Supplier Quality Engineer / QMS Auditor

Attalon is a U.S.-based aerospace and defense technology company formed through the 2025 carve-out of Coherent's Aerospace & Defense division by Advent International. Attalon designs and manufactures mission-critical optical systems, precision coatings, and advanced laser subsystems for ISR&T, space, missiles, and directed energy applications. At our Tustin location, we design and manufacture telescopes for applications ranging from targeting pods to deep‑space astronomy, delivering precision optical performance across air, space, and ground platforms. **Supplier Quality Engineer / QMS Auditor** We are seeking a **Supplier Quality Engineer / QMS Auditor** to join our team and lead efforts in **supplier quality management**, **Quality Management System (QMS) auditing**, and **PPAP (Production Part Approval Process)** coordination. This role is critical to ensuring that our suppliers adhere to established quality standards, industry requirements, and best practices, while also conducting QMS audits to maintain compliance with relevant certifications (e.g., ISO 9001, AS9100). The ideal candidate will bring strong knowledge of quality methodologies, auditing, supplier development, and the ability to drive continuous improvement across the supply chain. **Core Responsibilities:** - PPAP process management: Ensure supplier compliance during production ramp-up. - QMS auditing: Enforce supplier and internal adherence to quality management standards. - Supplier accountability: Drive corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives. - Collaboration and reporting: Act as a liaison between suppliers, production teams, and the Quality department. **Supplier Quality Management:** - Establish, manage, and maintain relationships with suppliers to develop and ensure adherence to quality standards and company policies. - **Lead and manage PPAP submissions**to ensure proper validation of supplier manufacturing processes and components prior to production launch. - Review and approve supplier PPAP packages, including dimensional reports, material certifications, control plans, FMEA, and capability studies. - Collaborate with suppliers to resolve any discrepancies or issues discovered during the PPAP process. - Ensure suppliers' compliance with contract requirements, engineering specifications, and industry standards (e.g., ISO 9001, AS9100, NADCAP). - Monitor and evaluate supplier performance using key metrics such as quality defects, delivery performance, and responsiveness to corrective actions. - Drive supplier development programs to enhance quality, mitigate risks, and improve manufacturing and operational capabilities. **QMS Auditing and Compliance:** - Conduct **internal audits** and **supplier audits** to ensure compliance with QMS standards (e.g., ISO 9001, AS9100). - Evaluate suppliers' Quality Management Systems (QMS) to verify alignment with safety, operational, regulatory, and industry-specific requirements. - Manage audit schedules, develop and maintain audit checklists, and prepare audit reports detailing findings, observations, and corrective actions required. - Collaborate with suppliers to implement corrective actions and drive continuous improvement based on audit results. - Support external third-party QMS audits and ensure proper documentation, record-keeping, and preparation. **Document Control and Regulatory Compliance:** - Maintain quality documentation, including PPAP records, corrective action plans (CAPA), audit reports, and calibration logs. - Ensure document control compliance as part of QMS processes, including revision control, proper storage, and accessibility. - Assist suppliers in achieving compliance with relevant regulatory frameworks, such as REACH, RoHS, and Conflict Minerals standards. **Minimum Qualifications** - **Bachelor’s degree** in mechanical engineering, Industrial Engineering, Quality Assurance, or related technical field (or equivalent experience). - **Experience**: Minimum 5 years in **S…