Build Quality into Every Supplier PartnershipAs our
Supplier Quality Engineer, you'll qualify and develop suppliers to ensure purchased components, materials, special processes, and outsourced manufacturing services consistently meet our engineering, quality, and delivery requirements.
You'll serve as the primary quality liaison between 5th Axis and its suppliers, leading audits, First Article approvals, corrective actions, supplier performance reviews, and quality activities supporting new products and new suppliers.
This position requires approximately
20%-30% travel, primarily to domestic supplier locations.
What the Job Looks Like- You visit a potential machining supplier to evaluate its equipment, processes, quality systems, capacity, and technical capabilities.
- You review drawings, tolerances, inspection plans, and First Article Inspection reports before approving a new part.
- You investigate supplier defects, establish containment, and ensure corrective actions address the true root cause.
- You use scorecards, defect data, capability studies, and audit findings to improve supplier performance.
- You partner with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to reduce supplier risk and support successful product launches.
What You'll Do Here- Evaluate, qualify, and develop suppliers supporting CNC machining, raw materials, finishing, plating, heat treatment, assembly, and other manufacturing processes.
- Lead supplier-quality activities for new products, new suppliers, and outsourced manufacturing launches.
- Review and approve First Article Inspection reports, control plans, inspection plans, capability studies, certifications, and other supplier deliverables.
- Conduct supplier audits and manufacturing capability assessments.
- Investigate supplier nonconformances and lead containment, root-cause analysis, and supplier corrective-action requests.
- Monitor supplier performance through scorecards, defect rates, delivery results, corrective-action effectiveness, and cost-of-poor-quality data.
- Review engineering drawings, GD&T, specifications, critical characteristics, and inspection requirements.
- Evaluate supplier measurement systems, gauges, fixtures, calibration controls, and process capability.
- Partner with internal teams and suppliers to improve quality, manufacturability, delivery, process capability, and total cost.
- Maintain supplier quality records and support compliance with ISO 9001 and applicable customer or industry requirements.
What You'll Bring- A bachelor's degree in Quality, Manufacturing, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Five or more years of experience in supplier quality, manufacturing quality, process engineering, or a related engineering role.
- Direct experience with CNC machining, precision-manufactured components, workholding, grinding, or automated manufacturing systems.
- Experience interpreting engineering drawings, GD&T, specifications, and inspection requirements.
- Experience conducting supplier audits, process audits, or manufacturing capability assessments.
- Strong knowledge of First Article Inspection, control plans, process capability, measurement systems, and statistical process control.
- Experience managing supplier corrective actions and structured root-cause investigations.
- The ability to communicate technical requirements clearly and build productive supplier relationships.
- Strong organization, analytical, problem-solving, and project-management skills.
- The ability to travel approximately 20%-30% based on business needs.
Who This Role Is Ideal For- Supplier Quality Engineers with experience supporting precision machining or complex manufactured products.
- Manufacturing or Quality Engineers ready to take greater ownership of supplier development.
- Engineers who enjoy working directly with suppliers to solve technical and process problems.
- Quality professionals experienced in audits, First Article approval, corrective action, and continuous improvement.
- Technically strong problem-solvers who can balance quality, manufacturing, delivery, and business needs.
- Professionals who are comfortable working across supplier facilities, manufacturing environments, and cross-functional teams.
Why You'll Love Working With Us- Competitive pay with performance-based bonus opportunities
- 100% company-paid medical coverage available for employees
- Company-paid life and disability insurance
- 401(k) with up to a 5% company match
- Generous paid time off and paid holidays
- Training and meaningful opportunities for career advancement
- A supportive, non-corporate culture where your ideas matter
- Company-sponsored team events and activities
Ready to Strengthen Quality at the Source?This is an opportunity to shape the supplier processes behind advanced manufacturing-not simply inspect problems after they arrive. You'll help build capable suppliers, improve product quality, and protect production from costly disruptions.
If you're ready to combine engineering expertise with supplier development and hands-on problem-solving, apply today and build your future with
5th Axis.
Pay Range: $111,000 - $140,000 per year
