Supplier Quality Engineer

The SQE bridges external suppliers, internal operations, engineering, and end-customers. Rather than acting as a simple incoming inspector, this individual is a strategic, technical, and indirect leadership resource tasked with proactively preventing defects before they hit the manufacturing line (Zero Defect Strategy).

• Core Mission: Eliminate supplier risk, ensure regulatory compliance, and enforce strict quality standards across external vendor ecosystems.
• Sphere of Influence: Cross-functional interaction with Customer Quality, NPI (New Product Introduction) Engineering, Procurement, External Auditors, and C-level vendor management.

Key Job Accountabilities:

• Leads supplier qualification as a key member in supplier selection and evaluation teams using a risk based approach. Leads supplier audits applying effective auditing practices and the Quality Management System in both new programs and ongoing management of suppliers.

• Manages purchased product specifications to identify Critical to Quality features and complete part qualification activities using different elements of Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) to flow requirements from Customers into the supply base. Connects part qualification activities into receiving inspection setting both sampling plans and inspection criteria. Represents Supplier Quality in Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) teams and supplier change requests as a key member driving Zero Defect strategies into the supply chain.

• Leads supplier corrective action activities in multiple levels of the supply chain using non-conforming parts, data trends and supplier audit findings. Analyzes data to identify trends and provide suppliers feedback to drive supplier performance improvements. Assists in categorization of suppliers by risk for additional development or auditing activities.

• Applies expertise in assigned engineering function to challenge suppliers processes using a risk based approach and complete detailed design for manufacturability reviews with customers. Capable of leading design reviews, process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA), control plans (CP) and statistical process controls (SPC) applied to selected manufacturing technologies.

• Assists in guiding or shaping future Supplier Quality Strategies and supports development of Supplier Quality Engineers in both technical growth and supplier quality fundamentals. Applies domain depth to standard operating procedures, work instructions, and templates to improve standard work and operational rigor within function

• Practical Responsibilities in

• Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Facilitating structured problem-solving methodologies (8D, 5-Why, Fishbone diagrams) with suppliers when non-conformances (SCARs) occur.

• Trend Analysis: Monitoring supplier DPPM (Defects Per Million Opportunities) and OTD (On-Time Delivery) metrics to identify hidden systemic issues.

• Supplier Segmentation: Tiering suppliers into high/medium/low risk categories to focus auditing resources and run supplier development initiatives.

Education/Experience Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical or pure engineering with 7 or more years of related experience is preferred. An equivalent combination of education and/or experience will be considered.
• Validates expertise in statistical tools, quality auditing practices, and quality management frameworks. ASQ Certification preferred (CQE, CQA, CMQOE)
• Essential tools needed include APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, SPC, 8D, and Lean Six Sigma for qualifying parts, preventing defect escapes, and auditing supplier lines.
• Validates expertise in statistical tools, quality auditing practices, and quality management frameworks.
• Broad understanding of materials, manufacturing technologies and processes.