Supplier Quality Specialist - Harnessing (R6588)

Shield AI•Seattle, WA

19h•$106,000 - $159,000

About The Position

Shield AI is seeking a Supplier Quality Specialist with manufacturing and quality-methodology expertise to support supplier success and mission-critical operations. The Supply Chain Quality team provides global quality oversight across the supplier base, reducing supply-chain risk through supplier assessments and internal risk reviews while driving supplier qualification and development. In this role, you will manage supplier qualification, development, performance, and quality assurance across the harnessing commodity supply base. You will conduct supplier audits, resolve nonconformances, investigate root causes, and make hands-on hardware dispositions. You will evaluate supplier capability, quality performance, organizational risk, and resource needs to ensure purchased hardware and materials meet Shield AI engineering, customer, regulatory, and quality requirements. Working closely with Supply Chain, Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, and Program teams, you will resolve complex supplier-quality issues, improve supplier capability, and reduce quality and delivery risk. The role requires travel to Shield AI manufacturing locations and supplier sites domestically and, as needed, internationally, up to approximately 20% of the time. The listed salary range is $106,000–$159,000 per year. Full-time regular employee offers include pay within the range, bonus, benefits, and equity. Compensation depends on factors including skill set, experience, certifications, and work location. Offers are contingent on a cleared background and may require a reference check.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or another related technical discipline.
At least 5 years of relevant experience.
Strong working knowledge of AS9100 and/or ISO 9001 quality-management systems and aerospace and defense supplier-quality requirements.
Proficiency in root-cause analysis and structured problem-solving methods, including 8D, 5 Whys, and fishbone analysis.
Experience with supplier qualification, supplier development, PPAP, and First Article Inspection processes, including AS9102 requirements.
Understanding of ITAR, EAR, DFARS, and other requirements applicable to aerospace and defense suppliers.
Strong cross-functional collaboration, executive communication, and supplier relationship-management skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.
Experience using ERP/MRP systems.
Ability to travel to Shield AI manufacturing locations and supplier sites domestically and, as needed, internationally, up to approximately 20% of the time.

Nice To Haves

Aerospace or defense industry experience.
IPC-620 certification.
J-STD-001 certification.
Hands-on experience with harness assembly and test processes.
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Manager (CQM), or equivalent quality certification.
Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
Experience leading supplier-quality functions in a high-growth aerospace, defense, autonomy, robotics, or advanced-manufacturing environment.
Experience supporting the production and qualification of complex electromechanical, electronic, precision-machined, composite, or avionics hardware.

Responsibilities

Conduct supplier qualification, risk assessments, periodic performance reviews, supplier audits, source inspections, and approved-supplier status activities across the harnessing commodity supply base.
Ensure supplier requirements are flowed down effectively and suppliers comply with applicable quality-management-system, engineering, customer, contractual, regulatory, and statutory requirements.
Escalate significant supplier-quality risks and direct supplier corrective action requests (SCARs), supplier recovery efforts, and capability-improvement plans that could affect product quality, delivery, mission readiness, or program execution.
Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain, and Program teams to address supplier producibility, design for manufacturability, process capability, technical execution, and quality risks.
Advance supplier-quality processes, business systems, data analytics, and continuous-improvement practices to strengthen supplier capability, product quality, delivery performance, and supply-base resilience.
Conduct nonconformance resolution, root-cause investigations, and hands-on hardware dispositions.
Evaluate supplier capability, quality performance, organizational risk, and resource needs to ensure purchased hardware and materials meet applicable requirements.