Supplier Quality Engineer

Job Purpose: Support the organization by strengthening product and process quality across the supplier base. The Supplier Quality Engineer serves as the primary quality interface between suppliers and internal cross-functional teams to prevent defects, ensure compliance with IATF 16949 and customer-specific requirements, and improve supplier performance through APQP/PPAP execution, auditing, effective corrective actions, and data-driven continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field and 3–5+ years of quality engineering experience in the automotive industry, including manufacturing and/or supplier quality. Demonstrated experience supporting APQP/PPAP launches, managing nonconformances, and leading structured problem-solving with suppliers or internal manufacturing teams.
• Knowledge: Working knowledge of core automotive quality requirements and tools, including IATF 16949, ISO 9001, APQP/PPAP, PFMEA/DFMEA, Control Plans, GD&T, problem solving methodologies. Ability to interpret engineering drawings and specifications, apply risk-based thinking to prevent defects, and demonstrate strong communication, organization, and data analysis skills.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities of the Job:

1. Lead and support APQP activities with suppliers and internal teams, including risk reviews, deliverable tracking, and readiness assessments.
2. Review, approve, and coordinate PPAP submissions in accordance with AIAG and customer-specific requirements to ensure timely submission and launch readiness.
3. Plan and conduct supplier quality management system, product, and process audits, including potential supplier assessments and special audits as needed.
4. Drive supplier corrective actions using structured problem-solving methods such as 8D and A3 to address nonconforming material, customer concerns, and warranty or field issues when applicable.
5. Manage supplier quality containment and disposition activities, including quarantine, hold, sorting, rework, and return-to-supplier actions.
6. Analyze supplier performance data, including PPM, quality-related delivery disruptions, audit scores, scrap, and cost of poor quality, to establish improvement priorities and action plans.
7. Coordinate measurement and inspection requirements, including gage selection and approval, MSA (GR&R), and inspection methods for incoming or supplier-managed inspection.
8. Review and support the development of PFMEAs, Control Plans, work instructions, and process flow diagrams to ensure effective controls are in place.
9. Support engineering deviations and product or process changes by ensuring proper risk assessment, validation, and documentation updates, including PPAP when required.
10. Partner with Purchasing and Sourcing on supplier selection, development, and supplier scorecards, and provide quality input for supplier-related business decisions.
11. Facilitate regular supplier quality reviews and communicate expectations, status, and escalation needs to suppliers and internal leadership.
12. Support new product launches by coordinating run-at-rate and production trial evaluations and ensuring capability and control effectiveness through SPC and capability studies as applicable.
13. Maintain accurate quality records and reports, including supplier complaints, SCARs, audit reports, PPAP status, concessions, deviations, and other key metrics.
14. Train and coach suppliers and internal stakeholders on applicable quality requirements, including customer-specific requirements and standardized problem-solving methods.
15. Lead or support continuous improvement projects to reduce defects, improve process capability, and lower the cost of poor quality.
16. Coordinate and, when needed, perform product testing and validation activities required by specifications, control plans, or customer requirements.
17. Ensure suppliers maintain required certifications and compliance documentation, including IATF certification, IMDS/ELV, and RoHS/REACH where applicable, and notify the organization of changes that could affect compliance.
18. Travel to supplier and customer sites as needed to support audits, launches, and corrective action activities.
19. Other duties as assigned by the Director of Quality.

Key Performance Metrics:

1. Safety: Promote safe working conditions internally and externally and verify that suppliers follow environmental practices aligned with organizational goals.
2. Quality: Ensure suppliers deliver high-quality products that meet or exceed internal and external requirements and assess performance against those standards.
3. Delivery: Ensure suppliers have processes in place to maintain reliable supply and prevent disruptions to UACJ operations.
4. Cost: Review supplier operations to ensure efficient production methods, effective inventory management, and alignment with organizational cost and performance objectives.

Physical Demands: Requires standing or walking a total of 2-4 hours in an 8 hour day, but occasionally more than 1 hour at any one time; sitting a total of 2-4 hours in an 8 hour day, but no more thank1 hour at any one time; frequently required lifting less thank 10lbs. but occasionally may lift 50 lbs. or less 3-5 time in a week; Intermittently (5-105 of the day) may need to stoop/ bend, crouch, kneel, twist, reach and pull or push.

Travel Expectations: Up to 50% (as needed for supplier audits, launches and issue resolution)

• Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field and 3–5+ years of quality engineering experience in the automotive industry, including manufacturing and/or supplier quality. Demonstrated experience supporting APQP/PPAP launches, managing nonconformances, and leading structured problem-solving with suppliers or internal manufacturing teams.
• Knowledge: Working knowledge of core automotive quality requirements and tools, including IATF 16949, ISO 9001, APQP/PPAP, PFMEA/DFMEA, Control Plans, GD&T, problem solving methodologies. Ability to interpret engineering drawings and specifications, apply risk-based thinking to prevent defects, and demonstrate strong communication, organization, and data analysis skills.