Supply Chain Engineer Sourcing

Company Background Summary

K2 Systems, an advanced solar energy manufacturer, focuses on installation throughout North America by offering cutting edge mounting systems for solar technology. The company, a member of K2 Systems GmbH, is a world leader in mounting systems. Headquartered in Renningen, Germany, the group continues to improve its broad portfolio of industry-leading technologies and mounting solutions for residential, commercial and industrial solar projects.

The mission of K2 Systems US, is to offer innovative mounting solutions to our customers backed by world class quality, engineering and customer support. Based in Oceanside, California, K2 Systems supports our North American clients and market development with a broad set of capabilities including product development, sales, marketing, project services, manufacturing, supply chain and logistics.

Position Overview:

The Quality & Supplier Development professional will play a critical role in ensuring product quality, supplier performance, and supply-chain resilience. This role partners closely with suppliers, engineering, and internal stakeholders to establish robust quality controls, manage nonconformances, and support sourcing decisions that balance cost, quality, and risk.

The position oversees incoming and in-process quality activities, drives continuous improvement initiatives, and supports procurement efforts through supplier qualification, competitive sourcing, and cost analysis. The ideal candidate brings a strong mix of hands-on quality expertise and strategic supplier management capabilities.

Responsibilities

Quality & Compliance

• Establish and execute incoming inspection plans, including AQL sampling, special characteristics, and verification of certificates of conformity, material certifications, country of origin, lot traceability, labeling, and packaging.
• Conduct first article inspections (FAI), including dimensional and functional verification against drawings, review of material certifications, and documentation of results.
• Lead nonconformance management activities, including containment actions, supplier corrective action requests (SCARs), 8D/root cause analysis, and corrective and preventive actions.
• Perform in-process audits, including line walks, workstation inspections, control plan adherence, work instruction compliance, SPC review, and reaction plan execution.
• Review and approve engineering changes and PCNs; coordinate revalidation activities following approved changes.
• Maintain, review, and continuously improve quality documentation, procedures, and inspection records.

Supplier Quality & Procurement Support

• Identify and evaluate new suppliers through industry directories, referrals, and market research.
• Support sourcing initiatives through development of RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs, and participation in competitive bidding processes.
• Conduct should-cost modeling and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis, including logistics, duties, and taxes.
• Benchmark supplier pricing, lead times, and quality performance against incumbent suppliers.
• Support dual-sourcing strategies and risk-balanced supplier allocation to improve supply continuity.
• Assess nearshoring and reshoring opportunities to mitigate risk and improve responsiveness.
• Lead supplier pre-qualification activities, including evaluation of financial stability, production capacity, technical capability, and certifications.

Desired Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience working in a manufacturing, industrial, or regulated environment.
• Working knowledge of quality management systems such as
  ISO 9001, AS9100, or IATF 16949
  .
• Experience conducting supplier audits, assessments, or on-site evaluations.
• Familiarity with
  SPC tools
  , control plans, PFMEA, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience driving supplier performance improvements and corrective actions.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, cost models, and performance metrics.
• Experience with
  nearshoring, reshoring, or global supplier sourcing
  strategies.
• Familiarity with ERP, QMS, or supplier management systems.
• Ability to manage ambiguity, prioritize competing demands, and work independently.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present findings and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Professional certifications such as
  CQE, CQA, Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt)
  , or similar are a plus.