Supplier Development Engineer

IMI plc

We are a global specialist engineering company that creates breakthrough solutions. We are curious and like to solve problems, partnering with our customers to solve the demands of today and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. We embrace innovation and care about outcomes that are good for business, everyday life and making a better world – creating lasting impact for everyone.

We design, build and service highly engineered products in fluid and motion control applications. We focus on five market sectors:
Industrial Automation, Process Automation, Climate Control, Life Science, and Transport.

Our partnership approach breaks through problems and reduces complexity. We don’t invent in isolation – we collaborate with our customers. We listen closely and we think differently, creating space for diverse minds to innovate. We are working together to make businesses safer, more sustainable and more productive.

As Supplier Development Engineer, you will be at the heart of our supply chain transformation, building the supplier capabilities that underpin our ability to deliver world‑class products to regulated markets globally. This is a hands‑on, high‑impact role where you will lead qualification programs, drive measurable performance improvements across our supply base, and shape the long‑term maturity of strategic partners. You will work at the intersection of quality, engineering, and procurement, collaborating closely with colleagues who specialise in sourcing strategy, operations, and advanced manufacturing, giving you broad cross‑functional exposure and real influence on business outcomes.

Work Environment: Hybrid, with regular travel to suppliers’ sites.

• Leads structured supplier improvement initiatives, delivering measurable gains in quality (SPPM), delivery (OTIF), and process robustness across the supply base.
• Designs and executes tailored supplier development roadmaps, including on‑site workshops, capability assessments, and targeted training programs.
• Deploys the IMI Supplier Partnership program, tracking progress against agreed milestones and KPIs.

• Leads and supports supplier qualification activities end-to-end, including PPAP/APQP, process validation, and industrial change management.
• Conducts supplier audits and assessments covering quality systems, process capability, and industrial risk.
• Evaluates supplier technical and manufacturing capabilities to support sourcing decisions, in close collaboration with Procurement.

• Embeds preventive quality practices within the supply base, including process capability analysis, mistake‑proofing, and standard work implementation.
• Supports suppliers in meeting IMI quality system requirements and regulatory standards applicable to regulated industries.
• Partners with Operations to conduct root cause analysis on supply‑related quality escapes, with a systematic focus on long‑term prevention.

• Acts as the primary technical interface between suppliers and IMI Procurement, Quality, Engineering, and Operations teams.
• Contributes to cost and lead time improvement initiatives by developing supplier capability – complementing commercial negotiation with technical uplift.
• Actively participates in cross‑site supplier development initiatives within IMI.

• Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or equivalent discipline); advanced degree preferred.
• Significant experience in Supplier Development, Supplier Quality Engineering, or Industrial Engineering within a manufacturing environment, experience in a regulated industry (life sciences, automotive, analytical instrumentation or equivalent) is strongly valued.
• Demonstrated experience delivering supplier improvement projects with measurable outcomes, conducting supplier audits and assessments, and managing PPAP/APQP and industrial change processes.

• Proficiency in structured problem‑solving methodologies (8D, A3, or equivalent)
• Familiarity with quality…