Supply Chain Quality Engineer

Pivotal Systems; Fremont (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Pivotal Systems is seeking a Supply Chain Quality Engineer to lead the supplier quality program across Fremont, Malaysia, and Korea. The role focuses on incoming and lot inspection, supplier qualification, audits, and performance tracking to ensure materials meet stringent quality standards before entering production.

Ideal candidates have 3–5+ years in supplier quality, experience with FAIR, inspection sampling, and quality tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, or related field.
• 3-5+ years of supplier quality or incoming inspection experience.
• Experience with supplier audits and qualifications.
• Knowledge of quality tools and methodologies (8D, FMEA, SPC, RCA).
• Experience with inspection sampling plans (ANSI/ASQ Z1.4) and FAIR processes.
• Comfort with hands-on inspection tools and reading drawings/specifications.
• Strong communication skills and ability to manage supplier relationships.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (Malaysia, Korea).
• Must be able to speak Mandarin.

Responsibilities

• Lead incoming inspection processes including FAIR and sampling plans for multiple sites.
• Maintain and improve incoming inspection areas and MRB processes at each site.
• Drive supplier quality program initiatives and supplier qualification criteria.
• Develop and maintain supplier scorecards to track performance and issues.
• Collaborate with Quality Manager and site engineers to align requirements.
• Conduct supplier audits and qualification visits across sites as needed.
• Support MRB dispositioning of nonconforming material.
• Contribute to root cause investigation and 8D/CAPA for supplier issues.
• Work with purchasing to reflect quality requirements in supplier agreements and POs.

Skills

Supplier quality

Audits

Root cause analysis

Communication

Travel ready

Mandarin

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Quality

Tools

8D

FMEA

SPC

Gage reading

ANSI/ASQ Z1.4

Job description

The Supply Chain Quality Engineer is responsible for leading Pivotal Systems' supplier quality program - incoming inspection, lot inspection, supplier qualification processes, audits and scorecards that ensure purchased materials and components meet Pivotal's quality standards before entering production. This is a high-impact role, driving continuous improvement of processes, inspection infrastructure, and supplier accountability across Pivotal's global sites (Fremont, Malaysia, Korea). Overseas travel required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead incoming inspection processes, including first article inspection (FAIR) and lot-based inspection sampling plans, for Fremont and across Malaysia and Korea.
• Maintain and continuously improve physical incoming inspection areas and MRB (Material Review Board) quarantine/lockup processes at each site.
• Drive supplier quality program initiatives — supplier qualification criteria, supplier audits, and documentation of customer Plan of Record (POR) requirements as they apply to suppliers.
• Develop and maintain supplier scorecards/performance tracking to identify and address recurring quality issues at the source.
• Partner with the Quality Manager and site quality engineers to align supplier quality requirements with each site's incoming material needs.
• Conduct supplier audits and qualification visits, including travel to supplier sites and Pivotal's Malaysia and Korea facilities as needed.
• Participate in Material Review Board (MRB) dispositioning of nonconforming incoming material.
• Support root cause investigation and corrective action (8D/CAPA) for supplier-originated quality issues.
• Collaborate with purchasing/supply chain teams to ensure quality requirements are reflected in supplier agreements and purchase orders.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, or related field (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, etc.).
• 3-5+ years of experience in supplier quality, incoming inspection, or related quality engineering roles, preferably in manufacturing or industrial environments.
• Experience conducting supplier audits and qualifications.
• Working knowledge of quality tools and methodologies (8D, FMEA, SPC, Root Cause Analysis).
• Experience with inspection sampling plans (e.g., ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 or similar) and first article inspection processes.
• Comfort with hands-on inspection work — measurement tools and gauges (calipers, micrometers, etc.), reading engineering drawings/specifications.
• Strong communication skills, with ability to hold suppliers accountable while maintaining productive working relationships.
• Willingness and ability to travel, including internationally (Malaysia, Korea) and to supplier sites, as a regular part of the role.
• Must be able to speak Mandarin

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in semiconductor, aerospace, or other highly regulated precision manufacturing industries.
• Experience developing and improving supplier quality programs.
• Familiarity with copy-exact methodology or similar process replication frameworks used by semiconductor capital equipment customers.
• ISO 9001 or other quality system knowledge.