Principal Supplier Quality Special Process Engineer

The Supplier Quality Special Process Engineer plays a pivotal role in safeguarding product integrity and regulatory compliance across the supply chain by ensuring that all suppliers meet rigorous quality standards for special processes including welding, heat treating, plating, painting, non-destructive testing (NDT/NDE), shot peening, and brazing within a manufacturing, aerospace, and defense environment. This position functions at the intersection of engineering, quality assurance, and procurement, requiring both deep technical expertise and strong collaborative skills to qualify, audit, and continuously improve supplier special process capabilities. Working cross-functionally with internal engineering teams, procurement, and supplier organizations, the engineer serves as the authoritative technical liaison who ensures that supplier processes, controls, and certifications align with applicable industry standards and contractual requirements. This is a mission-critical role in which the engineer's diligence and expertise directly determine the quality, safety, and reliability of the finished product delivered to the customer.

Responsibilities and Tasks

• Lead supplier qualification and approval activities for special processes, including welding, brazing, heat treating, plating, painting, and NDT/NDE, ensuring all processes meet applicable specifications and standards prior to production use.
• Conduct on-site supplier audits and assessments to evaluate process controls, equipment calibration and maintenance, facility conditions, and personnel certifications documenting findings and tracking closure of identified gaps.
• Review and approve supplier Process Control Plans, Control Plans, Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (FMEAs), and work instructions specifically related to special processes.
• Issue Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs) in response to nonconformances or audit findings and drive timely root cause analysis and implementation of effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Collaborate with internal engineering teams to develop, interpret, and update special process specifications, drawing requirements, and acceptance criteria to reflect current standards and lessons learned.
• Monitor and analyze supplier performance metrics including parts per million (PPM) defect rates, on-time delivery (OTD), and audit scores and facilitate structured continuous improvement initiatives with underperforming suppliers.
• Ensure supplier compliance with relevant industry standards and accreditation programs, such as NADCAP, AS9100, ISO 9001, and applicable customer-specific requirements.
• Support new product introduction (NPI) programs by engaging and qualifying special process suppliers early in the development cycle, reducing downstream quality risk.
• Maintain accurate and complete documentation and records related to supplier approvals, audit reports, corrective actions, and process certifications in accordance with quality management system requirements.
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact between the company and special process suppliers, translating engineering requirements into actionable supplier expectations and managing escalations as needed.

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering - Mechanical, Materials Science, Manufacturing, Industrial, Welding, or a closely related engineering discipline. Master's degree +7 years of experience preferred (or in lieu of degree, equivalent related work experience, and/or military service)
• Experience: 9+ years of progressive experience in supplier quality, manufacturing engineering, or quality engineering within a regulated or high consequence manufacturing environment.
• Professional Certification: Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or other relevant quality certification from the American Society for Quality (ASQ), or equivalent professional credentialing body.

• NADCAP Expertise: Experience as a NADCAP auditor or working knowledge of the NADCAP accreditation and Merit status process across one or more commodity areas (e.g., Welding, Heat Treating, Chemical Processing, NDT).
• Industry Background: Prior experience in the aerospace, defense, or automotive industry, with familiarity with the unique regulatory, contractual, and traceability demands of these sectors.
• Specification Familiarity: Working knowledge of AMS (Aerospace Material Specifications), MIL-SPEC, or other industry-specific special process specifications relevant to the company's commodity base.
• GD&T: Foundational to intermediate knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5, supporting effective interpretation of engineering drawings in supplier assessments.
• Special Process Knowledge: Demonstrated, hands-on knowledge of one or more special processes, including welding (per AWS or AMS standards), heat treating, electroplating, surface coating/painting, or NDT/NDE techniques.
• Audit Experience: Proven experience conducting formal supplier audits and process assessments, including planning, execution, report writing, and corrective action follow-through.
• Quality Management Systems: Functional familiarity with at least one major QMS standards: AS9100, AC7004, or ISO 9001 including interpretation and application of requirements.
• Quality Tools Proficiency: Working knowledge of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Control Plans, and 8D problem-solving methodology.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence suppliers, peers, and leadership without direct authority presenting technical findings clearly and diplomatically.

• Travel Availability: Willingness and ability to travel up to 30-40% for domestic and/or international supplier visits, audits, and qualification activities.
• Work is usually conducted in a factory/office/warehouse atmosphere
• Exposed to conditions such as machining equipment noise, riveting, dust and chemical fumes
• Hearing, vision and breathing protection needed and provided in appropriate areas
• Some exposure to elements of weather when traveling and/or commuting between sites

• Most locations offer a 9/80 schedule, providing every other Friday off
• Competitive compensation & 401(k) program to plan for your future
• Robust medical, dental, vision, & disability coverage with qualified wellness discounts
• Basic Life Insurance and Additional Life & AD&D Insurances are available
• Flexible Vacation & PTO
• Paid Parental Leave
• Generous Employee Referral Program
• Voluntary Benefits Available: Longer Term Care, Legal, Identity Theft, Pet Insurance, and more
• Voluntary Tricare Supplement available for military retirees

This job description does not list all the duties of the job. You may be asked by your supervisors or managers to perform other duties. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. The job description is not an employment contract. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. Twenty-Six Defense is an equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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