Supplier Quality Engineer

Supplier Quality Engineer

We are expanding and our new Niagara Falls site is growing! Imagine working at the forefront of innovation in fluid-flow technology, alongside more than 1,400 colleagues worldwide, contributing to a legacy of excellence spanning eight manufacturing facilities across four continents. Armstrong Fluid Technology is more than an industry leader—we are a community of innovative thinkers driven by a shared mission to engineer the future and help safeguard our planet.

As a member of our team, you will thrive in a dynamic environment that encourages continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation. We challenge conventional thinking and empower our employees to develop solutions that address today's needs while anticipating tomorrow's challenges.

Position Summary

The Supplier Quality Engineer plays a critical role in ensuring the quality, reliability, and continuous improvement of materials, components, and assemblies sourced from our global supply base. This position is responsible for developing and maintaining strong supplier partnerships while ensuring that products supplied to Armstrong consistently meet engineering specifications, quality requirements, and regulatory standards.

The successful candidate will work closely with suppliers and cross-functional teams including Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Quality to drive supplier performance, resolve quality issues, support new product introductions, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluate, qualify, and develop suppliers to ensure compliance with Armstrong quality requirements and industry standards.
• Conduct supplier audits, process assessments, and performance reviews to identify risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead supplier corrective action processes, including root cause analysis, containment activities, and verification of corrective action effectiveness.
• Support new product development and supplier qualification activities, including APQP, PPAP, FAI, and process validation activities as applicable.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Supply Chain teams to ensure supplied components meet design, manufacturing, and performance requirements.
• Review and disposition supplier-related non-conformance reports and coordinate resolution activities.
• Analyze supplier quality data and performance metrics to drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support incoming inspection requirements and help reduce supplier-related quality defects impacting manufacturing operations.
• Participate in supplier selection, risk assessments, and sourcing decisions from a quality perspective.
• Facilitate problem-solving activities with suppliers to improve process capability, product quality, and delivery performance.

Working Conditions

Travel Requirement: This role requires up to 25%-40% travel to supplier and manufacturing locations.

Key Accountabilities:

• Partner with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to establish, implement, and continuously improve quality systems and manufacturing processes that support safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
• Lead supplier quality planning activities for new and existing products, including Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Process Flow Diagrams, Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Control Plans, and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) submissions.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, and design requirements to identify Critical-to-Quality (CTQ) characteristics, special characteristics, and risk areas, ensuring appropriate controls, measurement methods, and inspection strategies are implemented throughout the supply chain.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams during product development and change management activities to ensure quality requirements are clearly defined and effectively communicated to suppliers.
• Develop, review, and approve supplier quality documentation including PFMEAs, Control Plans, process flow diagrams, inspection instructions, capability studies, and PPAP packages.
• Establish and monitor supplier process controls and quality metrics to ensure ongoing compliance with engineering specifications, customer requirements, and applicable industry standards.
• Lead supplier qualification, process validation, and first article inspection (FAI) activities to ensure production readiness and successful product launches.
• Manage supplier-related nonconformances by conducting risk assessments, determining appropriate dispositions, and driving effective root cause analysis and corrective actions using structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Conduct supplier audits and assessments to evaluate manufacturing processes, quality systems, inspection methods, process controls, and compliance with ISO standards and Armstrong requirements.
• Monitor supplier performance through key quality indicators, identify improvement opportunities, and lead supplier development initiatives to improve process capability, defect reduction, and overall operational performance.
• Investigate customer complaints and field quality issues related to supplied components, coordinating containment actions and corrective actions with suppliers to prevent recurrence.
• Review and approve first articles, prototype builds, pre-production samples, and production validation runs utilizing company quality systems and product lifecycle management tools.
• Support warranty investigations and customer quality concerns by coordinating supplier involvement, conducting root cause analysis, and implementing corrective and preventive actions when required.
• Collaborate with global quality teams to develop, standardize, and deploy quality procedures, specifications, inspection methodologies, and supplier quality requirements across Armstrong's global operations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, statistical analysis, and risk-based quality methodologies to improve supplier quality performance and manufacturing efficiency.

What We're Looking For:

To be considered for this role, you should bring:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, preferably Mechanical Engineering. Higher education levels like master's degree and Ph.D. in Engineering will be considered as a strong asset.
• Quality Control experience, education, or diploma is considered as a strong asset.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in engineering environment.
• Strong problem solving and root-cause analysis skills.
• Good understanding of inspection processes by using of standard lab instruments and even more importantly GO – NO GO and functional gauges. This includes a good understanding of each measuring instrument's strengths and limitations.
• Working experience and fundamental comprehension of Quality Systems ISO 9001 ISO 14001, ASME HI and FIRE pump listings (FM, UL, LPC).
• Ability to design array of Go – No Go and functional gauges by using Solid Works, identify the best suppliers and purchase them while keeping in mind their functionality and cost.
• Ability to independently create complete engineering drawings for parts and assemblies as well as interpret engineering drawings done by others, review them and assess their soundness especially in dimensional and geometric tolerancing (GD&T).
• Strong sense of urgency in a time-sensitive working environment.
• Great team-oriented attitude, while capable of working independently and being able to be a strong leader.
• Strong verbal and written communication in English, while fluency in 3 or more world's dominant languages (including but not limited to English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, German etc.) will be considered as a strong asset.
• Extensive independent, global and local travel experience for both business and pleasure will be considered as an asset.
• This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship

Benefits:

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance on the first day of employment
• 401k match up to 5%
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Annual safety shoe and safety glasses reimbursement

Why Armstrong Fluid Technology?

By joining us, you'll become part of a global community dedicated to pushing the boundaries of fluid-flow technology. You'll have endless opportunities to learn, grow, and make a significant impact on the world. Together, we'll build tomorrow's solutions today.