Supplier Development Engineer
Johnson Welded Products, Inc.
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Job summary
Tramec seeks a Supplier Development Engineer to lead technical qualification of suppliers at our Galion, OH or Holland, MI facilities. The role partners with Engineering, Purchasing, Quality and Manufacturing to drive supplier performance, APQP/PPAP, product validation, and readiness for launches.
You will assess processes, lead continuous improvement, review drawings, coordinate validation, and support cost reduction while traveling up to 25%.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering or related field.
- 5–8+ years of engineering, supplier quality, manufacturing engineering, or purchasing experience.
- Experience with supplier qualification and APQP/PPAP.
- Experience with domestic and international suppliers.
- Heavy-duty truck, automotive, or industrial manufacturing experience preferred.
- Willingness to travel up to 25%.
Responsibilities
- Lead supplier qualification and capability assessments.
- Develop suppliers to meet engineering and quality expectations.
- Coordinate APQP/PPAP activities including DFMEA, PFMEA, control plans, etc.
- Review supplier drawings and specifications; verify engineering requirements.
- Support supplier quality initiatives, cost reduction, and value engineering.
- Collaborate with Purchasing, Quality, Manufacturing and Sales; travel up to 25%.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Tramec is currently seeking a Supplier Development Engineer to join either our Tramec Sloan facility in Holland, Michigan or our Tramec Sloan facility in Galion, OH.
The Supplier Development Engineer is responsible for the technical management of purchased components and supplier capabilities throughout the product lifecycle. This position partners with Engineering, Purchasing, Quality, Manufacturing, and Suppliers to identify, qualify, validate, and continuously improve supplier performance while ensuring purchased components meet engineering, quality, cost, and delivery requirements. The Supplier Development Engineer serves as the primary engineering resource supporting supplier selection, APQP activities, PPAP approval, product validation, manufacturing readiness, and supplier development initiatives. This role combines engineering expertise with supplier management to reduce risk, improve quality, and support successful product launches.
- Lead technical evaluation and qualification of new suppliers.
- Perform supplier capability assessments and manufacturing process evaluations.
- Participate in supplier audits and process reviews.
- Assess supplier manufacturing technologies and process capabilities.
- Evaluate supplier capacity and technical competencies.
- Develop supplier qualification plans and approval documentation.
- Maintain approved supplier records.
- Develop suppliers to meet engineering and quality expectations.
- Work with suppliers to improve manufacturability and process capability.
- Lead supplier continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support supplier scorecard development.
- Coordinate validation of purchased components.
- Review supplier drawings and specifications.
- Verify compliance with engineering requirements.
- Coordinate dimensional inspections.
- Approve first article inspections.
- Review material certifications.
- Verify regulatory compliance.
- Support laboratory testing and validation.
- Ensure purchased components meet functional requirements before production approval.
- Lead supplier APQP activities.
- Review and approve supplier:
- DFMEA support documentation
- PFMEA
- Control Plans
- Process Flow Diagrams
- MSA
- SPC studies
- Capability studies
- PPAP packages
- Coordinate Run-at-Rate activities.
- Participate in Production Readiness Reviews.
- Review supplier print changes.
- Support Engineering Change Notices (ECNs).
- Evaluate alternate suppliers.
- Participate in cost reduction initiatives.
- Support Value Engineering projects.
- Review supplier tooling concepts.
- Assist Product Engineering during new product launches.
- Evaluate supplier DFM recommendations.
- Participate in supplier corrective actions
- Investigate supplier quality issues.
- Analyze supplier defect trends.Reduce supplier PPM.
- Drive permanent corrective actions.
- Participate in warranty investigations involving supplier components.
- Work closely with:
- Purchasing
- Product Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Quality
- Production
- Sales
- Customers
- Suppliers
- Participate in design reviews.
- Support sourcing decisions.
- Assist purchasing with technical supplier negotiations.
- Provide engineering recommendations regarding make-versus-buy decisions.
- Travel up to 25% as required
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
- Minimum 5–8 years of engineering, supplier quality, manufacturing engineering, or purchasing engineering experience.
- Experience with supplier qualification.
- Experience validating manufactured components.
- Experience with APQP and PPAP.
- Experience working with domestic and international suppliers.
- Heavy-duty truck, automotive, or industrial manufacturing experience preferred.
- Travel
- SolidWorks
- PDM/PLM systems
- AutoCAD
- Epicor or equivalent ERP
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Advanced Excel
- Project management software
- Minitab (preferred)
- Statistical analysis software
- Strong understanding of:
- GD&T
- Engineering drawings
- Tolerance stack-ups
- Injection molding
- Metal stamping
- Machining
- Die casting
- Forging
- Welding
- Plastic manufacturing
- Surface finishing
- Heat treating
- APQP
- PPAP
- PFMEA
- Control Plans
- SPC
- MSA
- Capability Studies
- ISO 9001
- IATF 16949
- Lean Manufacturing
- Six Sigma
- Supplier auditing
- Technical leadership
- Supplier relationship management
- Negotiation support
- Project management
- Risk assessment
- Root cause analysis
- Continuous improvement
- Excellent communication
- Strong analytical skills
- Ability to manage multiple supplier projects simultaneously
- Independent decision-making
- Walking Sitting Standing Typing Reading Grasping
- Stooping Twisting Reaching Climbing Bending Stretching
- Lifting- up to 50lbs.
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and drug screening. Tramec is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as defined by applicable law. At this time, we are not able to offer visa sponsorship or relocation assistance for this position. We appreciate your understanding. #ZR
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