Supplier Quality Engineer

Kratos Unmanned Systems; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. seeks a Supplier Quality Engineer to manage daily quality across the supply base, ensuring purchased materials meet engineering, contractual, and regulatory requirements. You will be the primary quality interface with suppliers and drive containment and corrective actions.

Key focus areas include NCR/SCAR management, FAI per AS9102, supplier audits, and collaboration with Engineering and Manufacturing to protect product quality and on-time deliveries.

Qualifications

• Experience in supplier quality management across aerospace/defense supply chains.
• Familiarity with AS9100/AS9102 quality systems and procedures.
• Strong root-cause analysis and corrective-action skills (8D, 5 Whys, DMAIC).

Responsibilities

• Lead supplier NCRs and SCARs and coordinate containment of nonconforming material.
• Review First Article Inspection packages per AS9102 and verify documentation.
• Develop and maintain supplier quality scorecards and performance metrics.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain on supplier issues to protect quality and delivery schedules.

Skills

Supplier quality management

Root cause analysis

CAPA

8D problem solving

Job description

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., is a leading defense technology company focused on uncrewed systems, satellite communications, cyber security/warfare, microwave electronics, missile defense, training, and combat systems. Our customers include the U.S. federal government, foreign governments, commercial enterprises, and state and local government agencies. At Kratos, we prioritize affordability as a cornerstone of our technology. We leverage proven, cutting-edge methodologies and technology to minimize costs, streamline schedules, and mitigate risks, ensuring timely delivery of cost-effective solutions to market.

GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:

The Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) is responsible for the day-to-day quality performance, compliance, and corrective-action management of TDIis supply base. The SQE serves as the primary quality interface with assigned suppliers and ensures purchased materials, components, and externally provided processes meet engineering, contractual, customer, and regulatory requirements.

The SQE focuses on supplier quality performance, nonconformance containment, root cause and corrective action, First Article Inspection (FAI), process capability, supplier audits, source inspection, and prevention of recurring defects.

The SQE works cross-functionally with Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Program Management to resolve supplier-related issues that could affect product quality, production schedules, customer deliveries, or reliability.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Supplier Quality Management & Performance

• Manage quality performance of assigned suppliers.
• Monitor and trend:
• Product quality and defect rates
• Supplier escapes and recurring nonconformances
• SPC and process capability data
• Corrective-action responsiveness and effectiveness
• Maintain supplier quality scorecards and performance metrics.
• Escalate significant or recurring supplier quality risks.

Nonconformance, Root Cause & Corrective Action

• Lead supplier-related NCRs and Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs).
• Coordinate containment of suspect or nonconforming material.
• Drive root cause analysis using structured methods including:
• 8D
• 5 Whys
• DMAIC
• Validate corrective actions at both process and system levels.
• Verify corrective-action effectiveness and prevent recurrence.

Machining Process & Supplier Capability

• Evaluate supplier manufacturing processes including:
• Multi-axis CNC machining
• Turning, milling, grinding, and finishing
• High-precision aerospace components
• Assess supplier ability to consistently meet:
• GD&T and dimensional tolerances
• Surface finish requirements
• Critical feature requirements
• Engineering and regulatory requirements
• Review machining strategies, tooling, inspection methods, and process controls.

Material Science & Special Process Oversight

• Evaluate compliance with material and special-process requirements including:
• Nickel-based alloys, stainless steel, titanium, and other aerospace materials
• Heat treatment
• Coatings and surface treatments
• NDT and other special processes
• Verify control of:
• Material lot traceability
• Material Test Reports (MTRs)
• Certificates of Conformance
• Special-process certifications
• Support failure analysis involving material, heat-treatment, or metallurgical concerns.

Engineering Drawing & Specification Interpretation

• Interpret engineering drawings, specifications, GD&T, and tolerance requirements.
• Review critical-to-quality features, surface finish, and geometric requirements.
• Ensure suppliers understand and comply with current technical requirements.
• Support Engineering and suppliers in resolving manufacturability, dimensional, and process capability concerns.

First Article Inspection (FAI)

• Review supplier FAI packages in accordance with AS9102.
• Verify dimensional results, material certifications, special-process certifications, and supporting documentation.
• Support FAI requirements resulting from design, process, tooling, or manufacturing changes.

Incoming Inspection & Quality Verification

• Support development of inspection and control plans for critical supplier components.
• Review:
• CMM data
• Dimensional inspection reports
• SPC data
• Material and process certifications
• Ensure traceability between:
• Material
• Manufacturing processes
• Inspection data
• Partner with Quality and Manufacturing on acceptance criteria and supplier containment requirements.

Supplier Audits & Source Inspection

• Conduct supplier quality system, process, and product audits as required.
• Perform targeted audits in response to:
• Supplier escapes
• Recurring defects
• Process instability
• Corrective-action concerns
• Conduct or coordinate source inspections when required.
• Document findings and ensure corrective actions are completed and verified.

Engineering, Manufacturing & Supply Chain Integration

• Collaborate with Engineering on:
• Manufacturability
• Tolerance feasibility
• Supplier-related technical issues
• Partner with Supply Chain on supplier quality performance and risk.
• Support Manufacturing with supplier-related production issues, containment, and recovery actions.
• Provide timely supplier quality status to internal stakeholders.

Configuration Control & Traceability

• Ensure supplier-delivered components conform to:
• Correct drawing revisions
• Approved configurations
• Purchase-order requirements
• Controlled documentation
• Support traceability across:
• PLM/PDM
• ERP/MRP
• QMS
• Prevent use of obsolete drawings, unauthorized process changes, or unapproved material substitutions.
• Ensure supplier quality documentation is complete, traceable, audit-ready, and AS9100 compliant.

Supplier Quality Improvement

• Drive improvement of existing supplier performance focused on:
• Defect reduction
• Process control
• Process capability
• Corrective-action effectiveness
• Inspection effectiveness
• Reduction of recurring issues
• Use quality and process data to identify trends and drive permanent corrective action.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• No direct supervisory responsibility.
• Leads supplier quality activities and cross-functional corrective-action efforts.