Supplier Development Engineer

The Lee Company is a global leader in the design and production of miniature, precision fluid control components for the aerospace, medical/scientific instrument, oil tool, and automotive industries.

Lee Company products are recognized worldwide for superior quality, reliability, and performance. Lee's unique capabilities in miniaturization and engineering keep the company at the forefront of fluid control technology and identify Lee as a leading innovator in the field of fluid handling and control.

Founded in 1948, The Lee Company occupies over one million sq. ft. of modern manufacturing and office space at four sites in Westbrook and Essex, Connecticut, and employs over 1,000 people.

The Supplier Development Engineer is thekey liaison between Quality, Purchasing, Engineering and suppliers during supplier selection, quoting process, quality plan, initial production run, and discussion of requirements.

They conduct evaluations of new or prospective suppliers; maintain records of evaluations; and approve supplier selection.

• B.S. in Engineering plus 3 years minimum of related experience in development of products and supplier relations
• Knowledge of statistical techniques and the ability to work in teams is essential.
• Thorough knowledge of supply chain management and activities, and quality systems and control.
• General knowledge of processes such as turning, milling, heat treating, finishing, molding, and coating.
• General knowledge of Engineering requirements such as spring loads, hardness, and industry material specifications.
• Demonstrate tact, diplomacy, and the ability to direct, influence and work cooperatively with all personnel and supplier representatives.
• Capable of conducting on-site quality audits during a visit/assessment.
• Excellent blueprint reading and capable of discussing tolerancing, break edges, and other component attributes.
• Proficient in database systems and a variety of software/hardware programs used in manufacturing.
• Able to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Demonstrated ability in decision-making, inductive and deductive reasoning.

• Review blueprints prior to RFQ to ensure dimensions and tolerances are conducive to supplier manufacturing capabilities and provide opportunity for competitive pricing.
• Maintains a high ethical standard when reviewing and selecting approved suppliers.
• Review quality requirements with all current and prospective suppliers. Follow up as necessary to provide assurance suppliers understand and agree to these requirements.
• Perform periodic audits of active suppliers to ensure compliance to various quality system elements and part requirements.
• Investigate part related nonconformances and submit supplier corrective action requests when appropriate. Monitor timeliness of responses and effectiveness of corrective actions.
• Provide reports to management regarding supplier metrics, trip reports, other projects, or corrective action tasks. Provide support to internal and external Manufacturing, Engineering and Quality Departments.

The Lee Company offers opportunities for career growth in a stable, well-managed company providing an attractive range of benefits including:

• company-paid health insurance
• profit sharing
• tuition reimbursement
• daycare subsidy

The Lee Company is situated in southern New England in a rural, campus setting close to the Long Island Sound.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.