Supplier Quality Engineer – Aerospace & Defense
Location: Remote – West Coast
Travel: Up to 75% to supplier locations
Compensation: $120,000+
Employment Type: Full-Time
Take Ownership of Supplier Quality for Critical Aerospace Programs
We are seeking an experienced
Supplier Quality Engineer to support a growing aerospace and defense manufacturing organization and its supplier network throughout the West Coast.
This is a highly visible, technically focused role for an engineer who enjoys being in the field, evaluating manufacturing operations firsthand, solving complex supplier quality issues, and driving measurable improvements.
You will work remotely when not traveling and serve as a key technical resource between suppliers, Engineering, Procurement, Quality, and Operations. The ideal candidate brings deep aerospace quality experience along with hands-on knowledge of
precision machining, special processes, coatings/painting, GD&T, AS9100, and AS9102.
If you are comfortable walking into a supplier facility, evaluating its processes and capabilities, identifying risk, and leading the path toward resolution, this opportunity offers significant ownership and autonomy.
What You’ll Do
- Qualify, evaluate, and manage suppliers supporting complex aerospace and defense manufacturing programs.
- Conduct on-site supplier audits, process assessments, capability reviews, and ongoing surveillance.
- Evaluate suppliers for compliance with AS9100, customer requirements, engineering specifications, and program-specific quality standards.
- Review and approve First Article Inspections (FAI) in accordance with AS9102.
- Verify supplier products and processes against engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, and contractual requirements.
- Lead investigations involving supplier nonconformances and drive effective root cause and corrective action using tools such as 8D, 5-Whys, and Fishbone analysis.
- Provide technical guidance related to CNC machining, precision manufacturing, surface finishing, painting/coatings, and related aerospace processes.
- Apply advanced GD&T knowledge when evaluating manufactured components and supplier capability.
- Partner directly with suppliers to improve process controls, quality performance, repeatability, and delivery of conforming product.
- Work closely with Procurement, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Operations to resolve supplier-related quality concerns.
- Participate in Material Review Board (MRB) activities and support the disposition and resolution of supplier-related defects.
- Develop and maintain supplier quality documentation, inspection requirements, audit records, and quality performance data.
- Identify supplier risk and proactively drive corrective actions before issues impact production or customers.
What We’re Looking For
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- 5+ years of Supplier Quality Engineering, Quality Engineering, or closely related experience within aerospace and defense manufacturing.
- Strong knowledge of AS9100 and AS9102 requirements.
- Demonstrated experience conducting supplier audits and technical capability assessments.
- Strong understanding of precision machining and high-tolerance manufacturing processes.
- Experience working with coatings, painting, surface finishing, or related aerospace manufacturing processes.
- Advanced ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, and GD&T.
- Experience leading supplier root cause analysis and corrective action.
- Knowledge of quality planning, process validation, nonconformance management, and supplier performance improvement.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to challenge, influence, and develop suppliers.
- Ability and willingness to travel frequently throughout the supplier network — up to 75%.
Highly Desired
- Experience overseeing NADCAP special processes, including areas such as:
- Chemical processing
- Heat treatment
- Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
- Coatings or surface treatments
- Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), ASQ certification, or Lead Auditor certification.
- Experience working with ERP/MES platforms such as SAP S/4HANA or ShopVue.
- Experience with Minitab, Statistical Process Control (SPC), or similar quality analysis tools.
Why Consider This Opportunity?
This is not a desk-bound quality position. You will have the opportunity to directly influence the performance of critical suppliers supporting sophisticated aerospace and defense products.
The position offers:
- $120,000–$130,000 compensation
- Remote, West Coast-based work arrangement
- Significant autonomy and ownership of supplier relationships
- Direct involvement with complex aerospace manufacturing processes
- Exposure to precision machining, special processes, coatings, and advanced manufacturing
- Opportunity to solve challenging technical quality problems
- Regular interaction with supplier leadership, engineering, procurement, and manufacturing teams
- A role where your technical judgment and supplier-development expertise can have a direct impact on program success
If you have built your career around
aerospace supplier quality, manufacturing excellence, and solving difficult supplier problems, we’d like to hear from you.
