THEODORA L. SUAZO
Westminster
Summary
Dynamic aerospace manufacturing leader with 20+ years of experience driving quality and efficiency. Successfully managed complex supplier quality systems and led initiatives that cut rework by 18% and boosted manufacturing efficiency by 12%. Seeking to influence program outcomes in a senior manufacturing engineering capacity.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Staff Eng – Supplier Quality
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
09.2023 - Current
- Lead supplier quality risk management across multiple aerospace programs.
- Design and implement supplier quality evaluation and control systems that ensure contractual, regulatory, and technical compliance.
- Conduct product and process verification activities, monitor supplier performance, and drive root cause corrective action (RCCA) for supplier issues.
- Maintain and periodically review the Approved Supplier List (ASL); manage waivers, deviations, and discrepancy reporting.
- Coordinate Supplier Quality Plan implementation through all program phases and act as the primary liaison with supplier personnel.
- Participate in Business Acquisition Process (BAP): evaluate, qualify, and select suppliers; develop classification (Critical, Key, Standard) and risk mitigation plans.
- Produce management briefings on supplier performance, quality status, and risk exposure.
Senior Principal Engineer – Quality
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
04.2022 - 09.2023
- Provided QMA leadership for the JTAGS program (3-year, $50 M IDIQ, $26 M first task order).
- Developed and maintained quality plans, metrics, and control systems; integrated them with engineering, manufacturing, and supplier activities.
- Managed QMS processes: product inspection, non-conforming material control, Material Review Board, calibration, and audit activities.
- Executed supplier quality activities: audits, RCCA, SCARs, performance assessments, First Article Inspections, and flow-down of requirements.
- Performed document, drawing, and software code reviews to ensure compliance with standards.
- Led new business capture: basis-of-estimate generation, proposal writing, and supplier qualification.
- Produced program-level metrics, Pareto charts, and trend analyses; delivered regular QMA reports and briefings.
Mission Assurance Manager
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
02.2020 - 09.2023
- Manufacturing planning: created end-to-end manufacturing plans that met quality, delivery, and cost objectives for spacecraft hardware programs.
- Developed and continuously improved manufacturing work instructions, reducing rework by 18%.
- Led Technical Kick-Off (TKO) sessions to establish a common design goal aligned with as-bid proposals, improving early manufacturability assessments.
- Delivered Manufacturing Readiness Review (MRR) briefings to internal and external customers, communicating risks and mitigation strategies.
- Built and maintained Manufacturing Bill of Materials (MBOM), integrating engineering changes and supporting accurate cost forecasting.
- Conducted design for manufacturability (DFM) reviews of engineering drawings, identifying >120 potential production issues before tooling.
- Designed custom tooling and fixtures, cutting prototype build time by 25%.
- Served as primary liaison to operations, providing real-time floor support, leading root cause investigations, and reducing online downtime by 30%.
- Specified all required special processes, equipment, and fixtures for assigned programs, ensuring compliance with program-specific standards.
- Championed continuous improvement (Lean, Six Sigma) projects, raising manufacturing efficiency by 12% and lowering PPM to <30.
Supply Chain Manager 2
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
01.2021 - 04.2022
- Planned requisitions and procurement strategy for $170 M of satellite payload material (≈ 1,500 unique parts) in the Active RF Operating Unit.
- Managed cost, schedule, and technical performance for the RF OU; directed Global Supply Chain Planners and oversaw project execution.
- Conducted briefings and technical meetings with internal and external stakeholders; mentored and guided career development of supply chain personnel.
Senior Principal Quality Engineer Lead
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
01.2019 - 02.2020
- Ensured electrical and mechanical work instructions remained current for production cells.
- Coordinated documentation reviews with Tactical Space Systems engineers, adjudicating drawing notes and training requirements.
- Managed NCR closure and drove process changes that cut defect influx by 15%.
Senior Quality Engineer
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
07.2016 - 01.2019
- Collaborated with engineering and manufacturing to embed quality standards.
- Executed audits, dispositioned non-conforming material, and supported receiving inspection.
Hardware Quality Engineer
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
07.2010 - 07.2016
- Conducted contractual technical reviews and product inspections across communications/network hardware programs.
- Partnered with program engineers to resolve defects and document findings.
Various Locations
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
01.1990 - 01.2014
- Roles included operational leadership, logistics, and technical support; responsibilities are summarized in the original résumé.
Maintenance Control Manager – Buckley AFB
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
07.2007 - 07.2010
- Coordinated daily maintenance scheduling and validation for SBIRS ground system across four sites to ensure operational readiness.
- Delivered performance metrics to Lockheed Martin and Air Force management, facilitating data-driven decision-making.
Education
B.S. - Business Administration – Information Technology
Colorado Technical University
Colorado SpringsA.A.S. - Air and Space Operations Technology
Community College of the Air Force
Montgomery, ALA.A.S. - Restaurant, Hotel and Fitness Management
Community College of the Air Force
Montgomery, ALSkills
- Manufacturing planning and execution
- Design for manufacturability
- Technical kickoff facilitation
- Readiness review
- BOM management
- Tooling design
- Prototyping expertise
- Supplier quality management
- Risk assessment
- Lean Six Sigma
- Root cause analysis
- Corrective action implementation
- Quality management systems
- Auditing proficiency
- Schedule control
- Cross-functional collaboration
- SAP and MES proficiency
- TIPQA expertise
- Microsoft Office suite
Affiliations
- Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), Member
- International Society of Automation (ISA), Member
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), Member
- American Society for Quality (ASQ), Member
Selected Achievements
- Manufacturing Efficiency, Process redesigns and tooling innovations reduced production cycle time by up to 25% on high-risk hardware.
- Quality Improvement, PPM dropped from 85 to <30 through targeted DFM reviews and continuous-improvement initiatives.
- Cost Savings, Optimized MBOM structures and supplier negotiations yielded $2.3 M in cost avoidance over two years.
- Supplier Performance, Implemented a risk-based supplier-quality program that improved on-time delivery from 78% to 94%.
- Leadership, Built a high-performing MA team of 25+ engineers/technicians, achieving a 96% employee-engagement score.
- Customer Satisfaction, Consistently delivered manufacturing status reports ahead of schedule, contributing to a 12% increase in program renewal rates.
Security Clearance
Top Secret (TS), Single-Scope Background Investigation (SSBI), 01/17
Timeline
Staff Eng – Supplier Quality
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
09.2023 - Current
Senior Principal Engineer – Quality
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
04.2022 - 09.2023
Supply Chain Manager 2
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
01.2021 - 04.2022
Mission Assurance Manager
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
02.2020 - 09.2023
Senior Principal Quality Engineer Lead
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
01.2019 - 02.2020
Senior Quality Engineer
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
07.2016 - 01.2019
Hardware Quality Engineer
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
07.2010 - 07.2016
Maintenance Control Manager – Buckley AFB
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
07.2007 - 07.2010
Various Locations
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
01.1990 - 01.2014
B.S. - Business Administration – Information Technology
Colorado Technical University
A.A.S. - Air and Space Operations Technology
Community College of the Air Force
A.A.S. - Restaurant, Hotel and Fitness Management
Community College of the Air Force