Supplier Quality Engineer [AQ-24276]

Aquent; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent partners with a pioneering company driving autonomous vehicle technology in California. This Quality Engineering role focuses on ensuring top-tier quality across the supply chain and product lifecycle, from prototype to production.

You will collaborate with engineering and sourcing to accelerate supplier readiness and implement robust quality systems. You will lead APQP/PPAP processes, perform RCCA with suppliers, and apply Six Sigma and advanced quality tools to reduce risk and drive

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering is required.
• 6+ years in Quality, Supplier Quality, or Manufacturing in automotive, aviation, or medical devices.
• Experience with NPI and implementing robust quality systems.
• Strong problem-solving using Six Sigma, 8D, Pareto, regression, DOE, and Fishbone analysis.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with engineering and sourcing to select suppliers and conduct process audits.
• Lead supplier qualification activities, capability assessments, and design for manufacturability reviews.
• Drive APQP/PPAP processes from design through SOP with suppliers.

Skills

Six Sigma

8D

FMEA

APQP

PPAP

SPC

NPI

Supplier Quality

Process Control

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Industrial Engineering

Tools

MS Office

MSA

Job description

Partner with Aquent to join a pioneering company at the forefront of autonomous technology, dedicated to redefining transportation. This is an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to a groundbreaking mission that will shape the future of mobility, ensuring the highest standards of quality in every aspect of our innovative products.

We are seeking a highly motivated and impactful individual to join our team in a pivotal quality engineering role. In this critical position, you will be instrumental in shaping the future of our innovative products by ensuring the highest quality standards across our supply chain. Your expertise will directly influence the performance and reliability of cutting-edge autonomous vehicle systems, driving continuous improvement and world-class manufacturing from prototype to production. You will collaborate closely with engineering and sourcing teams, making a tangible difference in the development and deployment of revolutionary technology.

What You’ll Do

• Collaborate with engineering and strategic sourcing managers to meticulously select suppliers, conducting detailed process assessments and audits to ensure manufacturing excellence and providing crucial feedback for final selection.
• Engage with suppliers on all technical design elements, conducting CAD model and print reviews to assess design for manufacturability, and actively collaborating on developing new manufacturing techniques to meet design requirements.
• Lead the Supplier Industrialization Roadmap, driving product and process development activities and conducting thorough capability assessments at supplier manufacturing sites.
• Identify supplier Capex production equipment, tooling, and fixturing requirements aligned with project timelines, and spearhead all qualification activities to verify and validate these critical assets.
• Partner with strategic sourcing managers to evaluate supplier readiness for various vehicle build events, proactively identifying and highlighting production ramp risks, and collaborating on and reporting risk mitigation plans to management.
• Manage and continuously enhance the Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) process with suppliers, from initial design stages through Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) submission and all the way to Start of Production (SOP).
• Be responsible for training and onboarding suppliers to our quality submission processes, meticulously reviewing prototype and production parts quality document submissions, and providing essential feedback as needed.
• Lead Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) analysis with suppliers and vehicle manufacturing teams, track corrective actions, provide support for immediate containment, and ensure long-term permanent corrective actions are implemented and process documentation is updated.
• Analyze and report incoming supplier part quality metrics for your assigned supply base, including First Article Inspection reports, Cp/Cpk analysis, Pareto charts, Statistical Process Control, and Process Capability Studies.
• Drive continuous improvement throughout the supply base by leveraging advanced quality and lean manufacturing tools and methodologies.

Must‑Have Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or an equivalent engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in Quality, Supplier Quality, or Manufacturing within the automotive, aviation, or medical device industries, or a combination of Supplier Quality and Internal Plant quality development.
• Proven experience in New Product Introduction (NPI), including creating and improving robust quality systems.
• Proficiency in using advanced problem‑solving techniques such as Six‑Sigma, 8‑Discipline, Pareto Charts, Regression Analysis, ANOVA, Design of Experiments (DOE), Fish Bone Analysis, and Red‑X.
• Extensive experience with core process control tools, including Process Flow Diagrams, Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEAs), Process Control Plans, Statistical Process Control (SPC), Measurement System Analysis (MSA), and Process Capability.
• Hands‑on experience with various manufacturing processes such as Injection Molding, stamping, and electromechanical assemblies.
• Working knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), Tooling and Fixture Verification and Validation, and final buyoff procedures at supplier sites.
• Working knowledge of Quality and Automotive systems such as ISO 9000 and IATF 16949.
• Solid knowledge of conducting Supplier assessments, Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), coupled with product launch and vendor ramp experience.
• Fully proficient in Microsoft computer applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications such as Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) from ASQ, Six Sigma Green Belt, or certified Quality Systems Auditor.
• Experience in Automotive Chassis Suspension systems (conventional or Air) and familiarity with parts such as jounce bumpers, shocks, leaf & coil springs, pressure regulated valves, actuators, and suspension lines.
• A strong understanding of manufacturing processes such as Cleaning, Tube bending, seamless tubes, forming, welding, and general machining.

Other Requirements

International & Domestic Travel Required: Approx. 40%