Senior Suppler Quality Engineer PCB/PCBA

About the role

The Senior Supplier Quality Engineer will deeply own the integrity of the supply base that enables Skydio's autonomous flight leadership. This role owns the critical bridge between Skydio's demanding design intent and the reality of high-volume electronics manufacturing. You will act as the primary quality advocate for all PCB and PCBA suppliers, ensuring their processes align with our rigorous standards for reliability and performance. You will build strategic partnerships with key suppliers to elevate their quality systems and drive continuous improvement. This position requires a proactive mindset to identify risks before they impact production or field performance. You will be responsible for translating complex hardware requirements into clear, actionable quality expectations for suppliers. Ultimately, your work will directly determine the robustness and yield of Skydio's most critical electronic systems.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Execute comprehensive supplier assessments and rigorous on-site audits targeting PCB fabrication houses and PCBA assemblers to validate their quality management systems and process controls.
• Collaborate with Electrical, Manufacturing, and Design Engineering teams during the early hardware development phase to ensure designs are both manufacturable and testable at scale with suppliers.
• Drive the complete supplier qualification lifecycle, encompassing process audits, meticulous First Article Inspections (FAI), Production Validation Builds (PVT), and formal manufacturing readiness reviews.
• Lead the development of strategic supplier quality plans throughout the prototype, pre-production, and mass production stages, detailing control plans, PFMEAs, and robust outgoing quality strategies.
• Own the management of supplier corrective action requests (SCARs) and lead complex 8D investigations to ensure timely containment and systemic root cause resolution.
• Create and maintain dynamic supplier scorecards and key performance indicators focused on metrics such as quality, reliability, first-pass yield, and responsiveness to drive measurable improvements.
• Analyze vast quantities of manufacturing and field quality data to uncover trends, assess supplier performance, and proactively mitigate risks associated with PCB fabrication, SMT assembly, and component-level defects.
• Partner closely with suppliers to implement and refine advanced inspection, test, and process control methodologies to ensure consistent product quality and long-term process capability.
• Champion the implementation of statistical tools and methodologies to optimize processes, reduce variation, and move toward the goal of zero defects in incoming materials and finished goods.
• Ensure strict adherence to contractual requirements and industry standards, safeguarding Skydio's reputation for premium electronic systems and operational excellence.

Requirements

• You are a self-starter with a passion for delivering exceptional quality and reliability in advanced electronic products.
• You possess strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and supplier partners to achieve demanding quality objectives.
• You have demonstrable experience developing, qualifying, and managing electronics manufacturing suppliers across multiple geographies and complex supply chains.
• You have quality engineering experience in high-volume, high-complexity consumer electronics, aerospace, automotive, robotics, or similar industries, with deep knowledge of PCB fabrication, SMT processes, electronic assembly, test systems, and component quality management.
• You are intimately familiar with PCB and PCBA manufacturing processes, including PCB fabrication technologies, soldering processes, AOI, SPI, ICT, flying probe, functional test, X-ray inspection, and reliability testing methodologies.
• You are highly proficient in interpreting electrical schematics, assembly drawings, Gerber files, fabrication notes, and detailed engineering documentation to effectively communicate precise technical requirements with suppliers.
• You are an expert user of core quality tools such as PFMEA, DFMEA, Control Plans, PPAP, 8D, Root Cause Analysis (5-Why, Fishbone), Statistical Process Control (SPC), Process Capability Analysis, and Design of Experiments (DOE), with a history of achieving measurable results.
• You have hands-on experience with component qualification, supplier process validation, comprehensive reliability testing, and advanced failure analysis techniques specifically for electronic assemblies.
• You hold a deep understanding of relevant IPC standards, including IPC-A-610, IPC-6012, IPC-J-STD-001, and IPC-7711/7721, applying them consistently to electronics industry quality requirements.
• You are prepared for expected travel requirements of 20-30% to conduct audits, reviews, and problem-solving activities at supplier facilities.
• Obtaining FAA Part 107 certification within the first 60 days of employment is strongly encouraged for all Skydio employees and is required for certain positions related to operational support.

Nice to have

• Experience with aerospace or defense electronics supply chains is a significant advantage given the stringent quality and reliability demands of those sectors.
• Background with automated optical inspection and advanced process control strategies for SMT lines is highly valued.

Practical notes

The role requires travel for up to 30% of the time to engage with suppliers and partners. FAA Part 107 certification must be obtained within 60 days of starting employment for roles where it applies. This position operates in alignment with Skydio's mission to enable the highest levels of autonomous flight through superior manufacturing discipline.