Senior Supplier Quality Engineer

The Senior Supplier Quality Engineer is responsible for managing and improving the quality of materials and components sourced from suppliers, ensuring that they meet company standards and regulatory requirements. This role involves collaborating with suppliers to resolve quality issues, conducting audits, and driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance supplier performance.

Essential Functions

• Lead the evaluation and qualification of new suppliers, ensuring they meet quality standards and specifications.
• Manage ongoing relationships with suppliers to ensure consistent quality and timely delivery of materials or components.
• Collaborate with suppliers to develop and improve processes, ensuring alignment with company requirements.
• Conduct supplier audits to evaluate their quality management systems, production processes, and compliance with industry regulations.
• Identify areas for improvement during audits and work with suppliers to develop and implement corrective action plans.
• Monitor supplier performance using key metrics such as defect rates, on-time delivery, and corrective action closure.
• Investigate supplier-related quality issues, leading root cause analysis and determining corrective actions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., manufacturing, engineering, procurement) to resolve quality issues and ensure continuity of supply.
• Track and monitor the effectiveness of corrective actions to prevent reoccurrence of quality problems.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with suppliers to enhance product quality, reduce defects, and optimize manufacturing processes.
• Support the implementation of lean manufacturing and Six Sigma practices within supplier operations.
• Develop and enforce quality standards, procedures, and best practices to ensure supplier compliance with company expectations.
• Maintain detailed documentation of supplier performance, audit results, corrective actions, and process improvements.
• Prepare and present reports on supplier quality performance and improvement initiatives to senior management.
• Ensure all documentation and supplier activities comply with regulatory requirements and quality standards (e.g., ISO, AS9100).
• Work closely with suppliers during the product development phase to ensure quality standards are met in prototype and pre-production stages.
• Provide technical support to suppliers in the design and validation of new products or materials.
• Review and approve supplier process validation and qualification plans.
• Ensure supplier compliance with company policies, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Identify and mitigate risks in the supply chain related to supplier quality and reliability.
• Develop strategies for supplier qualification and risk assessment, particularly in critical or high impact supply categories.
• Perform other duties as required.

Standard Essential Functions

• Regular and reliable attendance on a full time basis [or in accordance with posted schedule].
• Responsible for exhibiting professional behavior with both internal and external business associates that reflects positively on the company and is consistent with the companys policies and practices.
• Embodies AEVEX’s cultural values and aligns daily actions with department goals and company culture. Qualifications and Competencies
• Proven ability to hold suppliers accountable to scorecard metrics including quality, delivery, and responsiveness.
• Proven ability to establish solid supplier relationships assure rapid response to supplier corrective action requests (SCAR) and preventive measures.
• Ability to translate AEVEX customer requirements into critical quality flow down requirements to suppliers.
• Strong knowledge of quality management systems (QMS), AS9100, ISO standards, and supplier audit practices.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills to work effectively with suppliers and internal teams.
• Proficiency in data analysis and reporting, with the ability to interpret quality data and trends.
• Thorough in reviewing supplier processes and products to ensure they meet quality standards.
• Ability to identify root causes of quality issues and implement effective corrective actions.
• Strong ability to influence and guide suppliers in improving their quality processes.
• Capable of managing multiple quality improvement projects and supplier audits simultaneously.
• Able to work cross-functionally with engineering, procurement, and manufacturing teams to resolve quality issues.

Education / Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or a related field;
• Master’s degree preferred.

Experience

• 10+ Experience in Aerospace manufacturing operations; defense contract manufacturing experience preferred.
• Global supply chain experience preferred.
• Experience with quality tools and methodologies such as Six Sigma, 8D, FMEA, and root cause analysis.
• Knowledge and experience with to following commodities: Composites Electric, Electronic and Electro-Mechanical products, Avionics systems, Wire Harness manufacturing.

Security Clearance

• Ability to obtain/maintain a Secret DoD clearance, U.S. Citizenship required.

Physical Requirements The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties the employee is: Frequently required to sit, and to reach to use computers and other office equipment.