Principal Supplier Quality Special Process Engineer

Elbit-America; Ladson (SC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9/80 schedule

401(k) program

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Life Insurance

PTO and vacation

Job summary

Elbit America is seeking a Principal Supplier Quality Special Process Engineer to lead qualification and audits for welding, heat treating, plating, painting, and NDT/NDE. You will drive CAPA, review Process Control Plans and FMEAs, and ensure regulatory compliance.

You will collaborate with internal engineering teams, manage supplier performance metrics, and support NPI programs to reduce risk. Travel up to 30-40% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering; Master’s degree plus 7 years of experience preferred.
• 9+ years of progressive experience in supplier quality or related fields in regulated manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead supplier qualification and approval for special processes (welding, heat treating, plating, painting, NDT/NDE).
• Conduct on-site supplier audits, assess process controls, and close gaps.
• Review and approve Process Control Plans, FMEAs, and work instructions for special processes.
• Issue SCARs and drive CAPA with root cause analysis.
• Collaborate with internal engineering to update specs and acceptance criteria.
• Monitor supplier performance metrics and drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure NADCAP, AS9100, ISO 9001 compliance and customer requirements.
• Support NPI by qualifying suppliers early in development.
• Maintain documentation for supplier approvals and audits.

Skills

NADCAP Expertise

Aerospace industry experience

GD&T knowledge

Special Processes knowledge

Audit experience

QMS knowledge

APQP/PPAP/FMEA

Communication skills

Travel availability

Supplier quality leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

AS9100 documentation tools

Job description

Principal Supplier Quality Special Process Engineer

Fort Worth, TX, USA

Job Description

Posted Friday, August 21, 2026 at 4:00 AM

Company Information:

Elbit America is a leading provider of high-performance products, system solutions, and support services focusing on the defense, homeland security, commercial aviation, and medical instrumentation markets. With facilities throughout the United States, Elbit Systems of America is dedicated to supporting those who contribute daily to the safety and security of the United States. Elbit Systems of America, LLC is wholly owned by Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT and TASE: ESLT), a global high-technology company engag ed in a wide range of programs for innovative defense and commercial applications. For additional information, visit: ElbitAmerica.com or follow us on YouTube .

Responsibilities and Tasks

• Lead supplier qualification and approval activities for special processes, including welding, brazing, heat treating, plating, painting, and NDT/NDE, ensuring all processes meet applicable specifications and standards prior to production use.
• Conduct on-site supplier audits and assessments to evaluate process controls, equipment calibration and maintenance, facility conditions, and personnel certifications documenting findings and tracking closure of identified gaps.
• Review and approve supplier Process Control Plans, Control Plans, Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (FMEAs), and work instructions specifically related to special processes.
• Issue Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs) in response to nonconformances or audit findings and drive timely root cause analysis and implementation of effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Collaborate with internal engineering teams to develop, interpret, and update special process specifications, drawing requirements, and acceptance criteria to reflect current standards and lessons learned.
• Monitor and analyze supplier performance metrics including parts per million (PPM) defect rates, on-time delivery (OTD), and audit scores and facilitate structured continuous improvement initiatives with underperforming suppliers.
• Ensure supplier compliance with relevant industry standards and accreditation programs, such as NADCAP, AS9100, ISO 9001, and applicable customer-specific requirements.
• Support new product introduction (NPI) programs by engaging and qualifying special process suppliers early in the development cycle, reducing downstream quality risk.
• Maintain accurate and complete documentation and records related to supplier approvals, audit reports, corrective actions, and process certifications in accordance with quality management system requirements.
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact between the company and special process suppliers, translating engineering requirements into actionable supplier expectations and managing escalations as needed.

Required qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering - Mechanical, Materials Science, Manufacturing, Industrial, Welding, or a closely related engineering discipline. Master’s degree +7 years of experience preferred (or in lieu of degree, equivalent related work experience, and/or military service)
• Experience: 9+ years of progressive experience in supplier quality, manufacturing engineering, or quality engineering within a regulated or high consequence manufacturing environment.
• Professional Certification: Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or other relevant quality certification from the American Society for Quality (ASQ), or equivalent professional credentialing body.

Skills and Abilities

• NADCAP Expertise: Experience as a NADCAP auditor or working knowledge of the NADCAP accreditation and Merit status process across one or more commodity areas (e.g., Welding, Heat Treating, Chemical Processing, NDT).
• Industry Background: Prior experience in the aerospace, defense, or automotive industry, with familiarity with the unique regulatory, contractual, and traceability demands of these sectors.
• Specification Familiarity: Working knowledge of AMS (Aerospace Material Specifications), MIL-SPEC, or other industry-specific special process specifications relevant to the company's commodity base.
• GD&T: Foundational to intermediate knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5, supporting effective interpretation of engineering drawings in supplier assessments.
• Special Process Knowledge: Demonstrated, hands-on knowledge of one or more special processes, including welding (per AWS or AMS standards), heat treating, electroplating, surface coating/painting, or NDT/NDE techniques.
• Audit Experience: Proven experience conducting formal supplier audits and process assessments, including planning, execution, report writing, and corrective action follow-through.
• Quality Management Systems: Functional familiarity with at least one major QMS standards: AS9100, AC7004, or ISO 9001 including interpretation and application of requirements.
• Quality Tools Proficiency: Working knowledge of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Control Plans, and 8D problem-solving methodology.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence suppliers, peers, and leadership without direct authority presenting technical findings clearly and diplomatically.

Travel/Physical Requirements

• Travel Availability: Willingness and ability to travel up to 30–40% for domestic and/or international supplier visits, audits, and qualification activities.
• Work is usually conducted in a factory/office/warehouse atmosphere
• Exposed to conditions such as machining equipment noise, riveting, dust and chemical fumes
• Hearing, vision and breathing protection needed and provided in appropriate areas
• Some exposure to elements of weather when traveling and/or commuting between sites

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Here Are Some of the Great Benefits We Offer:

• Most locations offer a 9/80 schedule, providing every other Friday off
• Competitive compensation & 401(k) program to plan for your future
• Robust medical, dental, vision, & disability coverage with qualified wellness discounts
• Basic Life Insurance and Additional Life & AD&D Insurances are available
• Flexible Vacation & PTO
• Generous Employee Referral Program
• Voluntary Benefits Available: Longer Term Care, Legal, Identity Theft, Pet Insurance, and more
• Voluntary Tricare Supplement available for military retirees

This job description does not list all the duties of the job. You may be asked by your supervisors or managers to perform other duties. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. The job description is not an employment contract. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. Elbit America is an equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.