Supplier Development Engineer

Northwood is seeking a Senior Supplier Development Engineer to establish quality systems, develop the supply base, and partner with engineering and operations to ensure products are designed and built for long-term performance.

Requirements

• Design and implement the company’s first supplier quality assurance system, documentation, and workflows
• Lead the identification, evaluation, and qualification of new suppliers for key components (RF, PCBA, mechanical, electromechanical) and conduct supplier audits, performance reviews, and corrective action processes
• Collaborate with product design and manufacturing teams on DFM, NPI, and pilot builds
• Support in defining supplier KPIs (quality, delivery, cost, responsiveness) and establish reporting mechanisms
• Drive resolution of supplier quality issues through root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action (NCR/CAPA)
• Support the development of incoming inspection plans and testing protocols
• Act as a hands-on technical liaison between internal engineering teams and external manufacturing partners
• Own capacity expansion readiness and production ramp-up at suppliers
• Develop and implement supplier technical requirements and quality flow downs to meet hardware manufacturing needs
• Provide feedback to suppliers as appropriate on manufacturing methods, with a specific focus on eliminating costs, reducing cycle times, and increasing yields
• Drive supplier root cause failure analysis and corrective actions associated with any quality gaps, escapes, or containments
• Lead cost engineering activities to converge the bottoms-up cost curve to product cost, maximizing the total cost of ownership