Senior Supplier Quality Staff Engineer

Kohler Co.; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus

Private health care

Generous pension

Job summary

Kohler Mira in Cheltenham is seeking a senior supplier quality engineer to collaborate with NPD on product architecture, materials selection and manufacturability. You will drive APQP disciplines and work closely with suppliers to ensure quality from concept to production in a hybrid role with on-site work.

With a strong track record in supplier quality or manufacturing engineering, you will influence design decisions and mentor peers, while delivering robust quality improvements across Mira

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in supplier quality, product quality or manufacturing engineering.
• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality or related discipline, or equivalent knowledge.
• Proven track record of influencing product design to improve quality and manufacturability.
• Experience with strategic suppliers and developing long-term capability and performance.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and materials (plastics, metals, elastomers, electronics).
• Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI) activities.
• Solid grounding in APQP, PPAP, FMEA and structured problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key design partner within NPD, shaping product architecture and interfaces for quality and manufacturability.
• Build strategic relationships with suppliers, developing their capability in manufacturing processes and quality systems.
• Own Supplier Quality Readiness across multiple programmes from concept to production.
• Drive APQP disciplines, ensuring PFMEAs, control plans and validation are robust.
• Lead resolution of complex issues with root cause analysis and sustainable corrective actions.
• Identify risks in product design and supplier processes early to avoid downstream impact.
• Provide informal leadership, coaching associates to raise capability.
• Lead initiatives to improve supplier performance and quality practices.

Skills

Supplier quality management

Product quality

Manufacturing engineering

APQP/PPAP

NPI support

Quality systems

Root cause analysis

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

Hybrid role – at least 3 days onsite per week, Cheltenham. Salary to be discussed on application plus company bonus, private health care and generous pension scheme.

Designing award‑winning products for our market‑leading brands – Mira Showers, Rada and Recoup – is our lifeblood. From day one you’ll be part of the Kohler Mira community – a collaborative, forward‑focused team with a shared pride in our work and commitment to delight our customers, develop innovative products and services and inspire our people.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key design partner within NPD, actively shaping product architecture, materials selection, tolerancing, and interfaces to optimise for quality and manufacturability.
• Build deep, strategic relationships with critical suppliers, developing their capability in manufacturing processes, quality systems and technical problem solving; identify and cultivate new suppliers early in projects when new solutions are required.
• Own Supplier Quality Readiness across multiple programmes, ensuring alignment between product design and manufacturing capability from concept through to production.
• Drive effective application of APQP disciplines, ensuring PFMEAs, control plans and validation activities are technically robust and add real value.
• Lead resolution of complex or high‑impact issues, ensuring structured root cause analysis and sustainable corrective actions.
• Proactively identify risks in product design and supplier processes, addressing them early to avoid downstream impact.
• Provide informal leadership across the organisation, influencing stakeholders and coaching other associates to raise overall capability.
• Lead initiatives to improve supplier performance, internal processes and quality practices across the organisation.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in supplier quality, product quality or manufacturing engineering, ideally within mechanical or electromechanical products.
• A degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality or related discipline, or equivalent knowledge gained through significant relevant experience.
• Proven track record of influencing product design to improve quality and manufacturability.
• Experience working with strategic suppliers, developing long‑term capability and performance.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and materials (plastics, metals, elastomers, electronics).
• Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI) activities.
• Solid grounding in quality methodologies (APQP, PPAP, FMEA, structured problem solving).

Personal Attributes

• Strong technical judgement and ability to balance detail with system‑level thinking.
• Ability to influence without authority, including senior stakeholders and suppliers.
• Effective prioritisation and ability to manage a high volume of work independently.
• Clear communication and ability to simplify complex topics.
• Proactive and outcome‑focused, with resilience and solutions bias.
• Commitment to coaching and developing others.

Benefits

We offer a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, including private health care, generous pension scheme, company bonus and additional perks. You will have access to career growth and development opportunities, work in a diverse and inclusive workplace and be part of a culture of innovation.

EEO & Diversity

Kohler Mira is committed to diversity and inclusion and, as an equal‑opportunity employer, it is our policy to recruit, hire and promote qualified people in all job classifications without prejudice. If you, as an individual with a disability, require adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail].