What are the responsibilities and job description for the Supplier Quality Engineer, Thermal (Contract) position at Harbinger Motors Inc.?
About Harbinger
Harbinger Motors Inc. is a Southern California-based electric vehicle manufacturer on a mission to transform the automotive and transportation industries, bringing to market EVs developed from the ground up to address the needs of the Medium Duty vehicle industry. This broad, and to date poorly addressed, market segment includes class 4 to 7 commercial delivery vehicles, RVs and utility vehicles, among others. Leveraging a foundation of proprietary, in-house developed vehicle technologies, Harbinger's first-of-its-kind EV platform will bring enhancements in vehicle performance, durability and operator comfort. And importantly, Harbinger's vehicles will be priced for zero acquisition premium relative to traditional gas- and diesel-based competitors, removing one of the most tenacious barriers to EV adoption.
Harbinger's team, with operations in Southern California and Michigan, includes industry veterans with expertise in powertrain, battery, chassis and software development, along with leaders in advanced manufacturing, corporate development, operations and finance. Our team members come from leading innovators, both in and out of the automotive industry, including Tesla, Rivian, Canoo, Ford, Anduril, and SpaceX.
Founded in 2021, Harbinger is a venture-backed startup on a rapid growth trajectory, looking for candidates that thrive on tackling complex challenges and who share in our passion to bring clean transportation alternatives to a segment of the market starving for innovation.
Job Overview
We are looking for Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) for Thermal commodity who will be responsible for ensuring the quality of thermal components, cables and assemblies supplied to the organization. This role involves collaborating with suppliers, engineering teams, and production teams to establish and maintain quality standards, troubleshoot issues, and drive continuous improvement. The SQE will act as a liaison between the company and its suppliers to ensure components meet all technical specifications, quality standards, and customer requirements. Responsibilities include defining quality standards, inspecting materials, equipment, processes, and products, developing quality control systems, supplier selection, PPAP, leading APQP, and determining corrective actions. A successful SQE should have excellent troubleshooting skills and be able to ensure that processes and products consistently meet established quality standards.
What You'll Do:
- Collaborate with suppliers to ensure compliance with company and industry quality standards.
- Conduct specialized supplier audits (process, product, system) for thermal and electromechanical components, including heat exchangers, cooling systems, HV components, PCBA, wiring harnesses, and electromechanical assemblies.
- Develop and implement supplier performance metrics, including defect rates, response times, and process improvements.
- Work closely with suppliers to develop corrective and preventive action plans for nonconformance issues.
- Establish and validate supplier processes for thermal components, including assembly line setups, manufacturing, gauge design and approvals, first article inspection (FAI) and production part approval process (PPAP).
- Conduct incoming inspections and quality checks components as needed.
- Review and approve supplier documentation, such as control plans, FMEAs, Deviations and inspection reports.
- Ensure compliance with specifications, drawings, and industry standards such as ISO 9001, IATF 16949, or AS9100 as applicable.
- Participate in the supplier selection process by providing quality-related input.
- Lead weekly calls with suppliers to ensure parts are on track to meet quality and timing requirements for various build stages of the production line.
- Participate in design reviews with the design engineering and manufacturing team to mitigate risk for manufacturing and assembly.
- Monitor and report on supplier performance metrics, such as defect rates, delivery times, and compliance with specifications.
- Investigate and resolve quality issues related to supplier materials and components.
- Collaborate with suppliers to determine root causes of defects and implement corrective and preventive actions.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance supplier quality and performance.
- Lead MRB meetings and act as a quality representative for the engineering change control board.
Who You Are:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing) or a related technical field.
- 3-9 years of experience in manufacturing quality or supplier quality engineering, preferably in automotive, EV, or aerospace.
- Strong knowledge of thermal management systems and electromechanical assembly processes (HV, PCBA, wiring harnesses).
- Working experience with IPC 600, IPC 610, IPC 620, and USCAR standards.
- Strong understanding of quality core tools (QMS, audits, APQP, SPC, PPAP, FMEA, MSA).
- Proficiency in ISO 9001:2018 or IATF 16949 standards.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Strong project management skills.
- Strong understanding of High Voltage components and box builds (HVJB, HV Cables, Inverter etc.) and assembly processes.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally (30-50%).
- ASQ certifications (CQE, CQA, CQM, Lean Six Sigma) are a plus.
Equal Opportunity