Senior Supplier Quality Engineer: Lead Defect Prevention

DDN; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

DDN seeks a Senior Supplier Quality Engineer to provide dedicated quality engineering support for the supplier base, interfacing with Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, NPI, Test, and Supply Chain teams to enhance supplier performance and prevent quality escapes.

The role focuses on our primary manufacturing partner and key platform products, while supporting supplier quality activities across the broader base. Travel to supplier sites will be required as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical discipline preferred.
• 5+ years in Supplier Quality, Manufacturing Quality, Quality Engineering, or related role.
• Strong knowledge of root-cause analysis, 8D, CAPA/SCAR, supplier auditing, manufacturing process controls, FAI/NPI, and corrective-action effectiveness.
• Experience with electronics manufacturing, contract manufacturers, PCBA, server/storage systems, or complex electromechanical products preferred.
• Strong technical problem-solving and data-analysis skills.
• Ability to independently evaluate supplier RCA/FA findings and challenge unsupported conclusions with objective evidence.
• Demonstrated ability to lead supplier corrective-action and continuous-improvement activities.
• Strong written and verbal communication across suppliers, Engineering, Operations, and management.
• Ability to travel to supplier manufacturing locations as required.
• Experience supporting supplier quality for HPC, enterprise data storage, AI infrastructure, or server-class hardware is highly desirable

Responsibilities

• Monitor and drive supplier quality performance, production yield, defect trends, DMRs, SCARs, and recurring quality issues.
• Lead supplier corrective-action activities, including 8D/SCAR review, root-cause validation, containment, corrective-action implementation, and effectiveness verification.
• Lead and conduct routine, risk-based, and issue-driven supplier/process audits.
• Work with supplier Quality and Engineering teams to investigate manufacturing and field failures and prevent recurrence.
• Support supplier NPI, FAI, qualification, production ramp, and manufacturing-readiness activities.
• Evaluate manufacturing, inspection, and test processes and drive improvements for defect prevention and continuous improvement.
• Analyze supplier quality data to identify systemic trends and emerging risks.
• Coordinate cross-functional resolution of significant supplier quality issues and support Tiger Team activities as needed.
• Partner with Receiving and Production Quality to improve incoming inspection and containment strategies.
• Drive improvements in supplier traceability, process controls, workmanship, inspection/test coverage, and change-control discipline.
• Conduct supplier performance reviews and escalations as required

Skills

Root cause analysis

8D/SCAR

CAPA/SCAR

Auditing

Process controls

FAI/NPI

Data analysis

Technical problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Travel to suppliers

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

DDN seeks a Senior Supplier Quality Engineer to provide dedicated quality engineering support for the supplier base, interfacing with Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, NPI, Test, and Supply Chain teams to enhance supplier performance and prevent quality escapes.

The role focuses on our primary manufacturing partner and key platform products, while supporting supplier quality activities across the broader base. Travel to supplier sites will be required as needed.