Supplier Quality Engineer

Title: Supplier Quality Engineer
Location: any CST location within a commutable distance to a major airport, Texas (Houston, Dallas, Austin) preferred.
Term: FTE, Direct Hire



Position Overview
Our client is building the power infrastructure that makes the AI era possible. As AI demand surges past what the grid and traditional data centers can support, our client provides a new class of power technology proven at gigawatt scale and trusted by the world's leading cloud and AI companies. Our systems are already deployed across 2.5 GW of hyper-scale campuses, validated by top U.S. national labs, and certified for grid-safe operation by major utilities. With real products in the field, we're scaling faster than the grid can, transforming power from a bottleneck into a competitive advantage for the companies building the future.
About The Position
Our client is looking for a skilled Supplier Quality Engineer to support the supplier quality activities related to battery energy storage systems (BESS) across the full equipment lifecycle from procurement and factory testing to site delivery and installation. In this role, you will work closely with engineering, supply chain, and construction teams in the processes of selecting, auditing and evaluating suppliers, reviewing vendor's Inspection and Test Plans, coordinating and witnessing Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), and provide field support during installation and commissioning for key components including batteries, inverters, transformers, switchgear and ATS, and auxiliary systems. This role focuses on preventing quality issues at the source ensuring suppliers maintain robust manufacturing and test processes and tracking non-conformances through resolution prior to shipment.
This role is best suited for engineers with hands-on experience working with manufacturing suppliers of electrical or industrial equipment. The role focuses on suppliers manufacturing critical electrical equipment used in utility-scale energy storage systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive Supplier Selection, Evaluation and Qualification based on the company's Supplier Quality processes and tools.
• Support the definition and documentation of Supplier Quality processes in compliance with ISO 9001 and other applicable requirements.
• Perform supplier process audits at new and existing vendors to evaluate manufacturing processes, production controls, and supplier quality systems in alignment with company standards and ISO 9001 requirements.
• Ensure all activities related to the Supplier Audit process are properly maintained and executed, including the Audit Planning and Reporting documentation.
• Update the supplier quality database (Documents Control).
• Management of supplier related quality issues, guiding the root-cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions and process improvements, ensuring effective and sustainable solutions are in place.
• Review and approve supplier quality documentation, including Inspection & Test Plans (ITPs), FAT procedures, Control Plans and / or quality control documentation packages.
• Participate in Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) at OEM and ensure test results and documentation meet approved criteria.
• Identify, log, and track non-conformances (NCRs); drive timely root cause analysis and corrective actions with vendors.
• Review and validate supplier material traceability records, certificates, and inspection reports.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Supply Chain to qualify new vendors and support supplier onboarding.
• Provide supplier performance feedback and input to quality metrics and supplier scorecards.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and traceable quality documentation packages for each project.
• Support development and continuous improvement of quality standards, templates, and best practices across equipment types.
• Evaluate supplier manufacturing processes and production controls to ensure suppliers can consistently meet technical and quality requirements.

Must Have Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Industrial, or Quality Engineering (or a closely related technical field)
  or equivalent hands-on experience working with electrical equipment and systems in a manufacturing or industrial environment
• 3-7 years of experience in supplier or product quality engineering within the energy or manufacturing industry
• Hands-on experience with electrical power systems, BESS, inverters, transformers, switchgear, or other similar equipment
• Experience with supplier process audits including evaluating supplier manufacturing processes (VDA 6.3 or similar process audit frameworks are a plus)
• Working knowledge of quality management systems (ISO 9001) and manufacturing quality tools (8D, SPC, PFMEA, control plans, FAI / PPAP)
• Familiarity with relevant codes and standards (IEEE 1547, UL 9540/9540A, IEC, ISO 9001, NEC) and general equipment test protocols.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a practical understanding of manufacturing processes
• Willingness to travel (up to 75%) to vendor locations (domestic and international) and project sites
• Excellent communication and documentation abilities; capable of interfacing effectively with suppliers and cross-functional teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Tier 1 energy equipment manufacturers
• CQE (Certified Quality Engineer) and ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification.
• Familiarity with quality management tools, Client tracking tools, and dashboard reporting.
• Experience supporting supplier quality activities during New Product Introduction (NPI).