Senior Supplier Quality Engineer

Watlow; Maryland Heights (MO); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Watlow’s Advanced Technology Center in St. Louis, MO, seeks a Senior Engineer – Supplier Quality Engineering to ensure direct material quality readiness and supplier performance across the global supply base. You will lead evaluations, audits, and continuous improvements with cross-functional teams.

You will guide change control, corrective actions, and PPAP/8D processes, traveling up to 50% as needed to assure alignment with Watlow’s standards and customer requirements.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in engineering, manufacturing, or related discipline.
• Five years in Supplier Quality, Quality Assurance, or Supply Chain.
• Five years in engineering/design or manufacturing/process.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System.
• Willing to travel up to 50% domestically and internationally.
• Auditing experience – quality system elements, process audits, PPAP reviews.
• Expertise in 8D, PPAP, APQP, Control Plans, and other quality tools.
• Strong root-cause problem solving abilities.
• Ability to lead and communicate with all levels of a supplier organization.
• Experience representing supplier quality during customer audits.

Responsibilities

• Lead SQE efforts for new Watlow suppliers and direct material transfers.
• Oversee material evaluation, approval, and release across multiple projects with internal partners.
• Deploy Watlow requirements to suppliers and drive improvements to SQE processes.
• Utilize supplier performance data and sourcing strategies to improve results.
• Ensure supplier understanding and adherence to change control via training and audits.
• Lead major supplier corrective action with thorough 8D execution by supplier and Watlow actions.

Skills

Auditing

8D problem solving

PPAP/APQP

Control Plans

Root cause analysis

Leadership/mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication

Travel readiness

Independent work

Education

B.S. in engineering/manufacturing

Tools

Oracle ERP

Job description

Overview of Role:

The Senior Engineer – Supplier Quality Engineering located in Watlow’s Advanced Technology Center in St. Louis, Missouri, will be responsible for ensuring direct material manufacturing/quality readiness, and acceptable performance of the supply base through effective linkage, active involvement, evaluation, and continuous performance management of our global suppliers.

The engineer will report to Watlow’s Senior Supplier Quality Engineering Manager.

Key Responsibilities will include:

• Support Supply Chain projects as enterprise Supplier Quality Engineering lead to evaluate/audit new Watlow suppliers for global direct material transfers between suppliers and plants
• Lead new material evaluation, approval, and release process across numerous simultaneous projects. Collaborate with internal cross-functional partners
• Deploy Watlow requirements to suppliers, identify gaps, and work with suppliers to develop the capability to meet expectations. Continuously improve and implement improvements to SQE operating procedures.
• Utilize supplier performance data and sourcing strategies to target, define approach, and continuously improve supplier performance
• Ensure suppliers understand and apply Watlow’s change control requirements through annual training and auditing supplier’s conformance to the requirement
• Lead major/escalated supplier corrective action activity, ensuring thorough 8D has been defined and executed by supplier and Watlow has also taken appropriate action

Qualifications:

• B.S. degree in an engineering, manufacturing, or applicable technical discipline
• Five years working in a Supplier Quality, Quality Assurance, or Supply Chain role
• Five years working in an engineering/design or manufacturing/process role
• Working knowledge of registered ISO9001:2015 Quality Management System
• The desire and ability to travel domestic and internationally, up to 50%
• Auditing experience – quality system elements, process audits, on-site PPAP reviews, etc.
• Expertise in applying and executing 8D, PPAP, APQP, Control Plans, and other quality tools
• Expertise in Problem Solving and applying root cause corrective action tools
• Ability to lead, coach, and communicate to all levels of a supplier’s organization (Operator to President/CEO)
• Capable of representing supplier quality function during customer audits and project work
• Ability to work independently, with remote supervision

Additional success factors:

• Project Management experience, including phased launch process and integration of SQE activities
• Oracle ERP experience; development of Quality management tools a plus
• Being an advocate of the suppliers, but also remaining focused on Watlow and customer’s needs
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing concepts and tools
• Ability to recognize potential safety issues during supplier visits
• Ability to communicate directly with customers relating to supplier quality function in audits, report outs, etc.
• Understand and apply engineering specifications, prints, drawings, standards, etc.
• Familiarity with products produced by Watlow; heaters, sensors, and controls
• Demonstrate alignment to the Watlow Way Values, Behaviors, and Principles