Lead, Supplier Quality Engineer

About Northwood:

Northwood is on a mission to transform connectivity between earth and space and bring the benefits of space to the masses through innovations in space communications technologies. If you like building quickly and seeing your work deployed in locations around the globe with real impact, we want you at Northwood.

Role:

We’re looking for a Lead, Supplier Quality Engineer to be Northwood’s first quality-focused hire - a builder, systems thinker, and technical leader who will define how we scale manufacturing excellence across our global supply chain.

You will create Northwood’s supplier quality program from the ground up, partnering closely with engineering and operations to ensure our products are designed and built for long-term reliability. From designing scalable systems to defining rigorous standards, you’ll establish the foundation for a world-class supplier quality organization and cultivate a company-wide culture of quality and accountability.

As Northwood grows, you’ll have the opportunity to build and lead a high-performing team, mentoring future engineers and shaping how high-reliability hardware moves from concept to production. You’ll influence how quality scales across our global supply base and how it becomes woven into every stage of development and delivery.

This is a foundational, high-impact role - perfect for someone who loves creating structure from ambiguity, leading through influence, and leaving a lasting mark on both our culture and the future of space communications.

Responsibilities:

• Design and launch Northwood’s first supplier quality management system, from process design to documentation and continuous improvement

• Shape the supply base: Identify, qualify, and develop world-class suppliers for RF, PCBA, mechanical, and electromechanical components

• Lead audits, performance reviews, and corrective actions that elevate quality and delivery across our network

• Partner closely with design, manufacturing, and operations on DFM, NPI, and pilot builds - ensuring every part is production-ready

• Define supplier KPIs (quality, cost, responsiveness) and implement real-time visibility tools that drive accountability and progress

• Act as the technical and quality liaison between internal engineering and external suppliers - turning insights into scalable, repeatable success

• Drive supplier readiness for production ramp-ups and capacity expansions as Northwood grows around the world

• Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (NCR/CAPA) to eliminate defects and strengthen design for manufacturability

• Partner with suppliers on process improvements that cut costs, reduce cycle times, and maximize yields

• Establish quality requirements and flow downs that ensure every product built by our partners reflects Northwood’s commitment to excellence

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or related field

• 7+ years in Supplier Quality, Supplier Development, or Manufacturing Quality roles

• Experience with quality standards and tools (e.g., ISO 9001, AS9100, PPAP)

• A track record of building or scaling quality systems in low-to-medium volume, high-complexity environments

• Proven success qualifying and managing suppliers and driving measurable performance improvement

• Willingness to travel up to 25% domestically and internationally to engage with our global supply network

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in an AS9100 environment

• Background in aerospace, satellite, telecommunications, or defense industries

• Hands-on experience with RF, PCBA, custom enclosures, or electromechanical assemblies

• Familiarity with ERP, PLM, or digital quality management systems

• Experience supporting early-stage product development through production ramp

• Lean Six Sigma or similar certifications

• Strong data fluency - proficiency with SQL or analytics tools for supplier and quality insights