Supplier Quality Engineer

Supplier Quality Engineer – Aerospace Manufacturing

Location: Onsite in Seminole, OK

Employment Type: Direct Hire / Full-Time

Target Base Salary: $95,000 – $115,000 (commensurate with experience)

Travel: 25% – 30% (Travel to supplier sites and affiliate facilities)

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Supplier Quality Engineer to manage and elevate the quality performance of a global supply base for a leading aerospace and defense manufacturing organization. In this role, you will own supplier quality performance across the entire product lifecycle—from initial qualification and New Product Introduction (NPI) through full production and continuous improvement.

You will play a vital role in driving defect prevention, improving process capability, and ensuring strict compliance with engineering, regulatory, and customer requirements in a high-consequence, mission-critical environment.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Qualification & Development

• Lead supplier selection and qualification activities, including capability assessments, risk evaluations, and on-site audits.
• Ensure effective flow-down of engineering, quality, and customer-specific requirements.
• Drive supplier readiness for production, including First Article Inspection (FAI) and process validation.
• Assess and approve supplier manufacturing processes, controls, and quality systems in alignment with AS9100 standards.

Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement

• Establish, monitor, and drive key performance indicators (KPIs), including PPM, On-Time Delivery (OTD), Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ), and escapes.
• Lead structured supplier performance reviews and collaborate on targeted improvement plans.
• Partner with Supply Chain Management to align sourcing decisions with supplier performance and risk profiles.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain to eliminate variation and defects.

Issue Resolution & Corrective Action

• Lead investigation and resolution of supplier-related nonconformances and quality escapes.
• Utilize structured problem-solving methodologies (8D, FMEA, 5 Whys, Fishbone diagrams) to perform root cause analysis.
• Ensure corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) are implemented, verified, and effective in preventing recurrence.
• Escalate critical issues promptly while managing containment and technical communications.

Process Control & Risk Mitigation

• Evaluate and improve supplier process controls using FMEA, Statistical Process Control (SPC), and Control Plans.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks related to special processes, capacity constraints, and manufacturing variation.
• Drive the implementation of error-proofing and prevention-based quality systems across key suppliers.

Audits & Compliance

• Conduct routine supplier audits to ensure ongoing compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, and relevant regulatory body standards (e.g., FAA, NADCAP).
• Support customer and regulatory agency audits involving the supply base.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with internal Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, and Program Management teams to resolve technical issues and optimize supply chain performance.
• Serve as a key technical liaison between the organization, its key suppliers, and end customers.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial, or a related technical discipline) is required.
• Experience:
• 3 to 5+ years of quality engineering experience in manufacturing.
• 3+ years specifically in a Supplier Quality Engineer role supporting Aerospace & Defense OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers.
• Technical Standards: Proven experience with AS9100, ISO 9001, and FAA regulatory environments. Familiarity with NADCAP is a plus.
• Quality Methods: Strong experience in root cause analysis (8D, 5 Whys, Fishbone), FAI, APQP, FMEA, SPC, and control plans.
• Certifications (Preferred): Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Supplier Quality Professional (CSQP), Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, or AS9100 Lead Auditor certification.
• Location & Travel:
• Ability to work onsite Monday through Friday in Seminole, OK.
• Willingness to travel 25% to 30% to supplier sites and affiliated facilities.

Would you like me to also draft a brief, high-converting candidate outreach template (LinkedIn / Email) based on these details to help you start sourcing?