Senior Supplier Development Engineer, Mechanical

About the role

You will own the technical collaboration with external suppliers to define and execute the mechanical execution of fusion generator parts. This role requires you to translate high-level engineering design intent into tangible supplier requirements and manufacturing processes. You will act as the primary technical liaison between Helion's engineering teams and the supplier base to ensure quality and manufacturability. You will solve complex mechanical problems under strict timelines and regulatory expectations. Your work will directly influence the rate at which Helion moves from prototyping to mass manufacturing. You will be responsible for establishing the supplier quality systems necessary for high-volume production. Ultimately, you will ensure that the physical parts delivered meet Helion's exacting standards for performance and safety.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Collaborate with design engineers to gain an in-depth knowledge of part, assembly, and sub-system design intent.
• Assess suppliers' manufacturing processes and quality systems to source parts, in partnership with the procurement team.
• Support product ramp from new product introduction through to high-volume manufacturing.
• Define supplier technical and quality specifications based on engineering and program requirements.
• Implement and monitor the production part approval process (PPAP) with selected suppliers to promote rate production.
• Ensure suppliers understand requirements for document submissions (e.g., first article inspection reports, quality documentation).
• Develop and approve process controls for critical characteristics to ensure consistency and compliance.
• Recommend technical product improvements to reduce risk and potential defect opportunities in mechanical assemblies.
• Analyze supplier quality and delivery metrics to identify trends and systemic performance gaps for improvement plans.
• Coordinate between suppliers, engineers, buyers, and production teams to resolve supplier quality issues efficiently.
• Guide supplier corrective actions associated with escapes or containments identified during production or in the supply chain.
• Improve the supply chain by introducing best practices and standardization across mechanical suppliers.
• Help build the supplier quality program and team at Helion through mentorship and process development.
• Help develop receiving inspection and quality standards to ensure incoming material conformity.

Requirements

• 8+ years of engineering, manufacturing, or supply chain experience - including school projects, clubs, or internships - in mechanical or electrical systems.
• Hold a Bachelor's degree or higher in an engineering discipline, or a relevant field that demonstrates technical competency.
• Possess direct experience managing external suppliers and driving performance improvements across the supply base.
• Demonstrate knowledge of supplier quality processes such as production part approval process (PPAP), advanced product quality planning (APQP), and first article inspection reports (FAIR).
• Apply statistical techniques and methods, including design of experiments (DOE) and aspects of Six Sigma, to analyze mechanical performance and defects.
• Show proven experience with quality systems standards such as ISO 9001 or TS standards relevant to manufacturing.
• Exhibit the ability to travel up to 50% of the time to support supplier sites and internal project needs.

Nice to have

• Preferred experience in fusion, energy, or high-tech manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with specialized mechanical joining techniques such as welding, brazing, or sealing technologies.
• Understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements specific to energy generation equipment.
• Experience with cost engineering and value analysis or value engineering initiatives.
• Knowledge of advanced manufacturing methods like additive manufacturing or precision machining for complex mechanical parts.
• Background in supplier development roles within multinational corporations.

Practical notes

This is an onsite role located at our Everett, WA office. Travel may be required up to 50% of the time. There are no visa sponsorship details provided at this time. Applicants must meet the specified eligibility criteria and hard requirements as listed. The compensation details are not included in this listing. The role is full-time and requires immediate availability for candidates who meet the technical and experiential thresholds.