Supplier Quality Engineer

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage—domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats.

CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, and London. For more information, please visit  .

The Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) is responsible for qualifying, developing, and sustaining suppliers to ensure conformance to quality management system requirements and detailed technical design specifications across mechanical and electrical components and assemblies.

This role partners closely with Engineering, Sourcing, Manufacturing, and Program Management to ensure suppliers can consistently deliver parts and assemblies that meet performance, reliability, and production scalability requirements. The SQE drives supplier readiness from early design engagement through production ramp and lifecycle support.

The ideal candidate brings strong technical fluency in mechanical and electrical manufacturing processes, deep working knowledge of QMS standards (e.g., ISO 9001 / AS9100), and experience implementing structured supplier qualification frameworks (APQP, PPAP, FAI, audits, control plans, etc.).

• 1. Supplier Qualification & Technical Capability Assessment
  • Evaluate supplier manufacturing capabilities for mechanical components (machining, fabrication, casting, additive, special processes) and electrical assemblies (cables, harnesses, PCBAs, electro‑mechanical assemblies).
  • Assess supplier ability to meet detailed engineering drawings, GD&T, specifications, and performance requirements.
  • Conduct on‑site supplier audits and technical assessments.
  • Qualify suppliers through structured processes including:
    • Process audits
    • First Article Inspection (FAI/AS9102)
    • Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
    • Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA)
    • Process Failure Modes & Effects Analysis (PFMEA)
• 2. Design & Development Integration
  • Partner with Engineering during design reviews to:
    • Provide Design for Manufacturability (DFM) feedback.
    • Identify high‑risk features, special processes, and key characteristics.
    • Define inspection and validation requirements.
  • Ensure clear technical flow‑down of:
    • Drawings and specifications
    • Critical‑to‑quality characteristics
    • Source control requirements
    • Regulatory and compliance requirements
• 3. Quality Systems & Compliance Oversight
  • Audit and evaluate supplier Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001, AS9100 or equivalent).
  • Control plans
  • Inspection plans
  • Calibration systems
  • Traceability and configuration control
  • Verify compliance with contractual quality clauses and regulatory requirements (e.g., ITAR where applicable).
• 4. Production Readiness & Risk Mitigation
  • Drive supplier readiness for prototype, low‑rate initial production, and rate increases.
  • Analyze key and critical characteristics and validate process capability.
  • Develop containment plans and manage supplier risk mitigation activities.
    
    Support MRB and nonconformance management related to purchased materials.
  • Perform root cause analysis (8D, DMAIC, 5‑Why, Fishbone).
  • Validate effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions.
  • Drive measurable improvements in:
    • First pass yield
    • Defect rate
    • On‑time delivery
    • Process capability (Cp/Cpk)
• 6. Cross‑Functional Supplier Performance Management
  • Partner with Sourcing to manage supplier scorecards.
  • Support strategic sourcing decisions with technical and quality input.
  • Provide executive‑ready summaries of supplier risk and performance trends.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, or related technical discipline.
• 5–10+ years of experience in Supplier Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Quality Engineering in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrate…