SPM Engineer

Volvo Car Germany GmbH; Ridgeville (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Paid parental leave

VELP vehicle discount

Job summary

Volvo Car Germany GmbH seeks an experienced Supplier Quality Manager to drive APQP/PPAP processes, lead continuous improvements, and manage supplier quality incidents across global suppliers. The role focuses on reducing variability in quality and delivery through cross-functional collaboration in the automotive sector.

You will plan audits, evaluate suppliers before sourcing, and coach internal teams while traveling up to 50–70% domestically and internationally.

Qualifications

• Technical university degree or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in supplier quality, NPI launches, and process development within the automotive industry.
• Experience with injection molding including paint processes or complex seating systems preferred.
• Strong applied knowledge in APQP, PPAP, lean principles, and problem-solving methodologies (including 8D).
• Project management experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience in supplier greensite start-ups, BIW, or functional plastics preferred.
• Proficient in MS Office, particularly Excel.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 50% - 70% of working time.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Global Category team for assigned commodities.
• Plan and execute audit activities across the global organization, prioritizing areas of business risk and ensuring governance committees are informed of significant issues.
• Identify organization-wide issues and drive process or system improvements to mitigate risk.
• Engage stakeholders, including management, to understand needs, address concerns, and lead development of stakeholder communication plans.
• Develop and present materials for critical audiences, including sensitive presentations.
• Drive program launches with Volvo stakeholders and supplier teams.
• Monitor and manage team activities, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies.
• Develop, interpret, and implement procedures and policies, advising the wider organization on their application.
• Provide training and coaching to internal and external stakeholders to enable performance improvement.
• Support the annual Commodity Business Plans (CBP).
• Perform supplier evaluations prior to sourcing decisions.
• Lead APQP reviews, drive resolution of supplier-related actions, communicate risks to the Program Management team, and ensure timely PPAP submission.
• Conduct regular assessments during running operations, drive resolution of deviations, and lead continuous improvement initiatives with suppliers (including VQE programs).
• Manage supplier quality incidents using the 8D process and resolve delivery issues, including constraint cases.

Skills

Fluent English

Project management

Lean principles

Problem solving

MS Office / Excel

Education

Technical university degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Let's introduce ourselves

• This role focuses on proactively evaluating and managing supplier manufacturing and logistics systems to eliminate variability in quality and delivery. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to refine product and process designs, improve quality, and reduce costs.

What you'll do

• Collaborate with the Global Category team for assigned commodities.
• Plan and execute audit activities across the global organization, prioritizing areas of business risk and ensuring governance committees are informed of significant issues.
• Identify organization-wide issues and drive process or system improvements to mitigate risk.
• Engage stakeholders, including management, to understand needs, address concerns, and lead development of stakeholder communication plans.
• Develop and present materials that for critical audiences, including sensitive presentations.
• Drive program launches with Volvo stakeholders and supplier teams.
• Monitor and manage team activities, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies.
• Develop, interpret, and implement procedures and policies, advising the wider organization on their application.
• Provide training and coaching to internal and external stakeholders to enable performance improvement.
• Support the annual Commodity Business Plans (CBP).
• Perform supplier evaluations prior to sourcing decisions.
• Lead APQP reviews, drive resolution of supplier-related actions, communicate risks to the Program Management team, and ensure timely PPAP submission.
• Conduct regular assessments during running operations, drive resolution of deviations, and lead continuous improvement initiatives with suppliers (including VQE programs).
• Manage supplier quality incidents using the 8D process and resolve delivery issues, including constraint cases.

What you'll bring

Required Qualifications for SPM Role

• Technical university degree or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in supplier quality, new product launches, and process development within the automotive industry.
• Experience with injection molding including paint processes or complex seating systems preferred.
• Strong applied knowledge in APQP, PPAP, lean principles, and problem-solving methodologies (including 8D).
• Project management experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience in supplier greensite start-ups, BIW, or functional plastics preferred.
• Proficient in MS Office, particularly Excel.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 50% - 70% of working time.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.

Other Duties

• Please note this job description outlines the primary responsibilities of the role but is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications required. Responsibilities and duties may change or be assigned at any time based on business needs.

Let's talk benefits

• Join Volvo Cars and enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits designed with you in mind. Our programs offer choice, flexibility, and exceptional value, including competitive medical, dental, and vision plans, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and a wellness program with discounts and gifts, most of which start on day one of employment. You'll also have access to voluntary benefits and a robust retirement savings plan with employer contributions.
• As part of our commitment to your well-being, we offer The Family Bond by Volvo Cars, a global paid parental leave policy covering all employees, including adoptive, permanent care foster, and surrogate parents. Additionally, employees and their eligible family members can lease a new Volvo at discounted rates through the Volvo Employee Lease Program (VELP). At Volvo Cars, our benefits extend beyond the workplace to enhance your life and support your family.

Volvo Car is an equal opportunity employer. The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the US without sponsorship.