RFA Engineering (www.rfamec.com) is an engineering service provider dedicated to delivering our clients with timely engineering support and expertise. We are seeking a growth-oriented candidate to become an integral part of our engineering team. The selected candidate will work with an experienced engineering staff using state-of-the-art engineering tools & processes. This position will operate onsite at our customer's world-class engineering and manufacturing facility.
This is a full-time position with a full benefit package listed below that includes opportunities for professional growth, direct hire by our customers, and additional opportunities within our own organization.
Supplier Quality Engineer
Responsibilities
- Develop and validate supplier capabilities for welded fabrications and sheet metal components.
- Assess supplier manufacturing processes, tooling, fixturing, inspection methods, and quality systems to ensure production readiness.
- Benchmark current production methods and product quality standards against prospective supplier capabilities.
- Evaluate supplier capacity to manufacture components meeting established quality, dimensional, and performance requirements.
- Review supplier process controls and inspection plans to confirm consistent product quality.
- Verify supplier compliance with engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T requirements.
- Lead supplier audits and capability assessments focused on fabrication, welding, machining, and inspection processes.
- Investigate manufacturing and quality issues at supplier locations and drive root cause analysis activities.
- Validate corrective actions and preventive measures implemented by suppliers.
- Document supplier assessments, technical findings, capability studies, and improvement recommendations.
- Collaborate with design, manufacturing, supply chain, and quality teams to support supplier development initiatives.
- Support continuous improvement efforts related to supplier quality, process capability, and product performance.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Quality Engineering, or equivalent experience.
- 3+ years of experience in supplier quality, manufacturing engineering, quality engineering, or fabrication-focused manufacturing environments.
- Strong understanding of welding processes, fabrication methods, and sheet metal manufacturing best practices.
- Ability to read, interpret, and apply engineering drawings and GD&T requirements.
- Experience evaluating manufacturing process controls and quality assurance systems.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience performing root cause analysis and corrective action validation.
- Ability to effectively communicate technical requirements to suppliers and internal stakeholders.
- Willingness and ability to travel to supplier locations as required.
Desired Attributes
- Experience developing or auditing weldment suppliers.
- Knowledge of common welding processes including MIG, TIG, robotic welding, and structural fabrication practices.
- Understanding of fixture design, tooling validation, and process capability studies.
- Experience with APQP, PPAP, Control Plans, PFMEA, and supplier quality processes.
- Working knowledge of measurement systems and inspection methodologies.
- Experience reviewing and interpreting CMM reports and dimensional analysis data.
- Familiarity with metrology equipment including CMMs, laser trackers, portable arms, and conventional inspection tools.
- Experience supporting supplier development, sourcing transitions, or quality improvement initiatives.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple supplier projects simultaneously.
- Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this position
Pay Range: $70,000-$85,000 commensurate with experience
About RFA Engineering
RFA Engineering has provided product development and engineering services to industry leading customers since 1943. Our primary focus is the development of off highway equipment including agricultural, construction, mining, recreational, industrial, and special machines. Our work includes concept development, product design, documentation, problem-solving, simulation, optimization, and testing of components, systems and complete machines. Our engineering staff is located at our Engineering Center in Minneapolis, branch office in Dubuque, IA, and at numerous customer sites throughout the U.S.
Competitive Benefits
- Health and Dental Insurance
- TelaDoc Healthiest You
- Supplemental Vision Insurance
- Company Paid Life Insurance
- Company Paid Long-Term Disability
- Short-term Disability
- Retirement Savings Account (Traditional 401k & Roth 401k)
- Flexible Spending Plan Dependent Care
- HSA for Medical Expenses
- Bonus Plan (Exempt Employees Only)
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Paid Holidays
- Bereavement Leave
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
- Education Assistance
Equal Opportunity and Veteran Friendly
Qualifications Skills Preferred Soft Skills Conflict Resolution Novice Quality - Reliability Novice Eng Continuous Product Improvement Novice Equal Opportunity EmployerThis employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Quality Engineering, or equivalent experience
- 3+ years of experience in supplier quality, manufacturing engineering, quality engineering, or fabrication-focused manufacturing environments
- Strong understanding of welding processes, fabrication methods, and sheet metal manufacturing best practices
- Ability to read, interpret, and apply engineering drawings and GD&T requirements
- Experience evaluating manufacturing process controls and quality assurance systems
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis and corrective action validation
- Ability to communicate technical requirements effectively to suppliers and internal stakeholders
- Willingness and ability to travel to supplier locations as required
- Experience developing or auditing weldment suppliers
- Knowledge of MIG, TIG, robotic welding, and structural fabrication practices
- Understanding of fixture design, tooling validation, and process capability studies
- Experience with APQP, PPAP, Control Plans, PFMEA, and supplier quality processes
- Working knowledge of measurement systems and inspection methodologies
- Experience reviewing CMM reports and dimensional analysis data
- Familiarity with CMMs, laser trackers, portable arms, and conventional inspection tools
- Experience supporting supplier development, sourcing transitions, or quality improvement initiatives
- Ability to manage multiple supplier projects simultaneously
- Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills
What We Do
RFA serves 100's of clients ranging in size from Fortune 500 to entrepreneurial start-ups. We deliver engineering services from our Engineering Center in Eden Prairie, MN and at our client’s own facilities. Regardless of the manner which we deliver services, our goal is to please our clients, through consistent value of services which are aligned to the standards of our clients. We strive to work as a transparent extension of our client’s own engineering staff. We work in all areas of mechanical, software and electrical design, including off-highway mobile equipment and mechanical power transmission, consumer, recreational, industrial, medical products and one-of-a-kind special manufacturing machines. To see a complete listing of our open positions, please go to http://www.rfamec.com/careers/career-opportunities.html
