Job Summary:
The Supplier Quality Engineer - Technical Specialist concentrates his/her product specific quality and technical skills to develop complex suppliers and products that can meet customer requirements; requires strong partnerships with the external supply base, with supply chain teams and with engineering to achieve resultsKey Responsibilities:
Build strong relationships with all critical partners to improve quality and business outcomes, including: external suppliers, external customers, and internal customers and stakeholders, such as Purchasing, Manufacturing and Engineering; coach and mentor Cummins professionals on how to strengthen the soft skills required to develop effective relationships. Support the cross-functional development of external supply base strategies and the cross-functional supplier selection process for any given component; experience and skills will be utilized to support increasingly complex products. Provide manufacturing consultation to external suppliers in order to design a Right First Time manufacturing process that enables conformance to the engineering print, engineering standards and customer specific requirements; experience and skills will be utilized to support increasingly complex products. Apply industry common Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) processes, Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) tools, and Cummins specialty tools to develop zero defect components within the external supply base; coach and mentor Supplier and Cummins professionals on how to improve effectiveness of APQP execution; experience and skills will be utilized to support increasingly complex products. Embrace continuous improvement in the external supply base by leading complex product and process focused projects that utilize industry proven methodologies, such as lean and six-sigma. Conduct external supplier audits in support of supplier risk mitigation, supplier readiness, and supplier performance improvement; coach and mentor Cummins professionals on how to improve auditing effectiveness. Lead increasingly complex quality improvement plans within the external supply base in order to improve supplier performance. Ensure resolution of increasingly complex external supplier related quality challenges, by leading root cause analysis, by supporting development of corrective actions and by verifying the effectiveness of corrective actions; coach and mentor Supplier and Cummins professionals on how to improve effectiveness of problem resolution. ResponsibilitiesCompetencies:Communicates effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
Customer focus - Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
Auditing - Applying auditing skills and techniques and Quality Management Systems knowledge to effectively appraise a manufacturing process for quality and safety risks and non-conformances.
Interpreting Technical Requirements - Applying knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing principles and Engineering Standards to correctly interpret the technical requirements of an engineering drawing; Applying knowledge to improve a product’s design for manufacturability and measurability.
Manufacturing Process Design - Applying knowledge of manufacturing technology (methods, techniques, tools, equipment, etc) to design a Zero Defect manufacturing process that can consistently meet technical and customer requirements.
Manufacturing Process Validation - Applying core Automotive tools (i.e. DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plan, SPC, MSA, Source Release and PPAP) to validate that a manufacturing process can consistently meet technical and customer requirements.
Measurement Process Design - Applying knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing principles and knowledge of measurement technology (standards, techniques, equipment, etc) to design a measurement system that can consistently meet industry and customer requirements.
Problem Solving - Solves problems and may mentor others on effective problem solving by using a systematic analysis process by leveraging industry standard methodologies to create problem traceability and protect the customer; determines the assignable cause; implements robust, data-based solutions; identifies the systemic root causes and ensures actions to prevent problem reoccurrence are implemented.
Quality Influence - Ability to recognize stakeholders, create a forum to professionally extract stakeholder perspectives, drive and engage in constructive conflict, and to influence outcomes in order to ensure Cummins makes a balanced decision inclusive of Quality priorities.
Quality Standards - Applying knowledge of quality standards, such as ISO9001:2015 and IATF16949, to develop procedures, processes, and external suppliers in a manner that aligns with regulatory requirements.
Statistical Foundations - Applies statistical tools and technique to influence decision making; leverages understanding of data collection methods, key statistics, graphical and analytical methods to describe process performance, gain insights and drive improvement action
Supplier Performance Improvement - Improving supplier performance by developing and executing an effective quality improvement strategy that consists of a project team, glidepath, reduction of manufacturing issues and improvement of systemic deficiencies.
Supplier Quality Project Planning and Execution - Applying Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) skills to develop and execute a quality plan that enables external suppliers to meet customer expectations; Requires facilitating communication and collaboration across cross-functional activities, when a program, initiative, or project concerns external suppliers.
Values differences - Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
Supplier Product Reliability - Ability to evaluate the supplier's product design, supplier's manufacturing process design and product validation process to ensure the supplier is capable to meet reliability expectations.
Education, Licenses, Certifications:
College, university, or equivalent degree in Engineering or a related technical or scientific subject required
This position may require licensing for compliance with export controls or sanctions regulations.
Experience:
Preferably 7 years experience in a Manufacturing or Engineering role in the automotive industry, or a similarly regulated industry. Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or above in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Quality, or related Engineering field.
- 5+ years of supplier quality, manufacturing quality, or product quality experience.
- Familiar with APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC and problem-solving tools.
- Strong understanding of machining, casting, forging, assembly or engine components.
- Good communication skills and ability to work with global teams.
- Fluent English communication preferred.
- Experience with engine, power generation, off-highway, or automotive products.
- Knowledge of VDA 6.3, IATF 16949, AIAG Core Tools.
- Supplier development and project management experience.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Quality, or a related Engineering field
- 5+ years of supplier quality, manufacturing quality, or product quality experience
- Engineering or related technical or scientific degree
- Familiarity with APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC, and problem-solving tools
- Strong understanding of machining, casting, forging, assembly, or engine components
- Strong communication skills and ability to work with global teams
- Fluent English communication
- Experience with engine, power generation, off-highway, or automotive products
- Knowledge of VDA 6.3, IATF 16949, and AIAG Core Tools
- Supplier development and project management experience
- Licensing may be required for export-control or sanctions-regulation compliance
Cummins Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Cummins and has not been reviewed or approved by Cummins.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with company contribution/match and both defined contribution and defined benefit pension plans are offered, alongside profit sharing and an employee stock purchase plan. This mix supports long-term savings and financial security.
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Healthcare Strength — Multiple medical plan options (HSA, HSA Plus, PPO) with dental, vision, life and long-term disability coverage are provided, along with telehealth, mental-health support, and wellness tools. In-network protections and HSA/HSA Plus structures are described to help manage costs.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid maternity and paternity leave, family medical leave, and adoption assistance are offered. Reduced or flexible hours and unpaid extended leave options further support caregiving needs.
Cummins Insights
What We Do
At Cummins, we empower everyone to grow their careers through meaningful work, building inclusive and equitable teams, coaching, development and opportunities to make a difference. Across our entire organization, you'll find engineers, developers, and technicians who are innovating, designing, testing, and building. You'll also find accountants, marketers, as well as manufacturing, quality and supply chain specialists who are working with technology that's just as innovative and advanced.







