Supplier Development Engineer (China)

Our mission is to move humanity off of fossil fuel heating. 20% of US global warming emissions come from homes (that’s more than cars!). The largest driver of home emissions is burning fossil fuels for heat. To stop climate change, over 80M US homes need to transition from combustion to efficient, electric heat pumps over the coming decades.

We believe for this to happen the world needs fantastic products that are easy to purchase. Today's heat pumps lack great design, make limited use of software, and are difficult and stressful to adopt. We are building a next generation, beautifully designed, AI optimized home heating and cooling system that is 10x better than what is on the market today.

Role

As the Supplier Development Engineer in Hardware Operation team, you will be responsible for delivering high quality mechanical components to support New Product Introduction (NPI) and Mass Production of Quilt’s heat pump hardwares.  The role will focus on tooling, plastics and metal component manufacturing quality.  The ideal candidate brings deep hands-on experience in injection molding, metal forming and machining processes, tooling qualification, and advanced quality engineering techniques. 

You will work closely with cross-functional teams including CM partners, manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain to identify areas for improvement and drive execution.

This role is targeting 40 hours/week and based in Zhuhai, China.

Key Responsibilities:

• Process Development & Improvement
• Partner with suppliers to implement and improve manufacturing processes, quality systems, and capacity expansion with focus in tooling, plastic injection molding, precision metal components (e.g., CNC, die casting, stamping)
• Lead tool, process, new machine qualification & approval throughout the development cycle.  Review and approve tooling designs for both plastic and metal parts
• Support mold/tool build reviews and tool trials.  Validate tools through First Article Inspection (FAI), Capability Studies (Cpk/Ppk), and dimensional inspections
• Supplier Qualification & Assessment
• Perform supplier audits and assessments (e.g., quality systems, process capability, manufacturing capacity) and establish quality standards and monitor supplier performance.  Track supplier performance using quality KPIs and ensure timely resolution of nonconformances (8D, CAPA).
• Develop and maintain quality documentation including control plans, PFMEAs, inspection plans, and gauge R&R studies.
• Lead APQP and PPAP activities for plastic and metal components from prototype through production.
• Act as a liaison between internal teams and suppliers to ensure technical and quality alignment throughout the product life cycle.
• Dimensional fixture DFM review and fixture assessment
• Creation of MSOP’s and understanding the use of key measurement tools like CMM/ OMM / Calipers, etc. 
• Project Management
• Support new product introductions (NPIs) by coordinating with suppliers to meet engineering specifications and timelines
• Track supplier milestones and mitigate risks to ensure on-time delivery.
• Quality Assurance
• Investigate root causes of supplier quality issues and drive corrective actions
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives at supplier sites, including training on best practices and lean manufacturing principles.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, quality management, or a related field.  Advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in supplier quality or manufacturing engineering, with focus on plastics and metal components
• Strong working knowledge of injection molding, plastic part design, tool fabrication, and metal manufacturing methods (e.g., stamping, die casting, CNC machining).  Experience with product testing methodologies, statistical analysis, and root cause analysis techniques.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and resolve complex quality issues.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Prior experience in driving FATP process is a big plus 
• Quality management certifications (e.g., ASQ Certified Quality Manager, Six Sigma Black Belt) are a plus.
• Ability to travel up to 50%