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Job Title: Manager, Quality Management, Supplier Quality
Job Location: Northampton, MA
Job Schedule: 9/80
Job Description:
The Supplier Quality Manager is responsible for overseeing and developing the supplier quality program for the Northampton site within the Maritime Acoustics & Imaging division. This role ensures that all external suppliers meet required quality, technical, and delivery standards to support high‑reliability maritime products. The Supplier Quality Manager drives supplier performance improvement, manages incoming quality processes, and works closely with Procurement, Engineering, and Operations to maintain a robust and compliant supply chain.
Essential Functions:
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Lead the supplier quality program for the Northampton site, including standards, procedures, and best practices for supplier qualification and performance management.
- Plan and execute supplier qualification, audits/assessments, and ongoing monitoring to ensure compliance with internal, industry, and customer requirements.
- Act as the primary escalation point for supplier quality issues—manage nonconformances, root‑cause/corrective actions, recovery planning, and Get‑To‑Green execution.
- Drive preventive quality and risk mitigation—identify process gaps and implement closure plans to strengthen supply chain robustness.
- Support Procurement with supplier selection, onboarding, and risk evaluation through data‑driven assessments and technical review.
- Partner with Engineering on specs/drawings, NPI/design changes, and ensure technical reviews have appropriate SME coverage.
- Lead continuous improvement with suppliers (defect prevention, process capability, delivery performance) and align with corporate improvement initiatives and common processes/lean/quality systems training.
- Monitor and report supplier performance via scorecards and KPIs (defect rates, audit findings, corrective‑action timeliness), including line‑of‑balance metrics to gauge manufacturing health.
- Ensure supplier compliance with applicable standards (e.g., ISO 9001), regulatory requirements, and customer‑specific quality clauses.
- Verify suppliers’ capacity, demand, and resource planning to demonstrate rate readiness.
- Foster cross‑functional collaboration across Supply Chain, Engineering, and Quality; build transparent partnerships with suppliers based on clear expectations and accountability.
- Represent the Northampton site and align supplier‑quality efforts with USS divisional strategy, reviews, and improvement initiatives.
- Requires up to 50% business travel
Qualifications:
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12+ years in Operations/Quality/Supply Chain or related fields, with hands‑on experience in supplier quality/quality engineering within a manufacturing/technical environment.
- Proven leadership/management. Ability to lead cross‑functional teams, interface across levels, and engage effectively with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
- Demonstrated supplier development and performance improvement, including constraint management and lean manufacturing principles.
- Strong command of quality systems and auditing practices; supplier development methodologies and compliance frameworks (e.g., AS9100 or ISO 9001).
- Analytical and critical‑thinking skills—data‑driven oversight, KPI/scorecard management, and effective prioritization.
- Executive‑level communication and presentation; relationship building, team facilitation, and conflict resolution to create a trust‑based partnering environment.
- Ability to work independently with minimal oversight.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to obtain and/or maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance
Preferred Additional Skills:
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Experience in aerospace, defense, maritime, acoustics, imaging, or other high‑reliability industries.
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Certifications such as ASQ Certified Supplier Quality Professional (CSQP), CQE, CQA, or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt.
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Familiarity with PPAP, APQP, FMEA, and other advanced quality tools.
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Experience with high‑mix, low‑volume production environments and complex supply chains.
In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role is $116,500-216,500. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.
L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.
Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions.
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