Supplier Development Engineer

Supplier Development Engineer

The Supplier Development Engineer is a high-impact, hands-on role responsible for elevating supplier capability, accelerating performance recovery, and building a stronger, more reliable supply base for discrete manufacturing operations. This role partners aggressively with Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, and suppliers to drive measurable gains in quality, delivery, cost, capacity, and launch readiness. The position requires a process-driven leader who can move quickly from diagnosis to action, apply lean tools at the source, remove barriers, and deliver sustained supplier performance improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and execute aggressive supplier development plans for critical, high-risk, or underperforming suppliers supporting discrete manufacturing operations.
• Rapidly assess supplier manufacturing processes, quality systems, capacity, tooling, controls, staffing, and readiness to meet production requirements.
• Lead targeted improvement projects that increase quality, delivery, throughput, lead time performance, scrap reduction, and process stability.
• Drive supplier launch readiness for new product introductions, sourcing transitions, and supplier changes through APQP, PPAP, first article inspection, run-at-rate reviews, and production readiness assessments.
• Conduct on-site supplier audits, process capability reviews, risk assessments, and manufacturing feasibility evaluations with clear action plans and owners.
• Attack root causes using structured problem-solving methods such as 8D, 5 Whys, fishbone analysis, mistake-proofing, and verified corrective action.
• Partner with Supplier Quality to contain issues quickly, resolve nonconforming material concerns, eliminate recurring defects, and prevent supplier escapes.
• Collaborate with Purchasing and Strategic Sourcing to qualify stronger suppliers, evaluate capability, and support make-buy, resourcing, and localization decisions.
• Work with Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering to resolve specification, drawing, tolerance, inspection, process control, and manufacturability issues that limit supplier performance.
• Use supplier performance data to expose trends, prioritize risk, trigger escalation, and focus resources on the highest-impact improvement opportunities.
• Deliver cost-reduction and value-improvement results through process optimization, yield improvement, waste elimination, manufacturability improvements, and lead time reduction.
• Build strong supplier relationships while creating clear accountability for commitments, corrective actions, timelines, and business results.
• Communicate supplier risks, action plans, technical findings, recovery status, and executive updates with clarity, urgency, and precision.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, or a related technical field.
• Three to seven years of experience in supplier development, supplier quality, manufacturing engineering, quality engineering, process engineering, continuous improvement, or a related manufacturing role.
• Hands-on experience in a discrete manufacturing environment involving machined parts, fabricated components, castings, forgings, stampings, molded parts, assemblies, finishing processes, or other engineered components.
• Proven ability to operate in a process-driven manner using standards, documented workflows, visual controls, performance metrics, escalation routines, and disciplined follow-up.
• Demonstrated success applying lean tools such as value stream mapping, standard work, 5S, visual management, Kaizen, root cause analysis, error proofing, takt time, line balancing, waste reduction, and daily management systems.
• Strong bias for action with the ability to quickly diagnose supplier performance gaps, engage stakeholders, escalate barriers, and drive corrective actions to verified closure.
• High drive for results with a track record of improving supplier quality, delivery, lead time, productivity, cost, capacity, or launch performance through structured improvement projects.
• Experience with APQP, PPAP, FMEA, control plans, process flow diagrams, capability studies, corrective action, and root cause analysis.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, GD&T, inspection plans, and technical requirements.
• Strong analytical, project management, communication, and supplier-facing problem-solving skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel to supplier sites to audit processes, resolve issues, validate corrective actions, and accelerate supplier development projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean, Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, or similar quality/manufacturing certification.
• Experience using lean daily management, tiered accountability, supplier scorecards, standard work audits, action registers, and visual performance boards to sustain improvement.
• Experience with ERP, supplier portals, quality management systems, statistical analysis tools, and manufacturing performance dashboards.
• Experience supporting regulated or highly controlled manufacturing environments such as automotive, aerospace, defense, firearms, industrial equipment, medical device, or precision machining.
• Experience leading cross-functional supplier recovery projects, rapid improvement events, capacity expansion plans, or supplier localization/resourcing initiatives with measurable results.

Core Competencies

• Process discipline: Operates through clear standards, repeatable methods, documented action plans, defined ownership, and consistent follow-up.
• Lean execution: Applies lean tools practically at supplier sites to remove waste, stabilize processes, improve flow, and sustain measurable performance gains.
• Bias for action: Moves quickly from issue identification to containment, root cause, corrective action, and verified closure without waiting for perfect information.
• Drive for results: Sets clear targets, measures progress, removes obstacles, and delivers improvements in quality, delivery, cost, capacity, and lead time.
• Structured problem solving: Uses data, observation, root cause analysis, and corrective action discipline to eliminate recurring supplier issues.
• Supplier influence and accountability: Builds productive supplier relationships while holding suppliers accountable to commitments, timelines, and performance expectations.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Works effectively with Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, Planning, and Operations leadership to accelerate execution.
• Data-driven decision making: Uses supplier scorecards, defect data, delivery performance, capacity analysis, and cost information to prioritize action.

Key Performance Indicators

• Improvement in supplier on-time delivery performance and recovery of delinquent or constrained suppliers.
• Reduction in supplier defects, nonconforming material trends, repeat issues, and quality escapes.
• Speed and effectiveness of corrective action closure, including verified recurrence prevention.
• Completion of supplier audits, risk assessments, launch readiness reviews, and PPAP/FAI approvals on time and with clear follow-through.
• Supplier capacity readiness to support production demand, surge requirements, and new product launches.
• Cost savings, productivity gains, scrap reduction, yield improvement, and lead time reduction delivered through supplier development projects.
• Timely execution of supplier recovery plans, escalation actions, executive updates, and measurable improvement milestones.

Reporting Relationship and Work Environment

This position typically reports to the Supply Chain organization and works closely with commodity managers, buyers, planners, quality engineers, manufacturing engineers, design engineers, and production leadership. The role operates in both office and manufacturing environments and requires regular interaction with suppliers, including on-site visits to manufacturing facilities. Travel may be required based on supplier location, launch activity, performance risk, or urgent production needs.