water security and climate resilience
• Early ownership in a high-growth, engineering-led startup
• Join a tight-knit, mission-driven team in a fast-paced environment
• Build long-term career equity as we grow

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees