Supplier Quality Engineer, Cabin

About Harbinger

Harbinger is an American commercial electric vehicle (EV) company on a mission to transform an industry starving for innovation. Harbinger’s best-in-class team of EV, battery, and drivetrain experts have pooled their deep experience to bring a first-of-its-kind EV platform to support the growing demand for medium-duty EVs and Hybrids. Harbinger: Familiar Form, Revolutionary Foundation.

Job Overview 

We are looking for a  Supplier Quality Engineer (Cabin Systems) with broad responsibilities, working cross-functionally with Engineering, Suppliers, Purchasing, and Manufacturing teams to define and implement supplier quality engineering processes and drive continuous improvement activities throughout the organization. The Quality Engineer will play a key role in implementing and maintaining Harbinger’s quality management system (QMS) and will establish and improve the quality of our operational processes and outputs. Responsibilities include defining quality standards for interior and cabin components, inspecting materials, equipment, processes, and products, developing quality control systems, supplier selection, PPAP, leading APQP, and determining corrective actions. A successful Quality Engineer should have excellent troubleshooting skills, an eye for aesthetic detail, and the ability to ensure that cabin systems consistently meet established functional, safety, and fit-and-finish standards.

What You’ll Do:

• Develop and implement supplier quality standards, supplier quality portal, and supporting supplier quality processes tailored to cabin interior, trim, and human-interface components.

• Inspect and test materials, sub-assemblies, and finished products (e.g., seating assemblies, instrument panels, dashboards, door trim, HVAC controls, interior lighting, glass/windshields, insulation, and cabin hardware) to ensure functional, dimensional, and aesthetic specifications are met.

• Conduct supplier assessments and evaluations to ensure suppliers meet automotive interior quality, craftmanship, and flammability/safety standards.

• Plan and conduct supplier audits to assess their quality systems, production control processes, color/grain matching controls, tool longevity, and manufacturing capabilities.

• Participate in the supplier selection process by providing quality-related, craftmanship, and interior compliance input.

• Lead weekly calls with suppliers to ensure cabin components and assemblies are on track to meet quality, aesthetic, and timing requirements for various build stages of the production line.

• Monitor and report on supplier performance metrics, such as defect rates, cosmetic fallout, delivery times, and compliance with specifications.

• Identify areas for improvement and work with suppliers to implement robust root cause analysis and corrective actions (8D, 5-Why).

• Investigate and resolve quality issues related to material defects, surface finish, squeak and rattle (NVH), color/gloss variation, and dimensional fit issues.

• Collaborate with suppliers to determine root causes of defects and implement robust corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance supplier quality, cabin craftsmanship, and interior ergonomics.

• Work with suppliers to implement lean manufacturing practices, poke-yoke assembly fixtures, and statistical process controls for high-touch interior parts.

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of supplier quality performance, appearance sign-offs (AAR), audits, and corrective actions.

• Ensure that suppliers comply with all relevant industry standards, cabin safety regulations (e.g., FMVSS 302 flammability, occupant impact standards), and company policies.

• Stay updated on changes in industry standards and regulations affecting automotive interiors, materials compliance, and supplier quality.

• Lead supplier audits, APQP, PPAP (including Appearance Approval Reports - AAR), Gauge R&R, CMM/fixture validation, and safe launch activities.

• Participate in Design for Manufacturability/Assembly (DFM/DFA) and craftsmanship/gap-and-flush reviews with design engineering and manufacturing teams.

• Lead MRB (Material Review Board) meetings and act as a quality representative for the engineering change control board regarding cabin assemblies, interior trim, and driver interface components.

Who You Are:

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, or a similar technical field required.

• 3 - 7 years of experience in manufacturing quality or supplier quality engineering in the automotive, commercial vehicle, aerospace interior, or mass transit industries.

• Hands-on experience or familiarity with vehicle cabin systems, including interior plastics, thermoforming, foam-in-place, seating mechanisms, upholstery/stitching, glass/glazing, HVAC ducting, or cabin electronics/displays.

• ASQ Certifications such as Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Certified Quality Manager (CQM), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, or higher preferred.

• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001:2018 or IATF 16949 standards strongly desired.

• Understanding of core quality tools such as Quality Management Systems, Supplier/Internal Audits, APQP, SPC, PPAP (AAR), FMEA (DFMEA/PFMEA), and MSA.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.

• High attention to visual and tactile details (fit and finish, color matching, texture, gap and flush, and NVH/squeak-and-rattle mitigation).

• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple complex supplier projects simultaneously.

• Strong understanding of interior manufacturing processes, including plastic injection molding, blow molding, vacuum forming, leather/fabric wrapping, stamping, and electromechanical sub-assembly integration.

• Ability to travel (domestic and international) up to 30% to 50%.

• Proven experience in a quality engineering role within an automotive or commercial vehicle interior environment.

• Strong knowledge of quality assurance methodologies, dimensional checking fixtures, surface measurement tools, and root cause analysis techniques.

• Experience with supplier quality management, including auditing suppliers of interior trim, seating, and human-machine interface (HMI) modules.

• Proficiency in quality management systems (QMS) and relevant software applications.

Key Benefits & Perks:

• Comprehensive Health, Dental & Vision (HDV) - 100% employee covered
• Early-stage Stock Options
• Robust Retirement Savings (401k, HSA, FSA)
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) & Parental Leave
• Annual Vacation Bonus
• Wellness & Fertility Benefits
• Cell Phone Stipend
• Complimentary Meals & Stocked Kitchens

California Pay Range

$120,000—$180,000 USD

Equal Opportunity

Harbinger is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Harbinger is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at [email protected].

Candidate Data Privacy

Harbinger may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Harbinger may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Harbinger may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our HR, legal, and finance teams, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Harbinger affiliates; and (iii) Harbinger’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Harbinger may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services. Any unsolicited resumes or candidate profiles submitted in response to our job posting shall be considered the property of Harbinger and are not subject to payment of referral or placement fees if any such candidate is later hired by Harbinger unless you have a signed written agreement in place with us which covers the applicable job posting.