Supplier Quality Welding Engineer

Job Description Summary

The Supplier Quality Welding Engineer serves as the welding subject matter expert responsible for governing supplier welding quality performance. This role ensures adherence to international standards and project specifications through evaluation of WPS/PQR/WPQ, oversight of welding process controls, supplier audits, and resolution of complex welding non-conformances. The position drives technical risk mitigation, supports qualification strategies, and acts as the primary welding authority interfacing with suppliers, engineering, and project quality teams.

• The Supplier Quality Engineer is responsible for ensuring quality compliance and performance of suppliers involved in transformer tank metal fabrication, with strong emphasis on welding and painting (coating) processes.
• Accountable for transformer tank metal fabrication activities at suppliers across Turkey and Europe, with direct coordination and reporting to the UK Stafford Transformer Factory.
• Leading supplier quality activities across the end-to-end transformer tank fabrication process, including raw material control, cutting, forming, fit-up, welding, NDT, dimensional inspection, surface preparation, painting, testing, and final release.
• Ensuring effective control of welding processes, including review and application of approved WPS/WPQR, welder qualifications, heat input control, and distortion management.
• Coordinating and verifying NDT activities (VT, MT/PT, UT, RT as applicable) and ensuring timely closure of weld-related non-conformities.
• Leading with supplier painting and coating quality activities, including blasting cleanliness, surface profile, environmental controls, paint application, stripe coating, curing, and DFT verification.
• Monitoring and resolving paint-related non-conformities, such as pores, holidays, blistering, corrosion, edge damage, and transportation-related coating damage.
• Reviewing and approving supplier quality documentation, including inspection and test plans, coating procedures, and manufacturing quality plans.
• Conducting supplier audits and driving corrective and preventive actions based on NCRs, root cause analysis, and performance trends.
• Monitoring supplier performance using quality KPIs and scorecards and leading continuous improvement initiatives.
• Acting as the primary quality interface between suppliers, engineering, sourcing, manufacturing, and project teams.
• Utilizes technical expertise and judgement to solve problems. Leverages technical skills and analytic thinking required to solve problems. May use multiple internal sources outside of own team to arrive at decisions.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical engineering field.
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in Supplier Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Quality or Welding Engineering.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively approximately 50% of the time.
• Strong verbal and written English language skills.
• Comfortable in remote working conditions.
• Having IWE certification is required.
• Ability to live in Istanbul & Kocaeli.

• Strong technical expertise in welding and painting / coating processes.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze supplier quality issues and drive effective root cause resolution.
• Experience with supplier audits, NCR management, and corrective action processes.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to plan, document, and execute quality improvement initiatives.
• Effective cross-functional and supplier engagement skills.

Relocation Assistance Provided:
Yes