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.