Supplier Quality Engineer

Santa Fe Springs, CA
$85,000–$125,000 per year
Full-Time | On-Site

Kinetic Personnel Group is partnering with a leading manufacturing company in Santa Fe Springs, CA, to identify a Supplier Quality Engineer. This position will work closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and suppliers to ensure quality requirements are met from supplier selection and onboarding through production.

The ideal candidate will have a strong manufacturing quality background, particularly with CNC machining, welding, fabrication, CMM inspection, or other complex manufactured components. Aerospace experience is not required; candidates from other highly regulated or precision manufacturing environments are encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Engineering and Supply Chain/Buyers on supplier selection, qualification, development, and performance.

• Communicate technical and quality requirements to suppliers through purchase orders, specifications, drawings, and ERP systems.

• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships while establishing quality expectations and improvement objectives.

• Conduct supplier audits, including onboarding and surveillance audits, both on-site and remotely.

• Perform source inspections to verify supplier products meet purchase order and quality requirements.

• Monitor supplier performance using scorecards, KPIs, and quality metrics.

• Manage supplier nonconformances, deviation requests, corrective actions, and concession approvals.

• Lead supplier root cause and corrective action activities using tools such as 8D, 5-Why, Ishikawa, and other problem-solving methodologies.

• Oversee and/or perform First Article Inspections (FAIs) and review FAIR documentation.

• Evaluate special processes such as welding, plating, heat treating, and other outside processing for compliance with applicable requirements.

• Review supplier documentation including PPAPs, PFMEAs, Control Plans, inspection reports, and related quality records.

• Support New Product Development (NPD) and New Product Introduction (NPI) activities to ensure supplier readiness.

• Interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T requirements to support supplier quality activities.

• Utilize inspection equipment and technologies such as CMMs, PCMMs, Faro/Romer arms, and other metrology equipment.

• Partner with internal Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Supply Chain teams to resolve supplier quality issues.

• Participate in internal, supplier, customer, and regulatory audits.

• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and implement lean/problem-solving initiatives with suppliers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical field preferred.

• 7+ years of Quality Engineering or related manufacturing quality experience.

• 3+ years of Supplier Quality Engineering, Supplier Development, or equivalent supplier-facing quality experience preferred.

• Strong manufacturing background involving CNC machining, welding, fabrication, precision components, or other complex manufactured products.

• Experience with CMMs, PCMMs, Faro/Romer arms, or other dimensional inspection equipment.

• Strong understanding of ISO 9001 and/or AS9100 quality management systems.

• Experience with First Article Inspections (FAI/FAIR) and AS9102 requirements preferred.

• Strong knowledge of root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies, including 8D, 5-Why, and Ishikawa.

• Working knowledge of GD&T and engineering drawing interpretation.

• Experience with supplier audits, supplier development, or supplier performance management.

• Familiarity with PPAP, APQP, PFMEA, Control Plans, and SPC.

• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems.

• Strong analytical, communication, organizational, and documentation skills.

• Ability to work effectively with suppliers, Engineering, Purchasing, Manufacturing, and other cross-functional teams.

• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally to supplier locations, potentially up to 40% of working time.

Preferred Qualifications

• CQE, Six Sigma, or ISO Lead Auditor certification.

• Experience auditing special processes such as welding, plating, heat treating, or other outside processing.

• Experience working with NADCAP-certified suppliers or other accredited special-process suppliers.

• Experience in aerospace, defense, automotive, medical device, industrial equipment, or other precision manufacturing environments.

Compensation & Benefits

• $85,000–$125,000 annual salary, depending on experience and qualifications.

• Full-time, on-site position in Santa Fe Springs, CA.

• Opportunity to work cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and external suppliers.

• Travel opportunities to supplier facilities.

About the Role

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on quality professional who enjoys working directly with suppliers and manufacturing teams. The successful candidate will bring strong problem-solving skills, manufacturing knowledge, and the ability to drive quality improvements from the supplier through final production.