Supplier Quality Lead

At Harley-Davidson, we are building more than machines. It’s our passion and commitment to continue the evolution of this storied brand, and heighten the desirability of the Harley-Davidson experience. To keep building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution, and emotion we need the best and brightest talent. We stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul.

Are you ready to join us?

The Harley-Davidson Motor Company Vehicle Operations facility in York is our final assembly plant. Employees at York also perform a variety of manufacturing operations, including fabrication, welding, polishing and painting and produce a wide range of current and replacement parts for all models. Join our team as a Supplier Quality Lead.

The Lead SQE is a strategic technical leader responsible for driving supplier quality excellence across the entire product lifecycle. This includes early supplier engagement in design for manufacturability, rigorous launch readiness planning, active production oversight, and root cause resolution of field failures. Operating in a high-visibility role, the Lead SQE leads complex issue resolution, mentors junior engineers, and champions long‑term quality improvements across critical and high‑risk motorcycle components.

The Lead SQE partners closely with global supply chain and engineering teams to ensure that supplier quality directly supports rider safety, performance, and brand legacy.

NPI / Launch Phase:

• Engage in early supplier selection and design reviews to ensure capability alignment.
• Lead APQP planning for complex or high-impact components.
• Approve supplier readiness through robust PPAP, MSA, and capability studies.
• Champion early issue detection and mitigation using FMEA, control plans, and simulation data.

Production / Sustaining:

• Drive long‑term supplier quality performance improvement initiatives.
• Lead escalated supplier recovery plans and support negotiations in quality-related commercial impacts.
• Conduct process audits (IATF, VDA, layered audits) and coach suppliers toward compliance.
• Develop and deploy advanced quality analytics to detect shifts or risks in production.

Warranty / Field Feedback:

• Lead cross‑functional root cause investigations for chronic or safety-critical field failures.
• Own closed‑loop feedback between warranty, engineering, and supplier quality systems.
• Lead supplier quality summits and formal performance reviews.
• Identify and deploy systemic corrective actions across similar parts, platforms, or suppliers.

High School Diploma or Equivalent Required

• Perform other SQ related activities as needed.
• Bachelor's degree preferred or relevant technical experience.
• 5+ years of experience in supplier or manufacturing quality.
• Expertise in APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, and VDA/IATF standards.
• ASQ or AIAG certification (preferred).
• Skilled in root cause analysis, capability studies, and supplier audits.
• Strong data analysis and reporting capabilities (e.g., Minitab, Excel).
• Experience leading quality for critical components or field issues.
• Willing to travel up to 50%, including international travel.
• SME in a manufacturing process (e.g., injection molding, forgings, paint, etc).
• PLM / Windchill.
• Able to lead problem‑solving with suppliers and internal teams.
• Comfortable working in plant and supplier environments.
• Comfortable mentoring others and engaging suppliers at leadership level.

Harley-Davidson is an equal opportunity employer that continues to build a culture of inclusion, belonging and equity through our commitment to attracting and retaining diverse talent from all backgrounds, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. We believe in fairness and providing a level playing field for all.

We foster a culture that thrives on diverse perspectives and contributions to ignite the creativity and innovation to fuel our business and enhance the employee and customer experience.

The pay range shown represents the national average pay range…