Supplier Quality Engineering Manager

Who We Are

At nLIGHT, we are constantly on the cutting-edge of laser technology in a massively growing market. We are a leading provider of high-power semiconductors and fiber lasers for industrial, microfabrication, and aerospace & defense applications, to name a few. Our lasers are changing not only the way things are made, but also changing the things that can be made.

Headquartered in Camas, Washington, nLIGHT is a publicly listed company (NASDAQ: LASR).

The Supplier Quality Engineering Manager leads a team responsible for ensuring external suppliers meet nLIGHT's standards for quality, capability, and performance. This role provides both strategic and day‑to‑day leadership for supplier quality management, including supplier development, escalations, nonconformance management, corrective actions, audit activities, and compliance. The manager partners closely with engineering, operations, and supply chain teams to support production, supplier readiness, and new product introduction.

This is a working manager role with direct responsibility for selected suppliers or commodities, while also developing team capability and driving continuous improvement across the supply base.

• Leads, mentors, and develops a team of Supplier Quality Engineers.
• Defines departmental goals, KPIs, and long‑term supplier development strategies.
• Allocates resources across projects, audits, escalations, and new product initiatives.
• Represents the supplier engineering function in cross‑functional leadership forums.

• Establishes and maintains supplier quality standards, inspection criteria, and performance metrics.
• Monitors supplier performance trends and sets priorities for improvement.
• Directs response to major supplier quality escalations and ensures timely containment and resolution.

• Directs supplier nonconformance management, including MRB processes and disposition strategies.
• Drives timely closure of supplier corrective actions and verifies long‑term effectiveness.
• Implements processes that reduce repeat issues and reinforce supplier accountability.

• Directs supplier audit activities, including planning, execution, and follow‑up.
• Ensures timely closure of audit findings and follow‑through on required actions.
• Maintains compliance with industry standards, customer requirements, and internal quality systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001).

• Guides the supplier engineering team in supporting design engineering during early development phases.
• Validates supplier readiness for prototypes, pilot builds, and production ramp‑up.
• Approves supplier qualification activities such as PPAP, FAI, or equivalent processes.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field; advanced degree preferred and a minimum of 4 years of experience leading engineering or supplier quality teams, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and supplier development methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross‑functional teams and drive strategic initiatives.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to travel locally and occasionally overnight for supplier audits, inspections, or business needs.
• Experience organizing, leading, reporting, and driving improvements with supplier audits.

The essential functions of this role generally require the ability to perform the following job‑related activities, with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Work in office, lab, clean room, and production environments and move through those areas during audits, inspections, or routine oversight.
• Sit, stand, and walk for extended periods and perform frequent computer‑based work, document review, and data entry.
• Lift up to 20 lbs occasionally, such as materials, samples, or documents.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.