Supplier Quality Engineer, Safety Systems

ArcTern Ventures; Garden Grove (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Harbinger is seeking a Supplier Quality Engineer to define and implement supplier quality processes for chassis/frame structures, safety modules, and thermal systems. The role spans supplier selection, PPAP, audits, root-cause analysis, and CAPA implementation to ensure safety and regulatory compliance.

You will collaborate with Engineering, Purchasing, and Manufacturing to drive continuous improvement, maintain QMS, and track supplier performance metrics across the production line.

Qualifications

• Minimum engineering degree with exposure to automotive safety systems.
• Experience defining supplier quality standards and processes.
• Proven track record in APQP/PPAP and CAPA activities.
• Ability to perform root-cause analysis and implement corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement supplier quality standards for chassis/frame structures and thermal systems.
• Inspect materials and components to ensure safety and performance specs.
• Lead supplier audits and assessments to ensure conformance to automotive safety standards.
• Drive leak testing, joinings, heat treatment, and process capability improvements.
• Coordinate with design and manufacturing to support DFMEA/PFMEA reviews.

Skills

Supplier quality management

APQP/PPAP

Root cause analysis

8D/5-Why

NDT

Statistical methods

Lean manufacturing

CAPA

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Gage R&R

FMEA/PFMEA

Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001)

Job description

About Harbinger

Harbinger is an American commercial electric vehicle (EV) company on a mission to transform an industry starving for innovation. Harbinger’s best-in-class team of EV, battery, and drivetrain experts have pooled their deep experience to bring a first-of-its-kind EV platform to support the growing demand for medium-duty EVs and Hybrids. Harbinger: Familiar Form, Revolutionary Foundation.

Job Overview

We are looking for a Supplier Quality Engineer (Safety Systems, Frame, Thermal) with broad responsibilities, working cross-functionally with Engineering, Suppliers, Purchasing, and Manufacturing teams to define and implement supplier quality engineering processes and drive continuous improvement activities throughout the organization. The Quality Engineer will play a key role in implementing and maintaining Harbinger’s quality management system (QMS) and will establish and improve the quality of our operational processes and outputs. Responsibilities include defining quality standards for critical structural frames, occupant safety components, and thermal systems, inspecting materials, equipment, processes, and products, developing quality control systems, supplier selection, PPAP, leading APQP, and determining corrective actions. A successful Quality Engineer should have excellent troubleshooting skills and be able to ensure that complex mechanical, structural, and thermal systems consistently meet strict safety and functional standards.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and implement supplier quality standards, supplier quality portal, and supporting supplier quality processes tailored to chassis/frame structures, functional safety components, and thermal management systems.

• Inspect and test materials, sub-assemblies, and finished components (e.g., structural frame weldments, extrusions, castings, heat exchangers, pumps, coolant lines, airbags, seatbelts, and crash sensors) to ensure safety and performance specifications are met.

• Conduct supplier assessments and evaluations to ensure suppliers meet stringent automotive safety standards, structural integrity compliance, and leak-tightness specifications.

• Plan and conduct supplier audits to assess quality systems, welding/joining processes, heat treatment, leak testing methods, and technical capabilities.

• Participate in the supplier selection process by providing quality-related, structural integrity, and regulatory compliance input.

• Lead weekly calls with suppliers to ensure frame weldments, safety modules, and thermal components are on track to meet quality, safety, and timing requirements for various build stages of the production line.

• Monitor and report on supplier performance metrics, such as defect rates, structural test yields, leak test pass rates, delivery times, and compliance with specifications.

• Identify areas for improvement and work with suppliers to implement robust root cause analysis and corrective actions (8D, 5-Why).

• Investigate and resolve quality issues related to material defects, weld integrity, structural tolerances, safety component traceability, and thermal fluid leakage.

• Collaborate with suppliers to determine root causes of defects and implement robust corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance supplier quality, structural integrity, and thermal performance.

• Work with suppliers to implement lean manufacturing practices, non-destructive testing (NDT), automated leak checks, and statistical process controls.

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of supplier quality performance, structural test reports, leak rate certifications, audits, and corrective actions.

• Ensure that suppliers comply with all relevant industry standards, safety regulations (e.g., FMVSS, ISO 26262 functional safety basics), and company policies.

• Stay updated on changes in industry standards and regulations affecting automotive safety systems, structural crashworthiness, and thermal/environmental compliance.

• Lead supplier audits, APQP, PPAP, Gauge R&R, non-destructive validation, leak testing validation, and safe launch activities.

• Participate in Design for Manufacturability/Assembly (DFM/DFA) and risk mitigation reviews (DFMEA/PFMEA) with design engineering and manufacturing teams.

• Lead MRB (Material Review Board) meetings and act as a quality representative for the engineering change control board regarding frames, structural components, safety assemblies, and thermal hardware.

Who You