Supplier Quality Manager - Exterior and Closures (Automotive)

Location: The Center, USA

Salary: $123,339–$185,009 USD annual base pay

Company

Slate is developing safe, reliable, customizable vehicles in the USA, with a focus on affordability, reindustrialization, and customer personalization.

What you will do

• Lead supplier quality execution across the exterior and closures supply base, covering body panels, fascias, glass, mirrors, doors, tailgate, hood, liftgate, and related components.
• Manage PPAP submissions, approval status, readiness reviews, and milestone gate activities.
• Drive dimensional, appearance, and functional compliance for supplier components.
• Execute containment and corrective actions with underperforming suppliers and track measurable results.
• Lead and develop Supplier Quality Engineers aligned to exterior and closure commodities.
• Coordinate with Purchasing, Engineering, and Manufacturing on approval, appearance sign-off, engineering disposition, and production readiness decisions.

Requirements

• Engineering degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 10+ years of supplier quality experience, including PPAP management, APQP, dimensional and appearance compliance, commodity-based SQE leadership, and launch support.
• Prior people management or team lead experience, including task assignment, performance oversight, and technical mentorship.
• Deep experience with exterior and closure components, including stamped, molded, and glazing assemblies.
• Strong knowledge of supplier KPIs and scorecards, with the ability to use data to track PPAP status, dimensional compliance, and supplier readiness.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, communication, relationship-building, and collaboration skills, with a high level of integrity.

Culture & Benefits

• Startup environment emphasizing grit, ingenuity, resourcefulness, and attention to detail.
• Culture centered on safety, customer focus, teamwork, continuous improvement, frugality, collaboration, and positive impact.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• Vacation and 401k benefits.
• Potential eligibility for equity and/or a discretionary annual incentive program.