Working at Watlow
Watlow is a global technology and manufacturing leader who provides world class engineering expertise through innovative thermal products and systems, enabling our customers to thrive. We are making a positive impact every day as our solutions enrich the lives of people everywhere. We have been providing breakthrough thermal solutions for over 100 years! Our corporate values guide us uncompromisingly to always do the right thing, continually learn and improve, respect everyone, and lead with service and humility.
Overview of Role:
The Senior Engineer – Supplier Quality Engineering located in Watlow’s Advanced Technology Center in St. Louis, Missouri, will be responsible for ensuring new product manufacturing/quality readiness, and acceptable performance of the supply base through effective linkage, active involvement, evaluation, and continuous performance management of our global suppliers.
The engineer will report to Watlow’s Supplier Quality Engineering Manager.
Key Responsibilities will include:
- Support NPD, Global Footprint, and Supply Chain projects to evaluate/audit new Watlow suppliers
- Lead supplier readiness/improvement work with new suppliers and existing suppliers for new product release and Global Footprint product transitions
- Lead supplier evaluation/audits of current and new Watlow suppliers
- Deploy Watlow requirements to suppliers, identify gaps, and work with suppliers to develop the capability to meet expectations
- Utilize supplier performance data and sourcing strategies to target, define approach, and continuously improve supplier performance
- Ensure suppliers understand and apply Watlow’s change control requirements through annual training and auditing supplier’s conformance to the requirement
- Lead major/escalated supplier corrective action activity, ensuring thorough 8D has been defined and executed by supplier and Watlow has also taken appropriate action
Qualifications:
- B.S. degree in an engineering, manufacturing, or applicable technical discipline
- Five (5) years working in a Supplier Quality, Quality Assurance, or Supply Chain role
- Five (5) years working in an engineering/design or manufacturing/process role
- Working knowledge of registered AS9100 Quality Management System, achieving and maintaining certification; ISO9001:20015 and IATF 16949 also a plus.
- The desire and ability to travel domestic and internationally, up to 50%
- Auditing experience – quality management system elements, process audits, etc.
- Expertise in applying and executing 8D, PPAP, APQP, Control Plans, and other quality tools
- Expertise in Problem Solving and applying root cause corrective action tools
- Ability to lead, coach, and communicate to all levels of a supplier’s organization (Operator to President/CEO)
- Capable of representing supplier quality function during customer audits and project work
- Ability to work independently, with remote supervision
Additional success factors:
- Direct interaction experience with suppliers in Aerospace industry – domestic and internationally
- Project Management experience
- Oracle ERP, preferably supplier management functionality
- Being an advocate of the suppliers, but also remaining focused on Watlow and customer’s needs
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing concepts and tools
- Ability to recognize potential safety issues during supplier visits
- Ability to communicate directly with customers relating to supplier quality function in audits, report outs, etc.
- Understand and apply engineering specifications, prints, drawings, standards, etc.
- Familiarity with products produced by Watlow; heaters, sensors, and controls
- Demonstrate alignment to the Watlow Way Values, Behaviors, and Principles
Benefits: The Watlow Total Compensation Plan
The health, well-being and financial stability of you and your family is a high priority to us.The Watlow Total Rewards Plan includes competitive compensation and a full range of life and career enhancing benefits:
- Annual Incentive Program
- 401(k) plan that includes a company match on your contribution and an annual company contribution that is tied to company performance
- Wellness incentives
- Employee Personal Assistance Program
- Dental, medical, vision and short-term and long-term disability insurance
- Paid holidays, personal time, and vacation
- Parental leave
- Tuition reimbursement
Diversity & Inclusion
We proactively embrace diversity in all its dimensions across our company and cultivate a culture of inclusion and forward thinking that respects and reflects each team member’s individual strengths, views, and experiences. Watlow takes pride in being an inclusive equal opportunity employer and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
Please let us know confidentially if you need or require any special accommodations to participate in our recruiting process by emailing us at [email protected].
Skills Required
- Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, manufacturing, or an applicable technical discipline
- Five years of experience in Supplier Quality, Quality Assurance, or Supply Chain
- Five years of experience in engineering/design or manufacturing/process roles
- Working knowledge of registered AS9100 Quality Management Systems and certification maintenance
- Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 50%
- Experience auditing quality management system elements and processes
- Expertise applying 8D, PPAP, APQP, Control Plans, and other quality tools
- Expertise in problem solving and root-cause corrective-action tools
- Ability to lead, coach, and communicate with all levels of supplier organizations
- Ability to represent supplier quality during customer audits and project work
- Ability to work independently with remote supervision
- Direct interaction with domestic and international aerospace suppliers
- Project management experience
- Oracle ERP, preferably supplier management functionality
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing concepts and tools
- Ability to recognize potential safety issues during supplier visits
- Ability to communicate directly with customers regarding supplier quality
- Understanding of engineering specifications, prints, drawings, and standards
- Familiarity with heaters, sensors, and controls
Watlow Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Watlow and has not been reviewed or approved by Watlow.
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Healthcare Strength — Benefits include medical, dental, vision and life insurance, alongside an Employee Assistance Program, wellness incentives, and flexible spending accounts. Some locations also provide onsite wellness clinics, reinforcing comprehensive health support.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings feature a 401(k) with company matching, with materials also noting an additional annual company contribution tied to performance. This structure supports longer‑term financial security beyond base pay.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off includes paid vacation, personal time and holidays, with parental leave highlighted in postings. PTO accrual appears tenure‑based.
Watlow Insights
What We Do
Watlow is a global industrial technology company that uses its world-class engineering expertise, advanced thermal systems and manufacturing excellence to provide a wide array of temperature control, power control, heater technologies and temperature sensing platforms. Watlow brings its experience to a broad cross section of industries, including semiconductor processing, environmental chambers, energy processes, diesel emissions, medical and foodservice equipment. Since 1922, Watlow has grown in product capability, market experience and global reach. The company holds more than 1,100 patents and employs more than 4,200 team members working in 11 manufacturing facilities and nine technology and development centers in the United States, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Watlow covers 95 countries through sales and distribution offices around the world.
