Supplier Quality Manager

Supplier Quality Manager

High Travel

JOB DESCRIPTION

Company: Autonomous Power Corporation (Powerus)

Employment type: Full-time

About Powerus

Powerus is building a next-generation American autonomous systems platform for defense, national security, critical infrastructure and commercial operations. We bring together engineering, autonomy and advanced manufacturing to develop reliable systems and scale their delivery to customers.

Our Mission

Deliver resilient autonomous technologies that strengthen national security, improve operational safety and extend capability in demanding environments.

Position Overview

Own supplier quality readiness and performance for purchased components and assemblies. Work directly at supplier facilities to verify capability, prevent defects and resolve recurring failures. This is a hands-on technical role embedded with supply chain and closely aligned with the quality function, with product acceptance and disposition governed by the company quality system. We need people who have delivered in high-volume, fast- paced environments and can convert priorities into action in hours and days.

Key Responsibilities

• Respond rapidly to supplier defects and production threats, establish immediate containment and clear recovery actions, and drive corrective work daily without compromising product acceptance requirements.
• Establish risk-based supplier qualification, audit and surveillance plans with sourcing and quality; maintain documented supplier approval recommendations and corrective actions.
• Conduct on-site process and quality system audits, assessing process controls, traceability, calibration, inspection, test capability and sub-tier managemeDefine supplier quality requirements with engineering and quality, including critical characteristics, inspection plans and first article evidence; apply APQP and PPAP methods where appropriate.
• Verify new supplier and product readiness through process reviews, samples, first articles and production trials before recommending release to production.
• Lead containment and supplier corrective actions using structured root-cause methods such as 8D and 5 Whys; verify effectiveness at the process level before closure.
• Partner with receiving and production quality to analyze defects and escapes, coordinate suspect-stock control and support authorized material review and disposition.
• Monitor supplier defect trends, repeat failures, corrective-action aging and quality-related disruption; prioritize supplier development using reliable, comparable data.
• Control supplier process and material changes through approved review, address counterfeit-part and traceability risks, and translate applicable customer quality requirements into practical supplier controls.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated supplier or manufacturing quality experience in high-volume production, with rapid containment, production recovery and verified corrective action under demanding delivery pressure.
• 7 or more years in supplier quality, manufacturing quality or quality engineering, including ownership of supplier audits and corrective-action programs.
• Strong technical grounding in electronics, electromechanical assembly, precision mechanical manufacturing or comparable complex hardware processes.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 and AS9100 quality systems, technical drawings, GD&T, inspection methods and first article inspection, including AS9102 where applicable.
• Practical ability to use process FMEA, control plans, measurement system analysis, statistical process control and capability studies to improve supplier processes.
• Evidence of resolving recurring supplier failures through verified corrective action, with the judgment to escalate or stop acceptance through authorized quality processes.

Preferred Experience

Engineering or technical degree, or equivalent practical experience; ASQ CQE or CQA, lead auditor training, IPC workmanship knowledge or relevant aerospace supplier development experience.

Leadership and Scope

• Set supplier quality priorities and coordinate quality engineering support as the function grows; direct reports and formal reporting arrangements will follow the approved organization structure.

Working Expectations

Powerus operates in hours and days. Take ownership immediately, anticipate the next constraint and deliver without being chased. Make timely, evidence-based decisions; communicate blockers as they emerge with a proposed solution, an owner and a recovery time. Move workstreams in parallel and follow every commitment through to completion. Use approved AI and analytical tools to reduce manual work, verify outputs and protect sensitive information.

Travel Requirements

Frequent domestic and international supplier-site travel is an essential part of this role, including multi-day visits and short-notice trips when business needs require. The successful candidate must be comfortable spending a substantial portion of their time at supplier facilities and managing follow-through between visits.

Education and Relevant Experience

A relevant degree in supply chain, business, engineering or a related field is valued. Equivalent relevant professional, technical or military experience will be considered; demonstrated capability and delivery matter.

What Success Looks Like

Fewer supplier defects and escapes, effective corrective actions, dependable launch quality and stronger supplier process capability, supported by traceable approval and inspection evidence.

Equal Opportunity and Accessibility

Powerus is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, including veterans and transitioning service members, and provide reasonable accommodations throughout the hiring process.