Supplier Development Engineer

About Vital Lyfe

At Vital Lyfe, we are on a mission to solve global water scarcity by creating innovative, desalination systems. This is an opportunity to join a passionate, multidisciplinary team tackling one of the world’s most critical challenges

Mission

Build the supplier network behind a field deployable water system. Architect quality and reliability into the supply chain from day one and help turn a prototype into a product that can scale anywhere.

What You’ll Do

- Architect and implement core supplier management systems to ensure traceability, accountability, and quality control
- Develop and scale a high performing, resilient supplier network aligned with cost, capacity, delivery, and quality targets
- Lead supplier qualification, onboarding, and technical assessments, including DFM reviews, process flow validation, and QMS audits
- Define and enforce technical and quality standards across new product introduction (NPI) and production
- Partner with internal engineering teams to ensure suppliers fully understand and can meet tight part, assembly, and metrology requirements
- Own the lifecycle of supplier issues from non-conformance reports (SDRs) to CAPAs, RTVs, and production quality investigations
- Collaborate directly with vendors to solve recurring issues and drive process-level improvements
- Conduct performance audits and risk reviews, implementing corrective actions where needed
- Provide on-site technical support as needed to ensure supplier processes are dialed for manufacturability, stability, and spec compliance
- Monitor supplier metrics and trend data to proactively mitigate risks and improve operational performance
- Source and evaluate new suppliers with unique capabilities in materials, fabrication, and metrology
- Build and enforce scalable supplier governance and escalation frameworks from scratch
- Thrive in ambiguity build process where none exists, and push for excellence where it does

What We're Looking For

- Required:

Bachelor’s in Engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial or equivalent).
- Hands on mindset: comfortable designing the process and also working with operators & equipment to validate and refine.
- Strong problem solving skills, ability to operate in ambiguous/higher-growth environment, clear communicator across teams.
- Experience in supplier quality, NPI, or manufacturing engineering in hardware, climate tech, or industrial systems
- Familiarity with QMS tools and standards (e.g., ISO 9001, PPAP, FAI, Cpk, PFMEA)

Preferred:

- Excellent communication and problem solving skills in fast-paced, cross-functional environments
- A track record of owning hard problems end-to-end and getting things done under real-world constraints
- A builder’s mindset and a systems-level view of manufacturing
- Experience in a hardware startup or mission-driven organization.

Physical Requirements (with or without reasonable accommodation)

- Hands on work on development and production hardware.
- Long periods of standing, crouching and walking.
- Lifting up to 50 lbs.
- Wearing required PPE (safety glasses, gloves, safety shoes) in production areas. Vital Lyfe will provide or reimburse required PPE, including safety shoes

Why Join Vital Lyfe?

- Work on high impact problems with global relevance
- Help scale breakthrough technology in water security and climate resilience
- Early ownership in a high growth, engineering led startup
- Join a tight knit, mission driven team in a fast paced environment
- Build long term career equity as we grow

Location Requirement: Ability to work 100% onsite in Torrance, CA (remote or hybrid work will not be considered)

Vital Lyfe is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vital Lyfe is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Compensation

$100K – $116K • Offers Equity