Department: Assembly
Reports To: Director of Quality
Position Type: Onsite - Full-time [40 hours per week]
Shift Days: Monday - Friday
Shift Hours: First 7:00 am - 3:30 pm
Hourly Rate: $40 - $46 based on experience
Role Overview
We are seeking a Supplier Quality Engineer to join our dynamic team, focused on delivering high-quality electronic manufacturing products. In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring supplier quality, driving corrective action, improving supplier performance, and maintaining compliance with applicable aerospace and defense quality requirements.
Responsibilities
- Evaluate PCB fabrication and PCBA manufacturing processes, inspection practices, and process controls.
- Review engineering drawings, dimensional requirements, and GD&T callouts to determine supplier compliance.
- Support first article inspections (FAIs), including AS9102 requirements where applicable.
- Support compliance with AS9100 quality management system requirements and applicable customer-specific requirements.
- Apply structured problem-solving methodologies, including 8D, 5-Why, fishbone analysis, and other root cause analysis techniques.
- Investigate dimensional nonconformances involving machined parts, tolerances, datum structures, geometric characteristics, and surface requirements.
- Assess the adequacy of supplier measurement equipment/capabilities, inspection techniques, manufacturing capabilities, process controls and overall quality system effectiveness.
- Evaluate, qualify, and monitor suppliers to ensure compliance with engineering specifications, purchase order requirements, and applicable quality standards.
- Conduct supplier quality audits, process/risk assessments, and on-site evaluations.
- Monitor and maintain clear, objective documentation of supplier evaluations, nonconformances, and corrective actions.
- Identify supplier risks and implement appropriate containment, corrective action, and preventive measures.
- Lead supplier corrective action requests and drive timely, effective resolution of recurring quality issues.
- Verify and implement corrective actions to address root causes and demonstrate sustained effectiveness.
- Review supplier responses for technical adequacy, evidence-based root cause identification, and effective recurrence prevention.
- Assess supplier compliance with applicable IPC standards, customer requirements, and aerospace workmanship expectations.
- Work with suppliers and internal engineering, manufacturing and quality teams to resolve electronic assembly and inspection issues.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering, or a related technical field
- Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in supplier quality, manufacturing quality, or a closely related quality engineering role.
- Strong, practical experience with machine shop operations and GD&T interpretation is a mandatory qualification for this position.
- Proven experience and working knowledge of root cause analysis and structured corrective action methodologies, such as 8D and 5-Why.
- Ability to read and interpret complex engineering drawings, dimensional tolerances, and technical specifications.
- Willingness and ability to travel approximately 25% to supplier facilities.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in aerospace, defense, electronics manufacturing services (EMS), or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
- Experience with AS9100 and AS9102 First Article Inspection requirements.
- Experience with PCB fabrication, PCBA assembly, SMT processes, soldering workmanship, and applicable IPC standards.
- Knowledge of IPC J-STD-001 and IPC-A-610 requirements.
Technical Skills and Relevant Technologies
- Experience investigating manufacturing nonconformances and evaluating supplier corrective actions.
- Experience conducting supplier assessments, audits, or manufacturing process evaluations.
- Ability to communicate effectively with supplier personnel, manufacturing engineers, quality teams, and management.
- Strong organizational, analytical, documentation, and problem-solving skills.
Other Skills and Cultural Fit
- Experience evaluating special processes, manufacturing process controls, and supplier risk.
- Familiarity with inspection planning, measurement systems, statistical process control, and continuous improvement methods.
- Experience working with customer-specific aerospace and defense quality requirements.
Compensation and Benefits
- Pay: $40 - $46 an hour, based on experience
- Health and Dental Insurance
- 401(k) plan with company match
- 10 days of Paid time off and 7 paid holidays
- Opportunities for professional development
Required Internal Training:
- HCI Orientation
- All pertaining process procedures that relate to job function
Required Education:
- High School Diploma or equivalent
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, and sit. The employee is frequently required to use hand to finger, handle, or feel objects, and tools. The employee is required to frequently reach with hands and arms, manipulate parts in repetitive motions; stoop, kneel; and talk to hear.
The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perceptions, and the ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment may sometimes be very loud.
IMPORTANT:
If offer of employment is made it will be contingent upon passing all of the following: E-Verify, Background Check, ITAR and U.S. Export Compliance Screening.
Access to our facility (and, therefore, employment) is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents, U.S. refugees, asylees or temporary residents under amnesty provisions [as defined in 8 USC 1324b(a)(3)] and properly licensed foreign persons. Additionally, potential employee’s names will be screened against the Consolidated Screening List (maintained by the United States government) to determine eligibility to receive technical data.
Hughes Circuits is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Applicants apply online or in person
Hughes Circuits Inc.,
546 S. Pacific St
San Marcos, CA 92078
