Supplier Development Engineer

The role

You will build and scale a supplier network for field deployable water systems. You will architect supplier management systems and lead supplier qualification, onboarding, and technical assessments.

What you will do

• Architect and implement core supplier management systems
• Develop and scale a resilient supplier network
• Lead supplier qualification, onboarding, and technical assessments
• Define and enforce technical and quality standards
• Partner with internal engineering teams to meet part and assembly requirements
• Own the lifecycle of supplier issues from non-conformance reports to CAPAs
• Collaborate with vendors to solve recurring issues
• Conduct performance audits and risk reviews
• Provide on-site technical support for manufacturability and spec compliance
• Monitor supplier metrics and trend data

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial or equivalent)
• Hands on mindset
• 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)
• 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

Nice to have

• 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

Benefits

• 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
• Vital Lyfe will provide or reimburse required PPE, including safety shoes

About the company

Vital Lyfe is on a mission to solve global water scarcity by creating innovative, desalination systems. It is an engineering led startup with a passionate, multidisciplinary team.