Title:  Specialist, Supplier Quality Engineering

Job Title: Specialist, Supplier Quality Engineering

Job Code: 38598

Job Location: Huntsville, AL

Schedule: 9/80

This role is contingent upon program award

Job Description:

The Supplier Quality Engineering Specialist role is responsible for ensuring that external suppliers consistently deliver products and services to consistently meet ForceX’s supplier quality requirements. This role partners with engineering, supply chain, program management, operations and suppliers to drive quality performance, mitigate risk, and ensure product compliance throughout the lifecycle.  Lead continuous improvement activities, including the review of supplier capabilities and perform supplier audits to drive measurable improvements against defined quality metrics.

Essential Functions:

• Supplier qualification and management
  • Understanding the requirements, work with Engineering and the Buyer to assess the technical capability and roadmap of the supplier
  • Perform supplier audits for risk and capabilities
  • Identify gaps and opportunities for supplier development using ZDP (zero defect plan) and QIP (quality improvement plan)
•  Determine and assign capable, qualified supplier(s) to parts on Costpoint and ERP, ensuring alignment with technical requirements, quality standards, and organizational sourcing strategies.
• Specifications/document/product compliance and alignment
  • Verify compliance to all product specifications, acceptance testing
  • Align product verification/test between supplier and the internal factory
• Look for and analyze trends for issues
  • Evaluate Supplier caused NCRs (Non Conformances) to ensure that trends are identified and resolved
  • Ensure link to the shop floor, supply chain, CSG (Customer Service Group) and EFFA (Early Field Failure Analysis)
  • Drive (RCCA) Root Cause Corrective Actions, SCARs (supplier Corrective Action Review) and NCRs to closure
  • Report trends at applicable reviews and execute plans to action
  • Create project plans to close out issues
• Participate in the Quality Alert, Corrective Action Board & MRB processes
• Responsible for defining and communicating material handling and traceability requirements from the supply chain through to internal storage at Huntsville ensuring proper preservation, identification, and handling of all sourced materials.
• Actively participate in all internal and external technical reviews with cross‑functional teams to ensure specification compliance, design for manufacturability, testability, and cost‑effectiveness of sourced parts and assemblies.
• Perform supplier process assessments at the source
  • Ensure the suppliers build & test processes are robust and repeatable
  • Ensure that the product can be produced in the most economic, efficient and effective way
  • Utilize techniques such as PFMEA, 8D RCCA , Fishbone, 5-why analysis
  • Perform additional responsibilities related to supplier quality and cross‑functional support as assigned by the Manager to meet departmental and organizational objectives.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 4 years of prior relevant experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 8 years of prior related experience.
• Minimum 5-10 years of experience in a Supplier Quality Engineering capacity.Experience supporting Manufacturing of Surface-Mount Technologies, Through-Hole Technologies and Wire harness Assemblies to relevant IPC standards, OR proven ability to rapidly acquire a high level of competence in new technical areas. Lead 8D root cause, project or quality improvement plans, APQP, PPAP
• 5-10 years of experience with quality management systems such as ISO/AS9100D (or newer) and supplier audits

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Green Belt Certification or equivalent industry lean experience preferred, but not required

  ASQ CQE or CSQP preferred

  Strong critical thinking and analytical skills and ability to analyze supplier or vendor data along with internal metrics.
• Highly technical mindset and thorough knowledge of technical elements of manufacturing and engineering with the ability to identify process variability, as well as making informed judgement and recommendation within the supply chain.
• Quality assurance skills with the ability to inspect product and identify gaps in manufacturing processes.
• Ability to lead projects to improve supplier quality.
• Continuous improvement mindsetExcellent technical communication skills, both written and verbal.Dynamic, resourceful and known for sense of initiative (leadership, innovative, problem solver).

 #LI-EB1