About the role

The Supplier Quality Engineer is responsible for developing, qualifying, monitoring, and improving suppliers that provide materials, components, special processes, tooling, and services for Skyeton’s unmanned aircraft systems. This position ensures supplier products and processes meet contractual, engineering, quality, regulatory, and delivery requirements.

The Supplier Quality Engineer works closely with Supply Chain, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Program Management to reduce supplier risk, resolve nonconformances, improve capability, and protect production continuity. This is a hands-on role requiring supplier-site engagement, strong technical judgment, disciplined corrective action, and practical application of aerospace quality requirements.

What you'll do

• Evaluate and qualify new suppliers through capability assessments, risk reviews, quality-system evaluations, audits, and first article requirements
• Maintain supplier approval status, risk classifications, quality records, audit results, certifications, and approved-supplier documentation
• Develop and execute risk-based supplier surveillance, audit, source-inspection, and performance-improvement plans
• Review purchase-order quality clauses, drawings, specifications, statements of work, inspection requirements, and supplier deliverables for completeness
• Support AS9102 First Article Inspection planning, review, validation, approval, and discrepancy resolution for supplier-produced parts
• Lead supplier nonconformance investigations and issue, track, verify, and close supplier corrective action requests using disciplined root-cause methods
• Evaluate supplier deviation, waiver, concession, material-review, and change requests with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain
• Monitor supplier performance using quality, delivery, escape, responsiveness, corrective-action, and risk metrics; communicate trends and required actions
• Partner with suppliers to improve process capability, inspection controls, documentation, traceability, configuration control, and defect prevention
• Perform on-site supplier audits, process reviews, product inspections, source inspections, and production-readiness assessments
• Support incoming inspection planning and determine appropriate inspection levels based on supplier risk, performance, and product criticality
• Investigate supplier-related production disruptions, customer escapes, warranty issues, counterfeit-part concerns, and recurring defects
• Verify supplier compliance with applicable AS9100, ISO 9001, special-process, calibration, material-control, and customer-specific requirements
• Support control of special processes, raw-material certifications, shelf-life items, serialized or lot-controlled parts, and inspection/test records
• Participate in design reviews, make-or-buy decisions, supplier selection, new-product introduction, and production-rate readiness activities
• Perform additional supplier quality, audit, continuous-improvement, and quality-system duties as assigned by leadership

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Quality, Materials Science, or a related technical field
• 5+ years of supplier quality, quality engineering, manufacturing engineering, supplier development, inspection, or related aerospace or defense experience
• Working knowledge of AS9100, ISO 9001, AS9102 First Article Inspection, corrective action, root-cause analysis, and risk-based quality management
• Experience conducting supplier audits, capability assessments, source inspections, process reviews, and supplier performance evaluations
• Experience investigating nonconformances and leading effective containment, root-cause, corrective-action, and verification activities
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, bills of material, inspection plans, certifications, and technical requirements
• Knowledge of manufacturing and inspection processes such as machining, composites, electronics, wiring, assembly, coatings, heat treatment, or nondestructive testing
• Proficiency with quality tools, data analysis, reporting, ERP or quality-management systems, and Microsoft Office applications
• Strong written and verbal communication, negotiation, supplier-management, problem-solving, and organizational skills
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally to supplier locations as business needs require
• Must qualify as a U.S. Person under ITAR/EAR regulations

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting unmanned aircraft systems, aircraft, avionics, payloads, aerospace structures, or defense products
• Certified Quality Engineer, Certified Quality Auditor, AS9100 Lead Auditor, Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, or comparable certification
• Experience with aerospace APQP, production part approval, key characteristics, process capability, statistical process control, and measurement-system analysis
• Knowledge of SAE AS5553, AS6174, AS13000, NADCAP special processes, IPC workmanship standards, or counterfeit-part prevention
• Experience developing suppliers in startup, new-product-introduction, low-rate initial production, or production-ramp environments
• Experience with supplier recovery, capacity assessments, source delegation, or customer and government source inspection
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, or a related field

Skills & Competencies

• Strong supplier quality ownership and technical judgment
• Supplier auditing, development, and relationship-management capability
• Structured root-cause analysis and corrective-action discipline
• Risk-based decision-making and data-driven problem-solving
• Ability to balance quality requirements with production and delivery needs
• Clear communication, negotiation, and cross-functional collaboration
• High attention to detail, documentation, and configuration control
• Commitment to safety, compliance, product integrity, and continuous improvement

Benefits

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Medical insurance: voluntary health insurance program
• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Career growth opportunities within a rapidly expanding aerospace organization
• Opportunity to work on innovative unmanned aerial systems and advanced aerospace technologies

Work Environment

• Full-time, on-site role located in Fayetteville, North Carolina
• Work is performed in office, engineering, production, warehouse, inspection, laboratory, and supplier manufacturing environments
• Regular use of computers, drawings, specifications, inspection records, measuring equipment, quality systems, and supplier data
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, inspect equipment and materials, and move through manufacturing facilities for extended periods
• Ability to lift and carry up to 35 pounds independently and heavier items with assistance or appropriate lifting equipment
• Exposure to noise, machinery, chemicals, production equipment, and ESD- or FOD-controlled areas; required PPE must be worn
• Domestic and international travel of approximately 25–40% may be required for supplier audits, inspections, development, and issue resolution

Equal Opportunity Statement

Skyeton is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law. Skyeton is committed to providing reasonable accommodations as required by law.

About Skyeton, Inc

Skyeton is an aerospace and defense technology company focused on the design, production, and support of advanced unmanned aerial systems. At our growing Fayetteville, North Carolina operation, employees help establish and scale U.S.-based manufacturing capabilities that support demanding customer missions.

Company Culture

Skyeton combines the energy of a growing organization with the discipline required in aerospace manufacturing. We value teamwork, accountability, practical problem-solving, precise execution, and a willingness to improve. Our people make a difference, and every employee contributes directly to product quality, operational readiness, and customer success.