Supplier Development Engineer

About this role

Vital Lyfe seeks a Supplier Development Engineer to build and scale a resilient supplier network for innovative desalination systems addressing global water scarcity. You'll architect supplier management systems, conduct quality audits, and partner with vendors to ensure manufacturing excellence from prototype to production.

What you'll do

• Design and implement supplier management systems for traceability, quality control, and accountability
• Qualify suppliers and lead technical assessments including DFM reviews, process validation, and QMS audits
• Manage supplier issues through non-conformance reports, corrective actions, and quality investigations
• Define technical and quality standards for new product introduction and production phases
• Conduct performance audits, risk reviews, and trend analysis to proactively mitigate supplier risks
• Source new suppliers with specialized capabilities in materials, fabrication, and metrology

What they're looking for

• Supplier quality management and NPI experience
• QMS tools and standards (ISO 9001, PPAP, FAI, Cpk, PFMEA)
• Manufacturing and process engineering
• Problem-solving in ambiguous, fast-paced environments
• Cross-functional communication and collaboration
• Design for manufacturability (DFM) assessment
• Hardware or industrial systems background
• End-to-end project ownership

Benefits

• Work on high-impact global water security challenges
• Early ownership and equity opportunity in a high-growth startup
• Join a tight-knit, mission-driven engineering team
• Build long-term career growth as the company scales
• 100% onsite role in Torrance, CA