Principal Supplier Quality Engineer

Monarch Quantum; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with 4% match

20 PTO days per year

13 holidays per year

9/80 work schedule

Job summary

Monarch Quantum seeks a Principal Supplier Quality Engineer to oversee and improve supplier quality for optics, electronics, and exotic metal components. You will drive First Article Inspections, audits, and CAPA across a diverse supplier base, ensuring production readiness and defect prevention in a fast-paced startup environment.

You will partner with design and manufacturing teams to enforce DFx, monitor metrics like yield and delivery quality, and travel up to 20-30% to supplier sites as

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degreeRequired in Mechanical, Electrical, Optical Engineering, or Materials Science or related field.
• 8+ years of supplier quality/manufacturing quality or hardware quality engineering experience in high-precision tech sectors.
• Proficiency in GD&T, inspection methods, FMEA, and ISO 9001 environment controls.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day supplier quality for optics, PWBA, fiber optic harnesses, and exotic metal components.
• Interpret complex drawings, optical specs and GD&T tolerances to verify manufacturing readiness.
• Lead First Article Inspections (FAI) and review supplier manufacturing plans during NPI.
• Conduct supplier audits (technical, process, QMS) to verify controls and cleanroom compliance.
• Lead root-cause analyses for supplier non-conformances and enforce 8D CAPA execution.
• Track supplier quality metrics and mentor suppliers to improve yield and process control.
• Collaborate with design and manufacturing engineers to drive DFx and resolve integration challenges.

Skills

GD&T

CMM/Inspection

FMEA

8D CAPA

Education

Mechanical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Optical Engineering

Materials Science

Job description

Join our fast-paced and passionate team as a Principal Supplier Quality Engineer. As Monarch Quantum scales, you will play a key hands-on role in ensuring that our supply base meets the exceptional quality standardsrequiredfor our laser light engines and quantum computing platforms. Reporting to the Director of Supply Chain, you will bridge technical design requirements with vendor capabilities,maintainingdirect oversight of critical hardware components.

This is a dynamic, hands-on role for a self-starter who thrives in a fluid startup environment. You will work directly with suppliers of optics, micro-electronics, fiber optics, and exotic metal components to prevent defects, resolve technical issues, and ensure seamless delivery into production(DFx).

Key Responsibilities:

• Supplier Quality Operations: Oversee day-to-day supplier quality performance for key vendors supplying2 or more of the following:optics, PWBAs, fiber optic harnesses, and exotic metal components (MoCu, Kovar, Molybdenum).
• Technical Drawing & GD&T Review: Interpret complex technical drawings, optical specs, and GD&T tolerances to verify supplier manufacturing readiness and inspection capability.
• NPI Support & Qualification: Execute First Article Inspections (FAI), review supplier manufacturing plans, and leadcomponentqualification activities during New Product Introduction (NPI) phases.
• Auditing & Onsite Inspections: Conduct technical, process, and QMS audits at supplier facilities to verify process controls, cleanroom compliance, and quality systems.
• Defect Resolution & CAPA: Lead technical root-cause analyses for supplier non-conformances (RMA/MRB) and enforce rigorous Corrective and Preventive Action (8D CAPA) execution.
• Supplier Development: Track supplier quality metrics (yield, defect rate, delivery quality) and mentor key suppliers to continuously improve technical yield and process control.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Monarch Design Engineers and Manufacturing Engineers to drive Design for Manufacturability/Quality (DFx) and resolve integration challenges.

Join our fast-paced and passionate team as a Principal Supplier Quality Engineer. As Monarch Quantum scales, you will play a key hands-on role in ensuring that our supply base meets the exceptional quality standardsrequiredfor our laser light engines and quantum computing platforms. Reporting to the Director of Supply Chain, you will bridge technical design requirements with vendor capabilities,maintainingdirect oversight of critical hardware components.

This is a dynamic, hands-on role for a self-starter who thrives in a fluid startup environment. You will work directly with suppliers of optics, micro-electronics, fiber optics, and exotic metal components to prevent defects, resolve technical issues, and ensure seamless delivery into production(DFx).

Key Responsibilities:

• Supplier Quality Operations: Oversee day-to-day supplier quality performance for key vendors supplying2 or more of the following:optics, PWBAs, fiber optic harnesses, and exotic metal components (MoCu, Kovar, Molybdenum).

• Technical Drawing & GD&T Review: Interpret complex technical drawings, optical specs, and GD&T tolerances to verify supplier manufacturing readiness and inspection capability.

• NPI Support & Qualification: Execute First Article Inspections (FAI), review supplier manufacturing plans, and leadcomponentqualification activities during New Product Introduction (NPI) phases.

• Auditing & Onsite Inspections: Conduct technical, process, and QMS audits at supplier facilities to verify process controls, cleanroom compliance, and quality systems.

• Defect Resolution & CAPA: Lead technical root-cause analyses for supplier non-conformances (RMA/MRB) and enforce rigorous Corrective and Preventive Action (8D CAPA) execution.

• Supplier Development: Track supplier quality metrics (yield, defect rate, delivery quality) and mentor key suppliers to continuously improve technical yield and process control.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Monarch Design Engineers and Manufacturing Engineers to drive Design for Manufacturability/Quality (DFx) and resolve integration challenges.
  

Requirements

Please note: This position requires access to export-controlled information. Employment is contingent upon the applicant being a U.S. person as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3).

Skills & Experience:

• Education:Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Materials Science, or related technical field.

• Experience: Minimum of 8+ years of experience in supplier quality, manufacturing quality, or hardware quality engineering in high-precision technology sectors.

• Technical Experience: Practical quality control experience across key commodity areas:

• Machining and fabrication of exotic alloys (MoCu, Kovar, Mo).

• Precision optical assemblies and optical fiber handling/splicing.

• PCBA manufacturing, SMT processes, and IPC standards.

• Core Competencies: Proficient in GD&T, CMM/optical inspection techniques, FMEA, 8D problem-solving, and ISO 9001 environment controls.

• Communication & Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills to effectivelyinterface withtechnical suppliers and internal engineering teams.

• Travel: Ability to travel up to 20-30% (domestic and international) to supplier sites.

Startup Mindset:

• You'recreative, flexible, and eager to wear multiple hats-youdon'twait for a process to exist; you build it.

• You'repassionate about building systems from the ground up and comfortable with ambiguity and change.

Benefits

The expected annual salary range for this position is $125,000-$175,000.

As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for Monarch's comprehensive benefits package, which includes:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Fidelity 401(k) plan with 4% employer matching
• 20 paid time off (PTO) days per year
• 13 paid company holidays
• 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off)

Monarch is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status or any other characteristics protected under applicable federal, state and local laws.