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$59.5K

$126.6K

$183.5K

How much do senior supplier development engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior supplier development engineer in the United States is $126,557.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,500.00 and $143,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Senior Supplier Development Engineer typically collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to improve product quality?

A Senior Supplier Development Engineer works closely with both suppliers and internal stakeholders, such as quality, engineering, and procurement teams, to drive continuous improvement initiatives. This often involves conducting supplier audits, leading corrective action plans, and facilitating training to align supplier processes with company standards. Effective communication and relationship management are key, as the role requires balancing technical expectations with collaborative problem-solving. Regular meetings, data sharing, and cross-functional projects are common practices to ensure suppliers consistently meet quality and delivery targets.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Supplier Development Engineer, and why are they important?

To excel as a Senior Supplier Development Engineer, you need a background in engineering, experience in supply chain management, and expertise in quality assurance, usually supported by a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with quality management systems (such as ISO 9001), Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing certifications, and supplier assessment tools is typically expected. Strong negotiation, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills set top performers apart by enabling effective collaboration with suppliers and internal teams. These capabilities are crucial for ensuring supplier quality, driving process improvements, and maintaining a resilient and efficient supply chain.

What is the difference between Senior Supplier Development Engineer vs Supplier Quality Engineer?

AspectSenior Supplier Development EngineerSupplier Quality Engineer
Primary FocusDeveloping and improving supplier capabilities, sourcing strategiesEnsuring supplier quality, conducting audits, resolving quality issues
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, supply chain or related field; experience in supplier managementBachelor's in Engineering, Quality Management, or related; certifications like CQE often preferred
Work EnvironmentCross-functional teams, supplier sites, corporate officesManufacturing plants, supplier facilities, quality labs
Industry UsageAutomotive, aerospace, electronics, manufacturingAutomotive, electronics, industrial equipment, manufacturing

The Senior Supplier Development Engineer focuses on building strong supplier relationships and improving supply chain capabilities, while the Supplier Quality Engineer concentrates on maintaining and improving product quality through audits and inspections. Both roles are essential in supply chain management but serve different aspects of supplier performance.

What is a Senior Supplier Development Engineer?

A Senior Supplier Development Engineer is a professional responsible for improving and managing the performance of suppliers within a company's supply chain. They work to ensure suppliers meet quality, cost, and delivery requirements by assessing capabilities, facilitating process improvements, and supporting supplier onboarding and development. These engineers often collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve issues, implement corrective actions, and drive continuous improvement initiatives. Their role is crucial in maintaining a reliable and high-performing supplier base to support the company's operational goals.
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Senior Supplier Development Engineer

Senior Supplier Development Engineer

Relativity Space

Long Beach, CA • On-site

Other

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

About the Team: 

The Reliability team at Relativity Space ensures quality is built into every stage of the Terran R design and production process, embedding reliability from the very beginning. The team works directly with design, manufacturing, test, and launch teams to stay close to the hardware, understand constraints, and proactively shape decisions. As the program moves from development into production and scaled operations, this is the time to establish the right processes, controls, and inspections without slowing progress. The team plays a key role in balancing risk, fostering a culture of ownership, and making sure speed never comes at the cost of reliability. Success means creating a quality system that scales with the Terran R program and Relativity as a whole.

About the Role:

  • Serve as the technical point of contact for rocket parts and assemblies, resolving manufacturing and quality issues to protect production schedules.
  • Lead new product introduction by selecting manufacturing methods, identifying suppliers, and developing scalable processes.
  • Conduct design for manufacturing (DFM) reviews and apply APQP principles to ensure efficient, high-quality production from early development stages. Leverage experience with Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), First Article Inspection Reports (FAIRs), and 8D problem solving.
  • Manage supplier sourcing and evaluations, issue corrective actions, and ensure compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, and NASA quality standards.
  • Create and develop specifications to communicate quality and manufacturing requirements across the supply base.
  • Analyze defect data, lead root cause investigations (e.g., 8D, PPAP, FAIR), and implement corrective actions to improve supplier performance.

About You:

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, quality, or related STEM field
  • You have 8+ years of experience in supplier quality or supplier development engineering, with in-depth knowledge of industry standards like AS9100, ISO 9001, and NASA quality standards and ERP/MRP system experience.
  • You have a strong technical and experiential knowledge of manufacturing processes for space-quality hardware, including forming, cutting, machining, and assembly of various metals like stainless and carbon steels.
  • You have experience with supplier quality processes such as Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), and First Article Inspection Reports (FAIRs) with a disciplined approach to problem solving, such as 8D methodology.
  • You have experience with New Product Development and PPAP implementation.
  • You are a self-starter who can define and own a process from scratch and roll it out to a diverse team, with willingness to travel up to 50% of the work week when needed.

Nice to haves but not required:  

  • Familiarity with high-volume inspection methods and data-driven acceptance methods
  • Strong knowledge of enterprise applications (i.e., PLM, ERP, MES) and proficient in data analysis
  • Self-starter that has demonstrated the ability to define and own a process from scratch and roll out that process through adept communication to a diverse team
  • Experience with New Product Development and PPAP implementation 

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