Supplier Quality Specialist

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description
 

Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Supplier Quality Specialist to join our Supplier Quality team. As a Supplier Quality Specialist, you will play a vital role in ensuring the quality and reliability of components and materials received from our suppliers. Your primary responsibility will be to manage supplier performance, conduct inspections, audits, and assessments of supplier products, processes, and documentation to ensure compliance with industry standards, regulations, and customer requirements. You will collaborate closely with our suppliers and internal teams to drive continuous improvement and maintain the highest level of quality in our supply chain.

Position Responsibilities:

• Perform thorough inspections and quality checks on incoming components, materials, and finished products from suppliers, utilizing appropriate measurement tools, equipment, and inspection techniques.
• Conduct supplier audits and assessments to evaluate their quality systems, manufacturing processes, and adherence to industry standards and customer requirements.
• Review supplier documentation, including certifications, test reports, inspection records, and quality control plans, to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Manage air vehicle integrations off site.
• Collaborate with suppliers to address non-conformances, deviations, and quality issues, facilitating corrective and preventive actions to drive process improvements and ensure timely resolution.
• Monitor supplier performance metrics, track quality trends, and identify opportunities for supplier development and improvement initiatives.
• Participate in cross-functional teams to provide technical expertise, support supplier selection processes, and assist in supplier qualification activities.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of supplier evaluations, inspections, audits, and corrective actions, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and internal procedures.
• Communicate effectively with suppliers, internal stakeholders, and customers, providing timely and accurate reports, feedback, and updates on supplier quality performance.
• Stay current with industry standards, regulations, and emerging trends related to supplier quality management in the aerospace industry.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience):

• High school diploma or equivalent; additional technical certifications or degrees in a relevant field are preferred.
• 6 - 8 years of related work experience or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Strong knowledge of aerospace industry standards and regulations, such as AS9100, ISO 9001 and AS9102.
• Proficiency in conducting inspections and utilizing measurement tools and equipment, including calipers, micrometers, gauges, and coordinate measuring machines (CMM).
• Experience in performing supplier audits, assessments, and evaluations, with a solid understanding of quality management systems and processes.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies:

• Familiarity with root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and statistical process control (SPC) methodologies.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to identify quality issues, analyze data, and implement effective solutions.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, enabling effective collaboration with suppliers, internal teams, and customers.
• Detail-oriented mindset with a commitment to accuracy, thoroughness, and compliance.
• Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Proficiency in using quality management software, databases, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, enabling effective collaboration with suppliers, internal teams, and customers.
• Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives
• Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company
• Focuses on teamwork and puts the success of the team above one's own interests

Physical Demands:

• Ability to work in an office and manufacturing environment (Constant)
• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Special Requirements:

• U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required.
• Occasionally may be required to travel within the Continental U.S.

The salary range for this role is:

$26 - $37

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

Who We Are

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC.

Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship required