Supplier Quality Specialist

Nanotech Energy; Chico (CA); Hybrid; USD 58,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Holiday Pay

401(k)

Medical insurance

Dental

Job summary

Nanotech Energy is seeking a Supplier Quality Specialist in Chico, California to support supplier qualification, incoming-material quality, and supplier performance activities for advanced lithium-ion cell development. Reporting to the Senior Quality Manager, you will conduct supplier audits, verify documentation, and manage supplier-related nonconformances and CAPA processes.

The role emphasizes learning/performing audits under supervision, maintaining records in PLEX MES, and contributing to

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Zero to two years in supplier quality, quality, inspection, manufacturing, or supply-chain roles.
• Completion of four ASQ courses: SQP Intro; Auditing for Improved Supplier Performance; Quality/Engineering Tools for Supplier Management; Introduction to Supplier Management.
• Foundational knowledge of supplier qualification, auditing, incoming inspection, SCAR/8D/CAPA, sampling, SPC, MSA, PFMEA, control plans, and objective-evidence documentation.
• Ability to read specifications, drawings, purchase requirements, certificates of analysis and conformance, safety data sheets, inspection plans, and technical records; Excel proficiency and willingness to learn PLEX MES.

Responsibilities

• Support supplier qualification and onboarding for battery materials, cell components, equipment, outsourced processes, calibration, testing, and services.
• Plan and conduct supplier system, process, product, capacity, and special-process audits under qualified supervision until independent competency is documented.
• Perform or coordinate incoming inspection and verify supplier status, identity, revision, lot/serial traceability, condition, labeling, certificates, and test results.
• Identify, segregate, label, and quarantine suspect or nonconforming incoming material and initiate required nonconformance and supplier-notification processes.
• Issue, track, and evaluate supplier corrective-action requests, including containment, root cause, 8D, CAPA, implementation evidence, and effectiveness verification.
• Maintain supplier-quality scorecards and analyze defects, escapes, responsiveness, audit findings, change control, corrective-action aging, and recurring issues.
• Review supplier change notices and coordinate required technical, Quality, Procurement, and business approval before implementation.
• Support supplier quality agreements, incoming-quality requirements, performance reviews, improvement plans, and approved supplier education and coaching.
• Maintain complete supplier, audit, inspection, nonconformance, approval, and performance records in PLEX MES and other controlled systems while preserving the Procurement boundary.

Skills

Auditing

Reading specifications

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

ASQ courses completed: Supplier Quality Professional, Auditing for Improved Supplier Performance, Quality/Engineering Tools for Supplier Management, Introduction to Supplier Management

Tools

Excel

PLEX MES

Job description

Department: Quality
Position: Supplier Quality Specialist
Location: Chico, California
Pay Range: $28.00 – $38.00 per hour

Supports supplier qualification, incoming-material quality, supplier performance, and corrective-action activities for advanced cylindrical lithium-ion cell development and manufacturing. Reporting to the Senior Quality Manager, this entry-level individual contributor supports supplier audits and assessments, verifies incoming products and documentation, investigates supplier-related nonconformances, administers assigned supplier corrective actions, and provides approved supplier education and coaching. Quality retains incoming acceptance and disposition authority; Procurement retains sourcing and commercial authority; authorized technical owners retain material selection, specification, and qualification authority.

Benefits Full-time employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s 401(k) plan and medical plan, and to receive other benefits in accordance with Company policies. A summary of our current benefits is below.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): PTO accrues from your first day of employment
• Holiday Pay: 10 paid holidays per year, designated by the Company
• 401(k): Participation in the Company’s 401(k) plan
• Medical: The Company pays up to $500 per month toward medical coverage for employees and their dependents.
• Dental: Premiums are paid in full by the employee.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Support risk-based qualification and onboarding of suppliers for battery materials, cell components, equipment, outsourced processes, calibration, testing, and technical services.
• Plan and conduct assigned supplier system, process, product, capacity, and special-process audits under qualified supervision until independent competency is documented.
• Perform or coordinate approved incoming inspection and verify supplier status, identity, revision, lot/serial traceability, condition, labeling, certificates, and test results.
• Identify, segregate, label, and quarantine suspect or nonconforming incoming material and initiate required nonconformance and supplier-notification processes.
• Issue, track, and evaluate supplier corrective-action requests, including containment, root cause, 8D, CAPA, implementation evidence, and effectiveness verification.
• Maintain supplier-quality scorecards and analyze defects, escapes, responsiveness, audit findings, change control, corrective-action aging, and recurring issues.
• Review supplier change notices and coordinate required technical, Quality, Procurement, and business approval before implementation.
• Support supplier quality agreements, incoming-quality requirements, performance reviews, improvement plans, and approved supplier education and coaching.
• Maintain complete supplier, audit, inspection, nonconformance, approval, and performance records in PLEX MES and other controlled systems while preserving the Procurement boundary.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required; an associate or bachelor’s degree in quality, engineering, materials science, chemistry, manufacturing, supply chain, business, or a related field is preferred.
• Zero to two years of supplier-quality, quality, inspection, manufacturing, laboratory, engineering-support, or supply-chain experience; internships, co‑op assignments, academic projects, and technician experience may qualify.
• Documented completion of all four required ASQ courses: Supplier Quality Professional: An Introduction; Auditing for Improved Supplier Performance; Quality/Engineering Tools for Supplier Management; and Introduction to Supplier Management.
• Foundational knowledge of supplier qualification, auditing, incoming inspection, SCAR/8D/CAPA, sampling, SPC, process capability, MSA, PFMEA, control plans, and objective‑evidence documentation.
• Ability to read specifications, drawings, purchase requirements, certificates of analysis and conformance, safety data sheets, inspection plans, and technical records; proficiency with Excel and ability to learn PLEX MES are required.
• Prior independent supplier‑audit leadership is not required; the employee must complete supervised audits and documented competency qualification before independently leading assigned audits.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Accommodation
Nanotech Energy is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion or religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, reproductive health decision‑making, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Nanotech Energy provides reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, observances, and practices, unless doing so would cause undue hardship. Applicants who need an accommodation during the application or interview process should contact the recruiting team.