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Jobs · Quality Assurance · South Carolina

Senior Supplier Quality Special Process Engineer

Elbit Systems of America · Charleston, SC · 1 mo ago
Quality AssuranceFull-time

About the role

The Supplier Quality Special Process Engineer plays a pivotal role in safeguarding product integrity and regulatory compliance across the supply chain by ensuring that all suppliers meet rigorous quality standards for special processes — including welding, heat treating, plating, painting, non-destructive testing (NDT/NDE), shot peening, and brazing — within a manufacturing, aerospace and defense environment.

Responsibilities

  • Lead supplier qualification and approval activities for special processes, including welding, brazing, heat treating, plating, painting, and NDT/NDE, ensuring all processes meet applicable specifications and standards prior to production use.

  • Conduct on-site supplier audits and assessments to evaluate process controls, equipment calibration and maintenance, facility conditions, and personnel certifications — documenting findings and tracking closure of identified gaps.

  • Review and approve supplier Process Control Plans, Control Plans, Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (FMEAs), and work instructions specifically related to special processes.

  • Issue Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs) in response to nonconformances or audit findings and drive timely root cause analysis and implementation of effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).

  • Collaborate with internal engineering teams to develop, interpret, and update special process specifications, drawing requirements, and acceptance criteria to reflect current standards and lessons learned.

  • Monitor and analyze supplier performance metrics — including parts per million (PPM) defect rates, on-time delivery (OTD), and audit scores — and facilitate structured continuous improvement initiatives with underperforming suppliers.

  • Ensure supplier compliance with relevant industry standards and accreditation programs, such as NADCAP, AS9100, ISO 9001, and applicable customer-specific requirements.

  • Support new product introduction (NPI) programs by engaging and qualifying special process suppliers early in the development cycle, reducing downstream quality risk.

  • Maintain accurate and complete documentation and records related to supplier approvals, audit reports, corrective actions, and process certifications in accordance with quality management system requirements.

  • Serve as the primary technical point of contact between the company and special process suppliers, translating engineering requirements into actionable supplier expectations and managing escalations as needed.

Requirements

  • Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering — Mechanical, Materials Science, Manufacturing, Industrial, Welding, or a closely related engineering discipline.

  • Experience: 3–5+ years of progressive experience in supplier quality, manufacturing engineering, or quality engineering within a regulated or high-consequence manufacturing environment.

  • Special Process Knowledge: Demonstrated, hands-on knowledge of one or more special processes, including welding (per AWS or AMS standards), heat treating, electroplating, surface coating/painting, or NDT/NDE techniques.

  • Audit Experience: Proven experience conducting formal supplier audits and process assessments, including planning, execution, report writing, and corrective action follow-through.

  • Quality Management Systems: Functional familiarity with at least one major QMS standard — AS9100, AC7004, or ISO 9001 — including interpretation and application of requirements.

  • Quality Tools Proficiency: Working knowledge of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Control Plans, and 8D problem-solving methodology.

  • Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence suppliers, peers, and leadership without direct authority — presenting technical findings clearly and diplomatically.

  • Travel Availability: Willingness and ability to travel up to 30%-50% for domestic and/or international supplier visits, audits, and qualification activities.

Preferred Qualifications

  • NADCAP Expertise: Experience as a NADCAP auditor or working knowledge of the NADCAP accreditation and Merit status process across one or more commodity areas (e.g., Welding, Heat Treating, Chemical Processing, NDT).

  • Professional Certification: Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or other relevant quality certification from the American Society for Quality (ASQ), or equivalent professional credentialing body.

  • Industry Background: Prior experience in the aerospace, defense, or automotive industry, with familiarity with the unique regulatory, contractual, and traceability demands of these sectors.

  • Specification Familiarity: Working knowledge of AMS (Aerospace Material Specifications), MIL-SPEC, or other industry-specific special process specifications relevant to the company's commodity base.

  • GD&T: Foundational to intermediate knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5, supporting effective interpretation of engineering drawings in supplier assessments.

Benefits

  • Most locations offer a 9/80 schedule, providing every other Friday off.

  • Competitive compensation & 401(k) program to plan for your future.

  • Robust medical, dental, vision, & disability coverage with qualified wellness discounts.

  • Basic Life Insurance and Additional Life & AD&D Insurances are available.

  • Paid vacation & PTO.

  • Paid parental leave.

  • Generous employee referral program.

  • Voluntary benefits available: Longer Term Care, Legal, Identity Theft, Pet Insurance, and more.

  • Voluntary Tricare Supplement available for military retirees.

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