Staff Supplier Quality Engineer - Special Processes

NextGenEnergyJobs; Canada; Remote; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Mainspring Energy is seeking a focused Supplier Quality Engineer to lead quality, supplier qualification, and PPAP activities across international suppliers, including APAC. You will own the supplier quality gate from NPI through production, drive SCAR closures, review deviations, and coordinate with Design, Materials, and Supply Chain teams to maintain robust quality and on-time production.

Ideal candidates bring 7–10 years in supplier quality engineering, GD&T proficiency, and hands-on

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or Materials Engineering.
• 7–10 years of Supplier Quality Engineering experience with ownership of supplier qualification programs.
• Experience with PPAP approvals, deviation dispositions, and SCAR closures.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain trust-based relationships with suppliers and represent quality expectations.
• Own supplier quality gate from NPI through steady-state production, including control plans and Cp/Cpk.
• Drive SCAR closures using 8D root cause analysis and verify effectiveness.

Skills

GD&T ANSI Y14.5

Data analysis & dashboarding

Quality decision-making (PPAP/SCAR)

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring junior engineers

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or Materials Engineering

Tools

CMM and laser scanning

Measurement instrumentation

Job description

Mainspring Energy manufactures and delivers fuel-flexible, low-emissions local power solutions that rapidly add new capacity and deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable electric power.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain trust-based relationships with assigned suppliers, serving as the primary quality point of contact and representing Mainspring's quality expectations clearly and consistently across cultures and geographies, including APAC and international suppliers as we scale
• Own the supplier quality gate from New Product Introduction (NPI) through steady-state production, including control plan development, PPAP review and approval, and process capability studies (Cp/Cpk) for assigned suppliers
• Issue and drive closure of Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs) using structured root cause analysis methodology (8D), holding suppliers accountable to corrective action timelines and validating effectiveness
• Review and approve material and process deviation requests from suppliers, coordinating with Materials & Process Engineering and Design Engineering as required
• Conduct supplier process audits and site visits to assess compliance to control plans, quality system requirements, and Mainspring standards
• Own incoming inspection disposition and NCR management for assigned suppliers, making timely and defensible quality decisions to keep production moving
• Maintain SPC monitoring and control plan updates in steady-state production, escalating negative trends before they become escapes
• Act as subject matter expert and internal resource for the SQE team on special processes, providing guidance on qualification approaches, audit methodology, and deviation disposition

Requirements

• You have successfully launched into volume production complex components and assemblies using advanced quality planning through product development, prototype into mass production
• You can thrive in structured and unstructured environments and are not dissuaded at the prospect of making hard decisions about what is important and urgent against a backdrop of limited resources
• You have effectively used your background in geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) per ANSI Y14.5 to interpret manufacturing drawings and make independent disposition decisions. You have working knowledge of advanced measurement systems including CMM and laser scanning
• You have deep working knowledge of three or more special processes: welding, coating, heat treatment, cladding, thermal spray, electronics/PCBA manufacturing or precision machining at the level of auditing supplier process controls, reviewing process FMEAs, and approving PPAPs. Automotive, aerospace, or industrial power generation background preferred
• You have used data collection, analysis, and dashboarding to inform effective decision making
• You have a working knowledge of ISO 9001, AS9100 or IATF 16949 quality management system requirements
• You have coached or mentored less experienced quality engineers and are comfortable being the person others come to when the problem is hard or the answer is not in the playbook
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or Materials Engineering, or a related technical field required
• Minimum 7-10 years of Supplier Quality Engineering experience, with demonstrated progression into roles with independent ownership of supplier qualification programs
• Proven experience as a quality decision-maker on PPAP approvals, deviation dispositions, and Supplier Corrective Action Report (SCAR) closure for complex components or assemblies
• Experience coaching or mentoring less experienced quality engineers, formally or informally
• Deep working knowledge of at least two special processes (welding, coating, heat treatment, brazing, NDT, or electronics/PCBA) at the level of auditing supplier process controls, not just awareness
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with Design Engineering, Materials & Process, and Supply Chain to drive quality outcomes without direct authority over those teams
• Ability to travel 25-50%, including international travel to APAC suppliers