Supplier Quality Engineer

The Supplier Quality Engineer will play a key role in ensuring world-class performance of the Zoox prototype and production supply base, and drive continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will be entrepreneurial, driven, energetic, detailed, and team-oriented.

Candidates with experience in mfg of Casting Cradles/Subframes, Extrusions, general Machining processes, have a good understanding of Mechanical Assemblies with multiple component stackups involved, good inspection knowhow will be highly preferred.

In this role, you will:

• Works with Vehicle Systems Engineering to assess the manufacturability of new product designs.
• Works with Engineering and Strategic Sourcing managers to select appropriate suppliers with the right manufacturing know-how by conducting detailed Supplier process assessments/audits and further provides feedback to management on final selection.
• Works with suppliers on all technical design elements of the drawing. Conducts CAD model and print reviews with suppliers to access design for manufacturability,  and further collaborates in investigating/developing new manufacturing techniques (if necessary) to meet the design requirements.
• Leads the Supplier Industrialization Roadmap (SIR), thereby conducting product and process development activities and capability assessment at the supplier manufacturing site.
• Identifies supplier Capex production equipment, tooling, and fixturing requirements in line with the project implementation timelines and further drives all qualification activities to verify and validate tooling and fixturing.
• Works with strategic sourcing managers to assess supplier readiness for different Zoox vehicle build events, identifies and highlights risks related to production ramp, and further collaborates and reports back on risk mitigation plans to management.
• Responsible for managing and continuously improving the APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) process with suppliers from initial design stage through PPAP submission and all the way through SOP (start of production).
• Responsible for training and setting up the supplier in the Zoox Supplier Quality Portal, further reviews prototype and production parts quality document submissions from suppliers, and provides feedback as and when required.
• Leads RCCA analysis with suppliers, issues corrective action, provides support with immediate containment, short-term and long-term permanent corrective actions, and further ensures that supplier process documentation is updated with the changes to mfg process.
• Provide support to Manufacturing, Quality, and Vehicle Engineering regarding analysis and disposition of suspect supplier material. As and when required, participates in MRB ( material review board) disposition meetings.
• Responsible for analyzing and reporting the incoming supplier part quality metrics for the assigned supply base,  which includes  First Article Inspection reports, Cp/Cpk analysis, Pareto, Statistical Process Control, and Process Capability Studies.
• Drive continuous improvement throughout the supply base using quality and lean manufacturing tools.
• Improve Zoox supplier quality processes such as assessments, supplier management, and the part approval process.
• Up to 20% domestic travel required, occasionally on short notice.

Qualifications:

Qualifications    
• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or an equivalent engineering degree.
• Minimum 6  years of experience in Quality, Supplier Quality, or Manufacturing, in the automotive, aviation, or medical device industries or a combination of both Supplier Quality and Internal Plant quality development.
• Experience with core process control tools such as Process Flow Diagrams, Process FMEAs, Process Control Plans, SPC, MSA, and Process Capability.
• Experience with manufacturing processes such as Extrusions, castings, and general Machining.
• Working knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing, Tooling and Fixture Verification and validation, and final buy-off at supplier.
• Good Understanding of Inspection and measurement techniques, able to decode CMM data and do trend analysis as and when required.
• Working knowledge of Quality and Automotive systems such as  ISO 9000 and IATF 16949.
• Strong knowledge of conducting Supplier assessments, APQP and PPAP, product launch, and vendor ramp experience.
• Fully literate in Microsoft computer applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Experience working with Google Workspace preferred.
• Experience in New Product Introduction (NPI) - Experience creating and improving quality systems
• Experience using problem-solving techniques such as Six Sigma, 8-Discipline, Pareto Charts, Regression Analysis, ANOVA, DOE, Fishbone Analysis, Red-X.
• Certifications such as CQE from ASQ, Six Sigma Green Belt, and certified Quality Systems Auditor are highly preferred.