Supplier Quality Engineer

Position Summary

The Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) is responsible for supporting plant operations by investigating supplier-related quality issues and ensuring appropriate containment, corrective actions, and root cause analysis are implemented. This role works closely with production, receiving, and supplier quality teams to identify nonconforming material, coordinate containment activities, and support supplier corrective action processes to maintain product quality and protect production.

Core Responsibilities

Production & Investigation Support

• Support production operations by addressing supplier-related component quality issues
• Conduct internal investigations related to supplier nonconformances and communicate findings to responsible SQE
• Ensure appropriate measurement techniques and inspection methods are used during investigations
• Prioritize activities based on plant production needs and potential impact to operations
• Maintain routine touchpoints across the plant to monitor supplier component performance and emerging issues

Containment & Corrective Actions

• Initiate containment activities and develop sort instructions when required
• Identify and route suspect or nonconforming materials to Supplier Quality Assurance (SQA) hold areas
• Support SQE/SQM in executing supplier corrective action plans and read-across activities across similar components or processes
• Coordinate and monitor 3rd-party sorting activities
• Verify appropriate release quantities to ensure production continuity while maintaining quality standards
• Confirm and communicate PPMH (Parts Per Man Hour) expectations to 3rd-party sorting supervisors

Receiving, Shipping & Material Control

• Monitor receiving activities for suspect materials and ensure proper routing to inspection
• Identify and manage critical incoming shipments requiring certification verification, inspection, or urgent sorting activities
• Monitor outgoing shipments of return-to-vendor (RTV) materials to ensure proper documentation and handling

Inventory & Disposition Management

• Manage supplier quality inventory including containment stock and suspect materials
• Coordinate scrap or return-to-vendor disposition activities, including documentation and inventory movement with Warehouse and Production Control Logistics (PCL)
• Maintain and update supplier certification status lists (certified/decertified) as directed by SQEs

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, or related technical field required
• 1–3 years of experience in a quality, manufacturing, or technical role, preferably within an automotive or manufacturing environment
• Experience with quality inspection methods and measurement tools preferred
• Working knowledge of quality core tools (8D, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, Root Cause Analysis) preferred

Skills

• Strong professional communication skills with the ability to interact across departments and with external partners
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate with internal teams and suppliers
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, Teams)
• Ability to learn and navigate plant systems (System 21, AS400, or similar ERP systems)
• Knowledge of quality inspection methods and measurement techniques
• Forklift certification (may be obtained after hire)

Travel

• Up to 10-15% domestic & international travel after the first year.