Senior/Staff Supplier Quality & Development Engineer

Purpose

The Senior Supplier Quality & Development Engineer is a hybrid role that combines the proactive, strategic focus of supplier development with the technical rigor and oversight of supplier quality engineering. This position is responsible for building, improving, and sustaining a high-performing supplier base while ensuring all supplied materials, components, and services meet or exceed stringent quality standards. The role is pivotal in driving supplier excellence, supporting new product introductions, and ensuring continuous improvement.

The Role

• Serve as a liaison between production and procurement operations, suppliers, and customers to ensure all purchased products meet specifications, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve supplier quality manuals, procedures, production processes, engineering specifications, and inspection plans.
• Interpret and communicate customer requirements to suppliers, ensuring accurate and thorough flow down through purchase orders.
• Conduct supplier quality audits and source inspections to verify adherence to standards and contractual requirements.
• Lead initiatives to identify root causes of supplier issues and implement effective corrective actions, driving improvements in key metrics such as On-Time Delivery (OTD), scrap, rework, and repair costs.
• Oversee containment efforts for defects in procured parts, ensuring robust root cause corrective action (RCCA) processes are implemented to prevent recurrence.
• Analyze and resolve issues related to supplier components, assemblies, and materials, collaborating with cross-functional engineering teams.
• Participate in Material Review Board (MRB) activities to address supplier-originating nonconformances.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities and performance through data analysis, site assessments, and tooling validation.
• Track and analyze supplier key performance metrics such as OEE, cost, and capability to identify trends and drive improvements in quality, productivity, and cost efficiency.
• Develop and lead training programs for quality control (QC) and buyers team members, fostering expertise in advanced problem solving, Lean concepts, and best practices.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% to support supplier development, audits, and issue resolution activities.

Role Specialization - Additive Manufacturing & Components

• Lead supplier quality and development activities for equipment and printer component suppliers, including contract manufacturers, electrical systems, robotic systems, automated assembly equipment, tooling, thermal processing, HVAC systems, and other advanced manufacturing assets.
• Support equipment sourcing and qualification through supplier capability assessments, factory acceptance tests (FAT), site acceptance tests (SAT), and commissioning activities.
• Ensure equipment suppliers meet technical, quality, safety, and regulatory requirements throughout the equipment lifecycle, from design and build through installation and production ramp.
• Drive corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives with equipment suppliers related to reliability, uptime, maintainability, safety, and performance.
• Partner with manufacturing, facilities, automation, and maintenance teams to resolve supplier-related equipment issues and optimize long-term equipment performance.

Basic Qualifications

• Ability to lawfully access information and technology that is subject to US export controls
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7-8 years of progressive experience in supplier quality engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated expertise in Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), and Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA).
• Strong technical knowledge of automotive component design, manufacturing processes, safety and test requirements, and appearance approval procedures.
• Proficient in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and datum structures.
• Comprehensive understanding of IATF 16949:2016, ISO 14001, and relevant regulatory standards.
• Proficiency in quality tools and methodologies such as Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing.
• Exceptional problem solving and root cause analysis skills for addressing quality issues, non-conformities, and defects.
• Proven ability to conduct supplier quality management system audits and drive supplier improvement initiatives.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, Outlook.
• Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Plex), supplier portals, and compliance tracking tools.
• Demonstrated ethical conduct and integrity in all supplier interactions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven experience managing supplier quality for capital equipment in advanced manufacturing settings, including automated production lines, robotics, CNC machining, and facility systems.
• Familiarity with equipment qualification methodologies, including Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), commissioning, and long-term supplier performance monitoring.
• In-depth knowledge of aerospace quality standards, including AS9100 and NADCAP, with demonstrated familiarity in industry-specific regulations and certification requirements.
• Master's degree in Engineering or a closely related technical discipline, reflecting advanced technical expertise and leadership capabilities.
• Deep understanding of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles, with a proven ability to deliver actionable feedback to design engineering teams to optimize manufacturability, quality, and cost.
• Strong ability to develop and utilize cost models for multiple commodities, enabling effective achievement of target costs and informed sourcing decisions.

Work Environment

• This role will be located onsite in our Torrance, CA headquarters with occasional travel to our Long Beach factory.

Compensation

At Divergent, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at levels E05-E06 as evaluated through our interview process.

• E05 / Senior Engineer: $128,520 - $176,720
• E06 / Staff Engineer: $148,430 - $204,090

What We Offer

• Holistic Compensation Package: Enjoy a world-class compensation package that includes a competitive salary, equity plan, and discretionary results-based incentive bonus opportunities, ensuring you're truly valued for your contributions.
• Wellness and Time Off: Embrace a healthy lifestyle with paid vacation, sick time, and company holidays, including a year-end shutdown to recharge. We support growing families with paid parental leave, recognizing the importance of bonding time.
• Comprehensive Health and Wellness: Prioritize your well-being with our comprehensive health and wellness benefits, offering both HMO and Premium PPO options. Additionally, benefit from company-sponsored life insurance and short and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind.
• Investment in Growth: We're committed to your professional development. Take advantage of reimbursement opportunities for learning and development initiatives, empowering you to continuously expand your skill set and reach peak performance.
• Collaborative and High-Performing Environment: Join our collaborative, dynamic, and high-performing team within a fast-paced, mission-driven company. Together, we're disrupting the traditional manufacturing industry, fostering innovation, and integrating people and technology to reduce our footprint.