Supplier Quality Engineer

Job Title: Supplier Quality Engineer

Job Description

The Supplier Quality Engineer III manages regional supplier quality and delivery performance to support manufacturing operations. This role leads preventive, proactive, and reactive supplier performance initiatives to ensure suppliers consistently meet requirements for quality, delivery, capacity, and operational excellence. The engineer serves as a key liaison between suppliers and cross-functional teams, driving continuous improvement, risk mitigation, and successful product launches while directly impacting supply chain stability and manufacturing performance.

Responsibilities

• Qualify and develop suppliers to ensure successful product launches and stable, long-term production.

• Lead APQP and PPAP activities, including supplier performance reviews and escalation processes, to improve quality and delivery performance.

• Assess supplier capabilities, capacity constraints, and operational risks, and implement corrective and preventive actions to address identified issues.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including supplier audits, SAT reviews, and long-term supplier development strategies.

• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and supplier teams to resolve performance issues and support overall business objectives.

• Monitor supplier compliance with internal standards, policies, and applicable regulatory and quality management system requirements.

• Provide clear and timely supplier performance reporting, including KPI management and certification compliance tracking.

• Facilitate improvement workshops with suppliers and internal stakeholders to address root causes and optimize processes.

• Support organizational knowledge development by coaching and mentoring colleagues on supplier quality practices and tools.

• Act as the primary point of contact between the organization and its supplier base, managing both reactive issue resolution and proactive performance improvement.

• Prepare for and conduct onsite supplier visits, typically spending full days at supplier facilities to audit processes, review performance, and align on improvement plans.

Essential Skills

• Strong background in supplier quality and development, with hands-on experience in manufacturing or quality engineering environments.

• Demonstrated expertise in APQP and PPAP processes, including planning, execution, and validation of supplier launch and production readiness.

• Working knowledge of quality management systems, including IATF standards, TS16949, ISO frameworks, and VDA 6.3.

• Proficiency in quality assurance and quality engineering methodologies, including root cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).

• Experience managing supplier performance, including quality, delivery, capacity, and risk mitigation activities.

• Ability to interpret and apply regulatory compliance requirements within a supplier quality and manufacturing context.

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze complex supplier issues and develop strategic, data-driven solutions.

• Effective cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience working closely with Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and supplier teams.

• Solid project management capabilities, including planning, prioritizing, and executing multiple concurrent supplier quality initiatives.

• 5–7 years of relevant experience in supplier quality, manufacturing, or quality engineering roles.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Supply Chain, or a closely related discipline.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies to enhance supplier performance and operational efficiency.

• Familiarity with supplier performance and risk management tools and techniques, including KPI reporting and escalation processes.

• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills to align suppliers and internal teams on quality, delivery, and improvement goals.

• Ability to facilitate workshops and training sessions focused on supplier quality, process optimization, and best practices.

• Strategic thinking capabilities, with the ability to balance reactive issue resolution with proactive long-term supplier development.

• Experience conducting supplier audits and SAT reviews and translating findings into actionable improvement plans.

• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment with high-visibility supplier challenges and frequent problem-solving demands.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to present supplier performance data and recommendations to diverse audiences.

Work Environment

This role offers a dynamic mix of reactive and proactive supplier management in a fast-paced, operations-focused setting. On any given day, the Supplier Quality Engineer may be responding to active supplier issues, managing KPI reporting, reviewing certification and regulatory compliance, or preparing for upcoming supplier visits. The position involves regular onsite supplier trips that are typically a full week in duration, with full days spent at supplier facilities conducting audits, reviews, and improvement activities. When not traveling, the engineer works closely with a cross-functional team and serves as the primary point of contact between the organization and its supplier base. The work schedule typically includes one remote day per week, with the remaining days spent onsite at the Portland headquarters. The environment emphasizes collaboration, continuous improvement, and direct impact on supply chain stability and manufacturing performance, providing broad exposure to operational and cross-functional work at a major industry leader.

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Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Portland, OR.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $38.00 - $45.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Portland,OR.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 28, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.