Global Supplier Quality Engineer — Proactive Improvement

STER Seating; Lionville (PA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The Supplier Quality Engineer at STER Seating will assume a leadership role across North American and European suppliers, driving proactive supplier development and quality improvement. You will lead investigations, CAPA programs, and audits while coordinating with Sourcing, Engineering, and Operations to elevate supplier performance.

You will mentor junior team members, ensure adherence to ISO 9001, and work on preventive actions to reduce defects and customer exposures.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Quality discipline or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated experience resolving complex quality and process issues with suppliers.
• Experience with supplier qualification, FAI, PPAP, or equivalent production-readiness processes.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, and manufacturing requirements.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 or similar Quality Management Systems.

Responsibilities

• Own supplier quality performance and corrective-action activities across NA and European suppliers.
• Lead supplier investigations, containment, root-cause analysis, 8D, CAPA, and permanent corrective actions.
• Conduct supplier visits, process audits, quality-system audits, and supplier-development activities.
• Partner with Sourcing to evaluate supplier performance, capabilities, risks, and improvements.
• Support qualification and development of new suppliers and manufacturing processes.
• Establish and maintain supplier quality requirements, inspection standards, FAI, PPAP or equivalent qualification processes.
• Develop supplier scorecards and KPIs in partnership with Sourcing and monitor performance.
• Identify high-risk suppliers and develop improvement plans to reduce defects and interruptions.
• Work with suppliers to improve manufacturing processes, process controls, and quality systems.
• Coordinate supplier-related nonconforming material activities and MRB support.
• Provide guidance to Incoming Inspection regarding defects, containment, and escalation.
• Mentor the Quality Engineer in supplier-related RCA and improvement activities.
• Ensure drawings and specs are understood and achievable by suppliers.
• Partner with Operations and Quality to address supplier-related production issues.
• Support customer corrective actions when supplier material contributes.
• Verify effectiveness of supplier CAPAs and sustain improvements.
• Maintain supplier quality records and audit findings in the QMS.

Skills

Root-cause analysis

8D problem solving

CAPA

FMEA

PPAP/FAI

Reading drawings

ISO 9001 knowledge

Supplier development

Process auditing

Communication with suppliers

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related discipline

Job description

The Supplier Quality Engineer at STER Seating will assume a leadership role across North American and European suppliers, driving proactive supplier development and quality improvement. You will lead investigations, CAPA programs, and audits while coordinating with Sourcing, Engineering, and Operations to elevate supplier performance.

You will mentor junior team members, ensure adherence to ISO 9001, and work on preventive actions to reduce defects and customer exposures.