Director, Supplier Quality

The Director of Supplier Quality leads the development and execution of Divergent’s global supplier quality strategy. This role is responsible for ensuring that all externally sourced components, materials, and services meet stringent quality, reliability, and performance standards—spanning prototype through full-rate production. 

You will build and scale supplier quality systems appropriate for a high-growth, advanced manufacturing environment, while driving accountability, performance, and continuous improvement across a diverse and evolving supply base. 

This is a hands-on leadership role that blends strategic quality management, deep technical engagement with suppliers, cross-functional collaboration, and relentless pursuit of operational excellence. The ideal candidate will thrive in a highly dynamic, fast-growth environment, and bring both startup grit and world-class manufacturing discipline. 

Key Responsibilities 

1. Supplier Quality Strategy, Governance & Operating Model

• Architect and deploy a scalable supplier quality operating system that supports:  
• Low-volume, high-complexity builds  
• Scalable, repeatable production  
• Additive manufacturing infrastructure 
• Define supplier segmentation strategy (strategic, critical, developmental, transactional) with differentiated quality engagement models.  
• Establish quality governance forums (e.g., Supplier Quality Council, cross-functional escalation reviews).  
• Develop multi-year roadmap for supplier quality maturity aligned with company growth (prototype → industrialization → scale).  
• Own end-to-end supplier quality policies, procedures, and standard work.  
• Drive digitization of supplier quality processes (QMS tools, real-time dashboards, supplier portals).  

1. Supplier Selection, Qualification & Industrialization

• Partner with sourcing during RFQ and supplier selection to evaluate:  
• Technical capability  
• Process maturity  
• Capacity and scalability  
• Quality system robustness  
• Lead supplier risk assessments (technical, operational, geopolitical, financial).  
• Define and execute supplier qualification frameworks, including:  
• Pre-award audits (process, quality system, manufacturing readiness)  
• Capability studies and run-at-rate validations  
• Drive industrialization readiness for new suppliers:  
• Manufacturing process validation  
• Tooling and fixture qualification  
• Special process validation (heat treatment, additive, composites, machining, etc.)  

1. Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) Execution

• Own supplier-side APQP execution across all programs and customers.  
• Ensure robust completion and approval of:  
• Design reviews and supplier feasibility commitments  
• Process Flow Diagrams aligned to actual manufacturing steps  
• PFMEA with high-risk failure modes mitigated prior to SOP  
• Control Plans tied to critical-to-quality (CTQ) characteristics  
• Drive Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) submissions at appropriate levels:  
• Validate dimensional results, capability indices (Cp/Cpk), and material certifications  
• Ensure alignment with engineering specifications and performance requirements  
• Establish launch readiness criteria and enforce strict entry/exit gates for suppliers.  

1. Supplier Performance Management & Continuous Improvement

• Define and operationalize supplier scorecards, including:  
• PPM (defects)  
• On-time delivery (OTD)  
• Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)  
• Responsiveness and corrective action closure time  
• Lead monthly/quarterly business reviews (MBRs/QBRs) with strategic suppliers.  
• Drive structured supplier improvement programs, including:  
• Lean manufacturing implementation  
• Six Sigma projects  
• Yield and throughput optimization  
• Develop and deploy supplier development roadmaps for underperforming or strategic partners.  
• Own escalation process for chronic supplier issues, including executive-level interventions.  

1. Nonconformance Management, Root Cause & Corrective Actions

• Establish a closed-loop nonconformance management system across incoming, in-process, and field issues.  
• Lead critical supplier quality issue resolution using:  
• 8D methodology  
• 5 Whys, Ishikawa (Fishbone), fault tree analysis  
• Ensure true root cause identification (escape point + occurrence cause), not superficial fixes.  
• Validate effectiveness of corrective actions through data and audit.  
• Partner with internal teams to manage:  
• Supplier containment actions  
• Line disruptions and recovery plans  
• Field failures and warranty-related supplier issues  

1. Incoming Quality & Risk-Based Inspection Strategy

• Design and implement risk-based incoming inspection frameworks, including:  
• Dock-to-stock programs for high-performing suppliers  
• Increased inspection for new or underperforming suppliers  
• Define inspection plans based on:  
• Criticality of components (safety, structural, performance)  
• Supplier capability and historical performance  
• Optimize balance between inspection, cost, and risk.  
• Implement advanced inspection technologies where applicable (CMM, CT scanning, digital metrology).  

