Lead Supplier Quality Engineer, Exteriors

Lucid's mission is to inspire the adoption of sustainable energy by creating the most captivating luxury electric vehicles, centered around the human experience. We constantly seek talented, motivated individuals possessing a proven track record of excellence to join our team. Become part of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform the automotive and mobility industry.

Due to significant growth, we are seeking a Lead Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) for our Automotive Exteriors Commodity within the Plant Supplier Quality Team based in Arizona, USA.

This role demands technical expertise and soft skills to provide 24/7 support, promptly resolve supplier quality issues, and ensure seamless transition of new products into mass production. The Lead SQE will be responsible for cradle-to-grave mass production supplier management, ensuring best-in-class supplier quality, and safeguarding manufacturing operations by working closely with Manufacturing, Plant Quality, Material Planning, Logistics, NPI teams, and external suppliers.

You Will:  

• The Lead Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) has roles:
  • As an Individual Contributor: Provide 24/7 Supplier Quality Support by continuously addressing and resolving supplier quality issues, ensuring the highest standards in EV production. Take cradle-to-grave responsibility for assigned mass production suppliers, including managing supplier scorecards and performance evaluations.
  • As People Manager: Oversee commodity SQEs, leading and managing priorities and project assignments for all team members. Ensure comprehensive 24/7 supplier quality coverage for systems and subsystems within the plant.
• Problem Solving and Troubleshooting: Swiftly identify, analyze, and resolve supplier-related quality issues to protect plant operations. Implement root cause analysis and permanent countermeasures to prevent recurrence.
• Team Collaboration: Work closely with Manufacturing, Plant Quality, Material Planning, Logistics, NPI teams, and suppliers to develop robust solutions that protect plant operations and drive product quality.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Maintain strong relationships with suppliers, ensuring open communication and collaboration to achieve mutual quality objectives.
• Support New Product Build Events: Collaborate with Advanced SIEs and Program teams during new product build events, ensuring a seamless transition into mass production while maintaining quality standards.
• Lessons Learned: Streamline lessons learned between programs in mass production.
• Supplier Audits: Perform supplier assessments, audits, and site inspections; develop process improvement plans and drive implementation; monitor and maintain performance metrics.
• Be visible and voice of your commodity supplier quality team by generating regular reports for senior management, highlighting SQEs/Supplier performance, OKRs-Goals-KPIs, risks, and strategies for improvement.
• Be able to work independently and make decisions in the best interest of Lucid and its business.
• Have the ability to travel 25-75% on average on a short-term or long-term basis to Lucid Motors and supplier sites globally on short notice.

 You Bring:

• Over 5 years of plant floor SQE experience in Exterior Commodity components like glass, closures, plastics, stampings, metal trims, Class-A finishes, and assembly processes.
• 3+ years of managing Plant SQEs and Technicians, demonstrating strong leadership and team-building skills.
• Hands-on expertise in utilizing quality assurance practices and methodologies such as 8D, 5 Whys, and Fishbone diagrams for prompt and effective resolution of quality issues.
• Clear and effective communication abilities, ensuring quality issues and solutions are well-articulated to both internal teams and external suppliers.
• Ability to read and interpret schematics and drawings and in-depth knowledge of quality standards and specifications in the area of placement.
• Excellent analytical abilities, technical writing ability, and comprehensive understanding of quality toolbox (IATF 16949, APQP, PPAP, SPC, MSA, FMEA, DOE, DFM/A, GD&T, etc.)
• Certification preferred - American Society for Quality, Six Sigma Black Belt, etc.
• Team player with strong interpersonal skills, hands-on and data-driven, creative mindset in problem-solving.
• Positive attitude, willingness to learn, be part of the solution, and be able to adapt to the dynamic working environment.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Working knowledge of Smartsheets, JMP, Minitab, JIRA and Tableau is a plus.
• BS in Engineering, MS preferred or equivalent experience.