Plant Supplier Quality Engineer

*Please only apply if you currently live in the Bay Area or you are planning on relocating - we do not provide relocation assistance*

Title: Plant Supplier Quality Engineer

Job Type: Contract - W2

Contract Length: 6+ months

Target Start Date: ASAP

Work Location/Structure: Hayward, CA - Fully Onsite

About the Opportunity:

Our client, a leader in autonomous vehicle industry , is looking for a skilled Plant Supplier Quality Engineer to join their team for a 6+ month engagement. This project involves protecting the assembly line by ensuring all incoming supplier-provided components meet quality specifications at the point of use. This is a high-impact role that requires a self-motivated, proactive professional who can hit the ground running and deliver results quickly in a fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities & Deliverables:

This role is focused on the successful completion of specific tasks and deliverables. Your responsibilities will include:

• Assembly Line Protection & Containment: Act as the first responder to all supplier material quality issues identified on the assembly line, immediately implementing containment activities (e.g., sort, rework, scrap, Stop Shipment) to prevent line disruptions.
• Non-Conformance Management (NCM): Own the in-plant disposition of non-conforming materials. Raise and manage Non-Conformance Reports, ensuring proper segregation, identification, and disposition of affected parts.
• Problem Solving & Corrective Action: Lead Corrective Actions for in-plant supplier quality issues, partnering directly with the Manufacturing, Vehicle Engineering, and the Supplier Quality Engineer that manages the supplier site.
• Part Quality Metrics: Be responsible for analyzing and reporting the in-plant supplier quality metrics, including line fallout rates, non-conformance trends, and containment effectiveness to leadership.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify systemic quality risks based on in-plant failures and collaborate with the SQE team to improve upstream processes (APQP, PPAP) and prevent recurrence.

Required Skills & Experience:

We are looking for someone with a proven track record of successful contract engagements. The ideal candidate will have:

• 5+ years of experience in a Plant Quality, Manufacturing Quality, or Supplier Quality role within a high-volume manufacturing environment (Automotive, Aviation, or similar industries are preferred).
• Deep expertise in Problem-Solving Techniques (e.g., 8D, Six-Sigma, Fish Bone Analysis, 5 Whys, and statistical analysis) and Core Quality Tools (e.g., Process Flow Diagrams, Process FMEAs, Control Plans, SPC, and MSA). This isn't a learning role—you need to be a subject matter expert.
• Demonstrated experience in a production plant environment with a strong understanding of assembly line operations and the impact of material quality on production flow.
• Familiarity with supplier quality processes such as APQP and PPAP is beneficial, with a focus on evaluating their effectiveness based on in-plant performance.
• Solid knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) for rapid part assessment.
• Strong communication skills to provide clear and concise status updates to the project team and partner cross-functionally.
• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline.