Supplier Quality and Development Engineer

About the Company

We are a renewable energy and ocean technology company committed to rapidly developing and deploying technologies that will ensure a sustainable future for Earth by unlocking the vast energy potential of its oceans. Our focus is on capturing civilizational levels of ultra-low-cost renewable energy for applications including computing and affordable renewable fuels delivered to shore.

The company is a public benefit corporation headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and backed by leading venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, university endowments, and private investment offices. We operate as an idea meritocracy in which the best ideas change the company’s direction on a regular basis.

About the Job

As a Supplier Quality and Development Engineer, you will serve as the primary technical point of contact for suppliers producing Node hardware. You will work across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams to resolve production issues, develop capable suppliers, and establish scalable manufacturing processes.

You will support new product introduction from early design through production readiness. This includes conducting design-for-manufacturing reviews, selecting manufacturing methods, evaluating suppliers, defining quality requirements, and applying structured quality-planning methods such as APQP, PPAP, FAIR, and 8D.

This role is well suited for a hands-on engineer who can move between technical problem-solving, supplier development, manufacturing process design, and quality-system execution. You will have significant ownership and will be expected to build practical processes where none currently exist.

Candidates should have strong interpersonal skills and be able to thrive in a creative, scrappy, and collaborative environment in which the best ideas change the company’s direction on a regular basis. You will own your designs cradle-to-grave, from first concept through fabrication and deployment at sea. If you are an excellent engineer, regardless of your background, we want you to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical point of contact for suppliers producing Node hardware.
• Resolve supplier, manufacturing, and quality issues that could affect production schedules, cost, or product performance.
• Lead supplier-quality and manufacturing-readiness activities for new product introduction.
• Evaluate manufacturing methods and supplier capabilities for formed, cut, machined, welded, and assembled metal components.
• Conduct design-for-manufacturing reviews and provide recommendations that improve manufacturability, quality, cost, and scalability.
• Apply Advanced Product Quality Planning principles during product and process development.
• Develop and manage Production Part Approval Process requirements for new and changed components.
• Review First Article Inspection Reports and verify that parts meet engineering and quality requirements.
• Create specifications, inspection criteria, control requirements, and other technical documentation for the supply base.
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify new suppliers in partnership with engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams.
• Conduct supplier audits and evaluations against ISO 9001, AS9100, or comparable quality-management systems.
• Analyze supplier defect and performance data to identify recurring issues and improvement opportunities.
• Lead root-cause investigations using structured problem-solving methods such as 8D.
• Issue and manage supplier corrective-action requests through verified resolution.
• Develop scalable supplier-quality processes and communicate them effectively across internal teams and external partners.
• Support the implementation and use of PLM, ERP, MRP, and MES systems for supplier, manufacturing, and quality data.
• Travel to supplier and manufacturing locations as needed, potentially up to 50% of the work week.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, quality, or a related STEM field.
• At least five years of experience in supplier quality, supplier development, manufacturing engineering, or a closely related field.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001, AS9100, or similar quality-management standards.
• Experience applying supplier-quality processes, including APQP, PPAP, FAIR, and 8D.
• Experience supporting new product development and production-part approval.
• Technical knowledge of manufacturing processes such as forming, cutting, machining, welding, and assembly.
• Experience working with stainless steel, carbon steel, or comparable structural metals.
• Experience identifying root causes, implementing corrective actions, and verifying their effectiveness.
• Experience evaluating supplier manufacturing capabilities and production readiness.
• Working knowledge of ERP or MRP systems.
• Ability to develop processes, specifications, and quality requirements from the ground up.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and coordinate across diverse technical teams.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% when required.

Desired Qualifications

• Familiarity with high-volume inspection strategies and data-driven acceptance methods.
• Experience developing sampling plans, process-capability requirements, or statistical quality controls.
• Strong proficiency with data analysis and supplier-performance reporting.
• Experience with PLM, ERP, MES, or integrated manufacturing systems.
• Experience supporting the industrialization of complex hardware products.
• Experience developing or improving supplier-quality systems in a fast-growing organization.
• Familiarity with large fabricated metal structures or marine, aerospace, automotive, energy, or other highly engineered hardware.

Compensation and Benefits

If hired for this full-time role, you will receive:

• Cash compensation of $110,000 - $155,000.
• Equity in the company. We’re all owners and if we’re successful, this equity should be far and away the most valuable component of your compensation.
• A benefits package that helps you take care of yourself and your family, including:
  • Flexible paid time off
  • Health insurance (the company pays 100% of gold-level PPO plan for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)
  • Dental insurance (the company pays 100% for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)
  • Vision insurance (the company pays 100% for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)
  • Disability insurance (the company pays 100% for a policy to provide long-term financial support if you become disabled)
  • Ability to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts, including 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FSA
• Relocation assistance to facilitate your move to Portland (if needed).

Location

This is an on-site position. Our offices, lab, and shop are located in Portland, Oregon.