Supplier Quality Engineer
About The Position
The Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) ensures externally supplied materials, components, special processes, and assemblies meet aerospace quality, regulatory, customer, and contractual requirements. The role serves as the primary quality liaison between the organization and its suppliers, driving supplier performance, risk mitigation, continuous improvement, and compliance with Aerospace Quality Management System requirements. The SQE collaborates with Engineering, Manufacturing, Procurement, Program Management, and suppliers to support product conformity, supplier development, and on-time delivery of high-quality aerospace products. The role includes supplier qualification and audits, review of supplier quality documentation, oversight of corrective and preventive actions, supplier improvement initiatives, and support for regulatory and customer audits. It also involves cross-functional work on supplier-related issues, design and manufacturing readiness reviews, new product introduction, and production transfers. The position involves frequent interaction with domestic and international suppliers, work in both office and shop environments, and up to 25% travel for supplier audits, assessments, source inspections, and development activities. The position requires access to ITAR-controlled technical data and/or defense articles, and the employee must be ITAR compliant.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Quality Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- At least 5 years of quality engineering, supplier quality, manufacturing quality, or aerospace quality experience.
- Experience working within AS9100-certified environments.
- Experience with aerospace manufacturing processes such as machining, assembly, composites, castings, forgings, or special processes.
- Strong understanding of AS9100, AS13100, AS9102, GD&T, PPAP/APQP principles, Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA), Statistical Process Control (SPC), risk-based thinking, and quality management systems.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and aerospace standards.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and supplier relationship management capabilities.
- Effective project management and organizational skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced aerospace environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and quality management systems.
- Must be ITAR compliant.
Nice To Haves
- Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) certification from ASQ.
- Certified Supplier Quality Professional (CSQP) certification from ASQ.
- Certified Lead Auditor training.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
- NADCAP auditing experience.
- Experience with QT9 QMS Software suite.
- Experience with ERP and Quality Management Systems, including Oracle.
- Experience supporting FAA, DoD, or commercial aerospace customers.
Responsibilities
- Evaluate, qualify, and approve new suppliers in accordance with AS9100, customer requirements, and company quality standards.
- Conduct supplier audits, assessments, and surveillance activities to verify compliance with applicable aerospace requirements.
- Monitor supplier quality performance using metrics such as PPM, defect rates, audit findings, and corrective action effectiveness.
- Provide quality risk assessments to support supplier selection and sourcing activities.
- Review and approve supplier quality documentation, including FAIRs per AS9102, process flow diagrams, PFMEAs, control plans, inspection plans, and process certifications.
- Verify supplier compliance with engineering drawings, specifications, standards, and customer requirements.
- Ensure suppliers meet special process requirements, including NADCAP-accredited process requirements when applicable.
- Lead investigations of supplier nonconformances and quality escapes.
- Facilitate root cause analysis using methods such as 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone Diagram, and Fault Tree Analysis.
- Review and approve supplier corrective action requests (SCARs), and verify corrective and preventive action implementation and effectiveness.
- Drive supplier improvement initiatives to improve quality, delivery, and process capability.
- Analyze supplier performance data and establish improvement plans for underperforming suppliers.
- Collaborate with suppliers to reduce variation, improve manufacturing processes, and implement best practices.
- Support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain.
- Ensure supplier compliance with AS9100, AS9102, applicable FAA regulations, customer-specific aerospace requirements, and applicable ITAR/EAR export controls.
- Support internal, customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.
- Partner with Engineering, Procurement, Operations, and Program Management to resolve supplier-related quality issues.
- Participate in design reviews, manufacturing readiness reviews, and risk assessments.
- Support new product introduction (NPI) and production transfer activities.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
