Director, Supplier Quality

Responsibilities

• Architect and deploy a scalable supplier quality operating system for low-volume and high-volume production
• Define supplier segmentation strategy and establish quality governance forums
• Partner with sourcing during RFQ and supplier selection to evaluate technical capability and process maturity
• Lead supplier risk assessments and execute qualification frameworks including pre-award audits
• Own supplier-side APQP execution, including design reviews, PFMEA, and Control Plans
• Drive Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) submissions and validate dimensional results
• Operationalize supplier scorecards covering PPM, OTD, and Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)
• Lead root cause analysis using 8D, 5 Whys, and Ishikawa methodologies
• Design and implement risk-based incoming inspection frameworks and dock-to-stock programs
• Develop and execute a global supplier audit program (ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100)
• Embed SQE resources within program teams to mitigate risks during design and development
• Build and lead a high-caliber Supplier Quality Engineering (SQE) organization

Requirements

• 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, and Root Cause Analysis (8D, 5 Whys)
• Proficiency in Statistical Process Control (SPC)
• Proven track record of scaling supplier quality systems in high-growth or startup environments
• Experience managing complex, global supply chains

Preferred Qualifications

• 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

About the Company

Divergent is a technology company that has architected, invented, built, and commercialized an end-to-end factory system called the Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS) that comprehensively uses machine learning to optimally engineer, additively manufacture, and flexibly assemble complex integrated vehicle structures and subsystems.