Manager, Supplier Development Engineer – Mechanical

What You Will Be Doing: 

As the Manager of Supplier Development Engineering, you will lead the strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of Helion’s supplier readiness, supplier quality, and supplier technical capability as we scale from prototype builds to high-volume manufacturing for fusion generator production. You will manage a team of Supplier Development Engineers and partner closely with design engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and operations to ensure suppliers can meet Helion’s technical, quality, cost, and delivery requirements. You will drive supplier performance, develop long-term manufacturing capability, and build a resilient, high-quality supply chain that accelerates Helion's mission of delivering clean fusion electricity. This is an onsite role that reports directly to the Senior Manager of Mechanical Engineering at our Everett, WA office.

You Will: 

• Manage, coach, and grow a high-performing team of Supplier Development Engineers while setting priorities, resource plans, and execution frameworks to support major program milestones 
• Develop and implement Helion’s supplier development strategy to strengthen supplier technical capability and readiness 
• Collaborate with engineering teams to understand part and subsystem requirements and translate them into supplier manufacturing and quality expectations 
• Lead supplier selection, capability assessments, and sourcing decisions in partnership with supply chain teams 
• Evaluate supplier manufacturing processes, quality systems, capacity, and scalability against Helion’s requirements 
• Oversee deployment of PPAP, APQP, FAI, control plans, and other qualification processes across critical suppliers 
• Drive systematic root cause investigations, corrective actions, and continuous improvement for supplier nonconformances 
• Use data, metrics, and supplier performance dashboards to guide improvements and long-term strategic decisions 
• Guide suppliers through prototype builds, engineering validation, pilot production, and scaling to high-volume output 
• Ensure supplier documentation, inspection plans, and verification methods meet Helion’s engineering and regulatory standards 
• Partner with manufacturing engineering to introduce high-volume production methods and refine manufacturability 
• Develop long-term supplier capability plans that reduce risk, accelerate production timelines, and incorporate emerging manufacturing technologies 

Required Skills: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field 
• 7+ years of experience in supplier development, supplier quality, or manufacturing engineering, including direct experience working with and developing suppliers 
• 3+ years of experience leading engineering teams or technical programs 
• Strong background in mechanical manufacturing processes such as machining, fabrication, electromechanical assembly, and high-precision component manufacturing 
• Deep knowledge of supplier quality methodologies (PPAP, APQP, FAI, control plans, SPC, DOE, Six Sigma) 
• Experience working within quality systems such as ISO 9001, AS9100, or IATF 16949 
• Assess ability to assess supplier capability, identify manufacturing risks, and lead effective corrective action 
• Ability to travel up to 25% to support supplier audits, development, and ongoing supplier performance 

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