Sourcing Engineer - Mechanical

Organization

INFICON Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. is part of INFICON Group which is a public listed company with headquarter in Switzerland. INFICON Malaysia takes its role as a production, sales and service location.

For more information about INFICON please visit www.inficon.com

Summary

The Sourcing Engineer – Mechanical is responsible for identifying, qualifying, and developing suppliers for mechanical components, and for driving strategic sourcing decisions – including RFQ/RFP management, supplier negotiation, and total-cost analysis – ahead of production release. This role works closely with Production Engineering and Quality during New Product Introduction (NPI) to secure the right mechanical suppliers, drives cost-reduction and dual-sourcing initiatives, and hands off qualified suppliers and agreed commercial terms to Purchasing for day-to-day order execution. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in mechanical engineering, strategic sourcing, and supplier quality management.

Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, and qualify new mechanical component suppliers through market research and RFI/RFQ/RFP processes, with a focus on suppliers able to support the ongoing manufacturing relocation to Malaysia.
• Lead supplier selection based on cost, quality, capacity, technology, and risk; negotiate pricing, payment terms, and long-term supply agreements.
• Partner with Production Engineering and R&D during New Product Introduction (NPI) to source mechanical parts, review technical drawings and specifications, and flag sourcing risks early in the design phase.
• Apply cost engineering and should-cost analysis to identify cost-down opportunities on existing and new mechanical parts, and lead value-analysis/value-engineering (VAVE) initiatives to capture them.
• Manage the supplier qualification process (PPAP/FAI/first-sample approval) together with Quality and Production Engineering to ensure new suppliers meet INFICON specifications before series production release.
• Build and maintain a qualified, diversified mechanical supplier base – including dual/second-source suppliers – to mitigate single-source, capacity, and geopolitical/tariff risk.
• Conduct supplier audits and capability assessments; monitor supplier performance (quality, cost, delivery) across the qualified supplier base.
• Benchmark market pricing and monitor commodity/raw-material cost trends; proactively flag cost exposure and supply risk to the Procurement and Supply Chain Management team.
• Hand over qualified suppliers, agreed commercial terms, and part master data to Purchasing for purchase order execution and day-to-day supplier management.
• Maintain supplier qualification records, sourcing decisions, and contract/pricing data in SAP.
• Stay updated on industry trends, new technologies, and market developments in mechanical components, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Work according INFICON’s processes and regulations and keep always an eye on the business ethics policy.
• Actively participation in INFICON Malaysia’s continuous improvement process.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in strategic sourcing, supplier development, or supplier quality within the mechanical engineering or manufacturing industry.
• Proven experience leading RFQ/RFP processes, supplier negotiations, and supplier qualification (PPAP/APQP) for mechanical components.
• Experience in global or regional sourcing and supplier risk management would be an advantage.
• Additional experience sourcing electronic or electro-mechanical components is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical components, materials, manufacturing processes, and cost drivers.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills, particularly with Engineering and Quality.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and specifications, and to conduct should-cost/cost-breakdown analysis.
• Proficiency in sourcing/procurement software, SAP, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple sourcing projects in parallel.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.