Supplier Development Engineer

(Location - San Francisco or Brisbane, CA)

About Ample

Ample’s mission is to accelerate the transition to electric mobility by offering an energy delivery solution that is as fast, as convenient, and as cheap as gas. We aim to solve the energy delivery challenge for electric transportation by utilizing autonomous robotics and smart-battery technology.

ABOUT YOU AND THE ROLE  

Does the prospect of transitioning a company from prototype to volume manufacturing  excite you? Can you focus on the actions required to accomplish a long-term goal through countless competing requests? If your answers here are “Yes”, then we’ve been looking for you: Please read on.

WHAT YOU'LL DO  

In this role, you will own product development qualification activities at suppliers and interact with Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations teams to scale Ample’s manufacturing footprint

• Determine ideal performance specifications and supplier metrics in collaboration with Ample Design, Supply Chain and Manufacturing
• Participate in Supplier Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews, guide suppliers in efficient use of poka-yokes, best methods of gauging, and correct tools or assembly equipment to use.  Provide feedback to Ample Design teams to continuously improve the design for quality, cost and manufacturability
• Lead, track and improve Supplier manufacturing process development and launch readiness for new products and design changes

• Lead and implement Supplier improvements in scalability, cost, and quality

• Facilitate communication and clarification of technical requirements between Suppliers and Ample’s Design, Internal Quality and Procurement teams
• Drive improvements utilizing Lean methodologies, Statistical Process Control (SPC), and supplier scorecards

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• You have worked for a minimum of 3 years in a fast paced and high growth environment as a Supplier Quality Engineer, Supplier Development Engineer or Supplier Industrialization Engineer
• You have successfully launched, into volume production, complex components and assemblies using quality planning from prototype through mass production stages.
• You have actively participated in a product design effort and thus know what it takes to transition from prototype to volume production .
• You have worked with an established Quality System and applied it to improve your supply base (applicable standards are IATF16949/AS9100/ISO9001).
• You have achieved measurable results with implementing Product Quality Planning with part suppliers and contract manufacturers, both domestic and overseas (applicable examples are Advanced Product Quality Planning, Production Part Approval Process, Process Failure Modes and Effects Analysis, SPC)
• You understand the value of methods such as 8D, 5-WHY, Pareto Charts and Fishbone Diagrams because you have eliminated problems by using them and influencing suppliers to do the same.
• You can thrive in structured and unstructured environments and are not  dissuaded at the prospect of making hard decisions about what is important and urgent against a backdrop of limited resources.

NICE TO HAVE 

• You have visited vendors in different geographies and you know what excellence looks like across a variety of manufacturing processes so that you can effectively assess the best fit for Ample’s needs
• You have technical expertise in at least one of the following disciplines (mold flow simulation, machining / inspection fixture design, GD&T, metrology (CMM / OMM programming and inspection), manufacturing line setup , electro-mechanical assembly testing etc)
• You have process experience in at least two of the following processes ( injection molding, machining, die casting, painting, 3d printing, welding, stamping, PCBA manufacturing etc) 
• You have a good understanding of and have successfully implemented gates within a product development process and achieved the intended results.
• You have used a CAD system like Solidworks, NX, Altium, OrCAD, Catia

• You have strong project management skills with demonstrated ability to drive aggressive timelines with key stakeholders internally and externally.

WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW   

This role will require travel of 25-30% of the time to visit Suppliers, and Ample will work together with you to make sure that this is possible. 

We are an equal opportunity and E-verified Employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status.