Staff Supplier Quality Engineer - Special Processes

Mainspring Energy; Menlo Park (CA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pre-IPO stock options

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Mainspring Energy is hiring for a Supplier Quality Engineer to oversee the quality gate for suppliers of complex components. This role demands strong relationships with suppliers, ensuring alignment with Mainspring's quality standards throughout the production process.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree and 7-10 years of relevant experience, with skills in auditing, quality planning, and supplier management. The position offers opportunities for impactful decision-making in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7-10 years of Supplier Quality Engineering experience.
• Experience with advanced quality planning and process controls.
• Ability to coach and mentor less experienced engineers.

Responsibilities

• Own the supplier quality gate from NPI through steady-state production.
• Conduct supplier audits for compliance to quality standards.
• Issue and close Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs).

Skills

Supplier quality management

Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)

Process audit experience

Data analysis

Education

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

Job description

Job Overview

Mainspring Energy is scaling production of a first-of-its-kind linear generator, a fundamentally new approach to power generation with the potential to replace combustion turbines globally. As we transition from development into volume manufacturing, supplier quality is a critical lever. This role owns the quality gate for a portfolio of suppliers producing complex components and special process parts from NPI qualification through steady-state production. You will operate with significant autonomy, serve as the subject matter expert on special processes for the broader SQE team, and work cross-functionally with Design Engineering, Materials & Process, and Supply Chain to build quality into the supply chain from the start, not through inspection. This is a senior individual contributor role with real accountability and real scope.

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

The Ideal Candidate

• 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

Qualifications

• 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

Does your experience not meet all of our posted requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to positions unless they meet every listed requirement. At Mainspring, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, flexible, and collaborative environment, so if you want to help us transition the world to clean and affordable electricity, and don’t meet all posted requirements for a particular role, we’d still love to hear from you. Mainspring can sometimes be flexible enough to shift responsibilities for the right person, or otherwise identify open or upcoming roles that may better fit your professional background.

In more traditional words, Mainspring Energy, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

This compensation and benefits information is based on Mainspring Energy's estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future. We generally do not negotiate on salary once we have made an offer. The level of pay within the range will depend on a variety of job-related factors that may include location, relevant prior experience and/or education, or particular skills and expertise. New hires joining the company tend to be paid within the starting base pay range noted above, with opportunities to increase pay over time based on development of additional skills, competencies, and company-specific knowledge.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

This position is onsite or hybrid at our Menlo Park HQ. The salary will be adjusted to reflect local market conditions based on employee location as well as the experience of the employee. Along with the base salary, Mainspring offers pre-IPO stock options + benefits.