Supplier Development Engineer, PCB/PCBA (Starshield)

Responsibilities

• Own continuity of supply for printed circuit boards (PCBs) and components on the Starshield program
• Collaborate with design, R&D, commercial supply chain, hardware reliability, and production teams to manage suppliers and deliver world class products for our customers
• Support procurement team to strategically source parts matched with supplier capabilities by reviewing and assessing supplier manufacturing processes and quality systems
• Identify, audit, and onboard new suppliers
• Develop and implement supplier technical requirements and quality flow downs to meet hardware manufacturing needs
• Implement and monitor production part approval process (PPAP) with selected suppliers to enable rate production
• Ensure qualification and reliability activities at suppliers are in line with requirements
• Develop and approve process controls to control critical characteristics
• Recommend technical product improvements to reduce risk and opportunities for defects
• Analyze supplier quality and delivery metrics to identify trends and pinpoint systemic performance gaps to drive supplier improvement plans
• Provide feedback to suppliers as appropriate on manufacturing methods, with a specific focus on eliminating costs, reducing cycle times, and increasing yields
• Function as liaison between purchasing, engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers to resolve supplier quality issues and to provide technical support
• Drive supplier root cause failure analysis and corrective actions associated with any quality gaps, escapes, or containments
• Lead projects and present reports to internal teams, management, and/or suppliers

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
• Experience with printed circuit boards (PCBs), engineering laminates, electrochemical processes, and/or microelectronics fabrication (including school projects, clubs, or internships)

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Advanced degree in engineering, business, or supply chain
• Working knowledge of supplier quality processes (PPAP, APQP, FAIR, RCCA failure analysis, lean methods, etc.) and quality systems (ISO 9000/TS/AS9100/NADCAP)
• Knowledge of statistical techniques and methods, e.g., SPC, design of experiments, Six Sigma, etc.
• Disciplined approach to problem solving – 8D
• Electronics manufacturing experience, preferably with PCBs for high-speed / RF applications
• Experience with sharing information and influencing others across organizational lines, internally and externally
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment with minimal oversight and learn new skills on-the-job quickly and efficiently
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, ability to make presentations to suppliers, team members and management