Senior Supplier Quality Engineer

Job Title:

Senior Supplier Quality Engineer

Job Description

This Senior Supplier Quality Engineer role provides quality engineering and continuous improvement leadership across suppliers, engineering, and quality organizations. You will lead supplier problem solving, implement corrective actions, perform process and quality system audits, qualify new components and processes, and drive strategic improvements across the supplier base. The position supports the full product lifecycle-from concept and design through New Product Introduction (NPI) and sustaining-by embedding robust supplier quality practices, improving manufacturing capability, and driving continuous global supplier improvement.

The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience in electronics manufacturing, supplier development, APQP/PPAP, structured problem solving, Six Sigma, and holds a third-party ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor credential.

Responsibilities

* Lead supplier qualification and ongoing performance management for PCB and PCBA suppliers.

* Evaluate supplier electronic assembly processes, including SMT, wave soldering, conformal coating, cleanliness, in-circuit testing (ICT), and functional testing.

* Ensure supplier compliance with IPC-A-610 and related standards such as J-STD-001 and IPC-A-600.

* Drive supplier quality controls, readiness, and overall performance improvement, including New Product Introduction (NPI) readiness.

* Improve supplier process capability, reduce scrap, enhance consistency, and prevent defects across the supplier base.

* Lead APQP/PPAP flow-down requirements in collaboration with Engineering and Supply Chain teams.

* Develop and maintain incoming quality control (IQC) plans, sampling strategies, and test and inspection requirements.

* Support and approve First Article qualifications for new components and processes.

* Lead Design FMEA (DFMEA) and Process FMEA (PFMEA) activities related to supplier processes.

* Support stop-ships, containment activities, investigations, and other quality-related actions as needed.

* Conduct supplier process, system, and product audits and drive timely closure of nonconformities.

* Ensure supplier quality procedures, work instructions, and records meet Quality Management System (QMS) requirements.

* Maintain proper documentation, traceability, change control, and configuration management at suppliers.

* Communicate supplier risks, quality status, and improvement progress to leadership with clarity and urgency.

* Lead supplier-related APQP/PPAP activities for NPI, including DFM/A reviews, PFMEA, control plans, MSA/GR&R, First Article Inspection (FAI), and process validations.

* Partner with Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, and Operations to ensure manufacturability and quality robustness of electronic designs.

* Provide supplier manufacturing and process capability input during Engineering Design Reviews.

* Define acceptance criteria, MSA/GR&R requirements, and Critical-to-Quality (CtQ) characteristics for supplier components and processes.

* Verify supplier process readiness for product launch, including line qualification, tooling readiness, and assembly readiness.

* Ensure suppliers meet launch quality targets such as DPPM, rolled throughput yield (RTY), and escape rates.

* Monitor supplier quality performance, including defect trends, process variation, cost of quality (CoQ) metrics, and incoming quality performance.

* Lead structured problem solving (8D, 5 Whys, Ishikawa) for supplier-related issues, customer returns, and internal escapes.

* Monitor and improve supplier performance metrics, including cost of poor quality (CoPQ), scrap, rework, and yield.

* Optimize supplier test strategies (ICT, functional test, AOI, and related methods) to minimize escapes.

* Drive permanent corrective actions and verify their effectiveness through data analysis and process validation.

* Support containment activities, rework coordination, concessions, and stop-ship decisions when required.

* Promote a culture of quality, data integrity, and continuous improvement by applying Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma, and related continuous improvement tools.

Essential Skills

* Bachelor's degree in…