1. Supplier Audits & Quality Systems Compliance

• Develop and execute a global supplier audit program, including:  
• Quality system audits (ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100 as applicable)  
• Process audits (layered process audits, special process validation)  
• Product audits  
• Ensure supplier compliance with:  
• Regulatory requirements  
• Customer-specific requirements  
• Internal Divergent standards  
• Track audit findings, ensure timely closure, and verify effectiveness.  
• Drive suppliers toward higher levels of quality system maturity.  

1. New Product Introduction (NPI) & Program Support

• Embed SQE resources within program teams to ensure early supplier engagement.  
• Identify and mitigate supplier risks during design and development phases.  
• Ensure suppliers are aligned to:  
• Engineering changes (ECR/ECO processes)  
• Prototype and pre-production builds  
• Support rapid iteration cycles typical of advanced engineering environments while maintaining quality discipline.  
• Drive seamless transition from prototype builds → pilot → production.  

1. Cross-Functional Integration

• Act as the primary interface between suppliers and internal teams for all quality-related matters.  
• Partner closely with:  
• Engineering (design quality, tolerances, materials)  
• Supply Chain (sourcing strategy, supplier selection)  
• Manufacturing (line readiness, issue resolution)  
• Program Management (timelines, milestones, risk tracking)  
• Influence design decisions to ensure manufacturability and supplier capability alignment.  

1. Global Supplier Engagement & Field Presence

• Maintain strong, in-person engagement with key suppliers through:  
• On-site audits  
• Launch support  
• Crisis management  
• Lead war room / rapid response efforts at supplier sites when needed.  
• Build long-term, trust-based partnerships with strategic suppliers while maintaining accountability.  

1. Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Build and lead a high-caliber Supplier Quality Engineering (SQE) organization.  
• Define roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations for the team.  
• Coach and develop team members in:  
• Technical quality tools  
• Supplier engagement and influence  
• Problem-solving methodologies  
• Establish a culture of ownership, urgency, and continuous improvement.  
• Ensure proper resourcing to support Divergent growth trajectory.  

1. Cost of Quality & Business Impact

• Own and reduce Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) across the supply base.  
• Quantify financial impact of supplier quality issues (scrap, rework, downtime, warranty).  
• Partner with finance and supply chain to drive should-cost and quality-cost tradeoffs.  
• Ensure supplier quality supports overall business objectives: speed, cost, scalability, and performance.  

• 10+ years of experience in Supplier Quality, Manufacturing Quality, or related roles.  
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing SQE or quality teams.  
• Strong experience in automotive, aerospace, or advanced manufacturing environments.  
• Deep expertise in:  
• APQP / PPAP  
• Root cause analysis (8D, 5 Whys,etc.)  
• Statistical process control (SPC)  
• Supplier auditing and development  
• Proven track record of scaling supplier quality systems in high-growth or startup environments.  
• Experience managing complex, global supply chains.  

• Experience with additive manufacturing, lightweight structures, or advanced materials.  
• Familiarity with both low-volume high-complexity and scalable production systems.  
• Certifications such as ASQ CQE, CQA, or Six Sigma Black Belt.  
• Experience with digital manufacturing or highly automated production environments.

• This role will be onsite in our Torrance, CA office. 

At Divergent, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at level M08 as evaluated through our interview process. 

• M08/ Director, Supplier Quality: $193,100 - $236,020