Senior Supplier Quality Engineer - Machining & Surface

VAT Vakuumventile AG; Indiana (PA); On-site; USD 136,038 - 173,139; Full time

Job summary

VAT Group is seeking a Supplier Development & Quality Engineer to lead supplier quality for machining, surface treatment, and high-purity processes. You will drive supplier qualification, audits, and risk mitigation to support VAT’s growth and stable material flow.

Candidates should have 5–10+ years in supplier quality or development, with strong German and English skills and the ability to work in an international matrix organization with travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science or similar.
• 5 to 10+ years of experience in supplier quality, manufacturing engineering or supplier development.
• Practical background in machining, surface treatment or high purity manufacturing.
• Experience in supplier audits, process qualification and corrective action management.
• Good understanding of quality management systems and semiconductor customer requirements.
• Ability to work in international matrix organizations with regular supplier travel.
• Strong communication, negotiation, project management and stakeholder management skills.
• High level of resilience, ownership and flexibility.
• Machining and surface treatment process knowledge, including CNC machining, Electropolishing, Silver plating, Chroming, High purity cleaning, contamination risk control
• Technical drawing interpretation, GD&T and specification review
• ISIR, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA, Control Plans and process validation
• Root cause analysis, 8D, 5 Why and corrective action effectiveness verification
• Supplier auditing, process assessment and risk based supplier development
• Process capability analysis, KPI monitoring and data driven improvement
• Fluent German and English skills (written and spoken)

Responsibilities

• Own supplier quality and development activities for machining, surface treatment and related high purity processes
• Assess supplier capability, process maturity, capacity and readiness for serial production
• Lead qualifications for new suppliers, relocations, transfers and second sources
• Perform system and process audits covering machining, surface treatment, cleaning and manufacturing controls
• Verify critical process controls, operator qualification, maintenance systems and validation evidence
• Review and approve ISIR, PPAP and process qualification documentation
• Lead supplier complaint handling, root cause analysis and corrective actions using 8D methodology
• Monitor supplier KPIs, process capability and risk trends; define improvement actions with suppliers and procurement
• Support Change Requests, customer escalations and shortage prevention with technical risk assessments
• Ensure compliance with VAT standards, customer requirements and relevant regulatory expectations

Job description

VAT Group is seeking a Supplier Development & Quality Engineer to lead supplier quality for machining, surface treatment, and high-purity processes. You will drive supplier qualification, audits, and risk mitigation to support VAT’s growth and stable material flow.

Candidates should have 5–10+ years in supplier quality or development, with strong German and English skills and the ability to work in an international matrix organization with travel.