Supplier Quality Engineer

Supplier Quality Engineer

The Supplier Quality Engineer is responsible for ensuring that suppliers consistently meet customer contractual obligations, regulatory standards, and AS9100 quality management requirements. This role acts as a key liaison between the organization and its supply base, driving supplier compliance, quality performance, and continuous improvement initiatives. The position focuses on managing supplier quality processes, verifying purchased materials and components, conducting audits, overseeing nonconformances and corrective actions, and supporting supplier development efforts.

The ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented, committed to quality excellence, and dedicated to meeting customer expectations while ensuring compliance with the quality management system and stakeholder requirements across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain supplier quality and supplier management processes that comply with AS9100 standards, customer contractual obligations, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Manage and maintain the Approved Supplier List (ASL), ensuring that suppliers meet defined quality, delivery, and technical requirements.
• Define, communicate, and implement supplier quality requirements, including documentation, inspection criteria, and performance expectations.
• Partner closely with suppliers to drive compliance, improve performance, and ensure adherence to quality, delivery, and technical requirements.
• Conduct supplier audits, assessments, and performance reviews to evaluate supplier capability, identify risks, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Perform source inspections, product verification activities, and process surveillance at supplier facilities and internal locations to ensure conformity of purchased materials, components, and services.
• Verify purchased products and materials, including review of documentation, inspection results, and material traceability, to confirm compliance with specifications and requirements.
• Plan and perform quality analyses, report results, and mitigate risk related to quality requirements, product and process assessments, audits, and performance trends for products and services.
• Establish, monitor, and report supplier performance metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to drive accountability and supply chain excellence.
• Lead or support root cause analysis and corrective action activities (RCCA) for supplier-related nonconformances using structured problem-solving methods such as 5 Why and 8D.
• Oversee nonconformance management and corrective action processes with suppliers, ensuring timely resolution, effective corrective actions, and sustainable improvements.
• Conduct and review First Article Inspections (FAI) in accordance with AS9102 and applicable standards, including interpretation of engineering drawings and GD&T requirements.
• Develop and maintain procedures, work instructions, and quality documentation related to supplier quality management and inspection processes.
• Collaborate with engineering, quality, supply chain, and leadership teams to support supplier development, qualification, and ongoing performance improvement.
• Utilize ERP and quality systems to document inspections, track supplier performance, manage nonconformances, and support data-driven decision-making.

Essential Skills

• 10+ years of experience as a Supplier Quality Engineer within the aerospace and defense industry.
• Strong experience in supplier quality, quality engineering, and quality assurance in a regulated environment.
• Hands-on experience with First Article Inspections (FAI) and AS9102 requirements.
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting engineering drawings, including Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Experience with AS9100 quality management systems and compliance requirements.
• Practical knowledge of quality management systems (QMS) and related processes.
• Experience with NADCAP requirements and processes.
• Working knowledge of Production Part Approval Process (PPAP).
• Demonstrated ability to perform root cause analysis and corrective action (RCCA) using tools such as 5 Why and 8D.
• Experience conducting supplier…