About the job
About Northwood:
At Northwood, we are dedicated to revolutionizing the link between Earth and space, making the benefits of space accessible to all through groundbreaking advancements in space communications technology. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment where your contributions make a tangible difference worldwide, we invite you to join our dynamic team.
Role Overview:
We are in search of a Senior Supplier Development Engineer to spearhead our quality assurance initiatives as our inaugural quality hire. This pivotal role is perfect for a professional eager to establish robust supplier quality processes from the ground up, and to influence the scalability of high-reliability manufacturing for satellite ground stations. You will play a vital role in developing our quality systems, enhancing our supplier base, and collaborating closely with engineering and operations to ensure our products are meticulously designed for enduring performance. This unique opportunity allows you to shape the core of quality and supplier operations at an innovative leader in satellite connectivity.
Key Responsibilities:
Design and implement our inaugural supplier quality assurance framework, including documentation and workflows.
Lead the identification, evaluation, and qualification of new suppliers for critical components (RF, PCBA, mechanical, electromechanical) while conducting supplier audits, performance reviews, and implementing corrective action processes.
Collaborate with product design and manufacturing teams on Design for Manufacturing (DFM), New Product Introduction (NPI), and pilot builds.
Assist in defining supplier KPIs (quality, delivery, cost, responsiveness) and establish comprehensive reporting mechanisms.
Drive the resolution of supplier quality issues through thorough root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action (NCR/CAPA).
Support the development of incoming inspection plans and testing protocols.
Act as a technical liaison between internal engineering teams and external manufacturing partners.
Oversee capacity expansion readiness and production ramp-up at suppliers.
Develop and implement technical requirements and quality standards for suppliers to satisfy hardware manufacturing needs.
Provide feedback on supplier performance to drive continuous improvement.
