Supply Chain Quality Engineer
Engineering - Fremont, California
The Supply Chain Quality Engineer is responsible for leading Pivotal Systems' supplier quality program - incoming inspection, lot inspection, supplier qualification processes, audits and scorecards that ensure purchased materials and components meet Pivotal's quality standards before entering production. This is a high-impact role, driving continuous improvement of processes, inspection infrastructure, and supplier accountability across Pivotal's global sites (Fremont, Malaysia, Korea). Overseas travel required.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead incoming inspection processes, including first article inspection (FAIR) and lot-based inspection sampling plans, for Fremont and across Malaysia and Korea.
- Maintain and continuously improve physical incoming inspection areas and MRB (Material Review Board) quarantine/lockup processes at each site.
- Drive supplier quality program initiatives - supplier qualification criteria, supplier audits, and documentation of customer Plan of Record (POR) requirements as they apply to suppliers.
- Develop and maintain supplier scorecards/performance tracking to identify and address recurring quality issues at the source.
- Partner with the Quality Manager and site quality engineers to align supplier quality requirements with each site's incoming material needs.
- Conduct supplier audits and qualification visits, including travel to supplier sites and Pivotal's Malaysia and Korea facilities as needed.
- Participate in Material Review Board (MRB) dispositioning of nonconforming incoming material.
- Support root cause investigation and corrective action (8D/CAPA) for supplier-originated quality issues.
- Collaborate with purchasing/supply chain teams to ensure quality requirements are reflected in supplier agreements and purchase orders.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, or related field (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, etc.).
- 3-5+ years of experience in supplier quality, incoming inspection, or related quality engineering roles, preferably in manufacturing or industrial environments.
- Experience conducting supplier audits and qualifications.
- Working knowledge of quality tools and methodologies (8D, FMEA, SPC, Root Cause Analysis).
- Experience with inspection sampling plans (e.g., ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 or similar) and first article inspection processes.
- Comfort with hands-on inspection work - measurement tools and gauges (calipers, micrometers, etc.), reading engineering drawings/specifications.
- Strong communication skills, with ability to hold suppliers accountable while maintaining productive working relationships.
- Willingness and ability to travel, including internationally (Malaysia, Korea) and to supplier sites, as a regular part of the role.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in semiconductor, aerospace, or other highly regulated precision manufacturing industries.
- Experience developing and improving supplier quality programs.
- Familiarity with copy-exact methodology or similar process replication frameworks used by semiconductor capital equipment customers.
- ISO 9001 or other quality system knowledge.
