The Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) is responsible for ensuring that externally supplied products and processes meet company and customer quality requirements. This role drives supplier performance through qualification, monitoring, and continuous improvement, with a strong emphasis on defect prevention, risk management, and operational excellence across the supply chain.
The Supplier Quality Engineer works cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Manufacturing and Engineering, to resolve supplier quality issues, minimize disruptions, and ensure compliance with applicable standards.
You will be responsible for ensuring that the products supplied to Kepler meet our quality standards and requirements to minimize quality costs and maximize efficiency.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead supplier quality qualification and approval activities, including capability assessments and risk evaluations (technical, manufacturing, and HSE) through initial and surveillance audits
Evaluate supplier processes to ensure alignment with internal and customer quality requirements
Drive continuous improvement initiatives at suppliers to reduce defects, variation, and waste
Establish and maintain strong working relationships with suppliers to enable proactive quality management
Ensure supplied products meet defined quality standards and specifications to minimize cost of poor quality and production disruptions
Monitor supplier performance using data-driven metrics and identify improvement opportunities
Ensure supplier adherence to defined processes, procedures, and quality requirements
Lead and/or facilitate root cause analysis and corrective action activities for supplier-related non-conformances
Review supplier root cause analyses and ensure effectiveness of corrective actions
Drive timely containment and resolution of supplier quality issues to prevent production impact
Conduct supplier audits (process, system, and special process) to verify compliance and capability
Perform on-site supplier visits to investigate quality issues and validate corrective actions
Support supplier readiness for new product introduction and production scaling
Perform and/or support FAI inspections
Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams to ensure supplier alignment with product and program requirements
Provide supplier quality input during supplier selection
Communicate supplier risks and performance clearly to internal stakeholders
- You will be responsible for ensuring that the products supplied to Kepler meet our quality standards and requirements to minimize quality costs and maximize efficiency
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Supplier Audits & On-Site Support
Supplier Non-Conformance & Corrective Action Management
Supplier Quality Management
Supplier Qualification & Development
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical field
- 3+ years of experience in Supplier Quality, Manufacturing Quality, or Product Assurance in regulated industries (e.g., aerospace, automotive, medical devices)
- Experience working directly with external suppliers and managing quality performance
- Strong knowledge of:
- Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
- Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings (mechanical and electrical) and manufacturing processes
- Willing to travel 50-60% with at least 10% to China to various supplier visits
- Experience with root cause analysis methodologies (8D, 5 Whys, Fishbone)
- Familiarity with quality standards such as ISO 9001, AS9100, or equivalent
- Strong data analysis and reporting skills and problem-solving and analytical thinking
- Effective communication and stakeholder management
- Comfortable working in fast-paced, high-growth environments
- Ability to influence suppliers and internal teams without direct authority
Bonus Points:
Experience with EEE components or electronics supply chains
Familiarity with First Article Inspection (FAI / AS9102)
Experience in New Space or high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments
Relevant certifications in quality assurance or supplier quality assurance
Salary Range: $85,831 - 106,831 CAD
Actual total compensation will be determined at the Company’s discretion and is based on a variety of job-related factors, which may include, but are not limited to, relevant knowledge, skills, experience, performance, and education and/or training. The Company encourages all qualified applicants to apply, even if the posted salary range does not align with their expectations, as it does not reflect our total compensation package.
Job Type: This is for a current vacancy
Top Skills
What We Do
Kepler designs, builds, launches, and operates an advanced network of low earth orbit satellites with the ultimate goal of bringing internet to outer space. Today, Kepler serves the needs of earth by connecting machines all around the world using its satellites on orbit and other complementary networks. Through a host of compatible partner equipment we make it easy to use satellite communications in your solution and route data over the best networks.
