Supplier Development Engineer

Schneider Electric; Olde West Chester (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Schneider Electric is seeking a Supplier Development Engineer to drive improvements across our supplier base and partner with suppliers to raise quality, delivery, and manufacturing efficiency.

You will lead supplier improvement initiatives, monitor performance metrics, and support suppliers in developing robust manufacturing processes and capabilities. Will travel to supplier sites and collaborate with internal teams to align strategies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related field)
• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing, supplier quality, or supplier development
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and factory operations
• Experience working directly with suppliers and managing performance improvement initiatives
• Familiarity with quality systems and root‑cause tools (8D, RCA, FMEA, etc.)
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and project management skills
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building abilities
• Flexibility to travel to supplier sites – frequent travel is possible at times

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and track supplier performance improvement plans
• Partner with suppliers to drive continuous improvement in quality, delivery, and cost
• Assist or co‑lead regular supplier performance reviews using KPIs and scorecards
• Identify root causes of supplier issues and lead corrective and preventive actions
• Support suppliers in process optimization, capacity planning, and production readiness
• Assist with new supplier onboarding, including process validation and capability assessment
• Collaborate with internal teams (Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering) to align supplier strategies
• Perform on‑site supplier visits to evaluate operations and provide hands‑on support
• Drive adoption of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement tools (Six Sigma, Kaizen, etc.)
• Ensure suppliers meet company standards for quality systems, compliance, and operational excellence
• Execute supplier capacity analysis, identify bottlenecks and other opportunities for improvement

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Project management

Communication skills

Relationship building

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

8D

RCA

FMEA

Job description

The Supplier Development Engineer (SDE) is responsible for driving performance improvements across our supplier base. This role works closely with key suppliers to enhance quality, delivery, manufacturing efficiency, and overall operational performance. The SDE will lead supplier improvement initiatives, monitor performance metrics, and support suppliers in developing robust manufacturing processes and capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and track supplier performance improvement plans
• Partner with suppliers to drive continuous improvement in quality, delivery, and cost
• Assist or co‑lead regular supplier performance reviews using KPIs and scorecards
• Identify root causes of supplier issues and lead corrective and preventive actions
• Support suppliers in process optimization, capacity planning, and production readiness
• Assist with new supplier onboarding, including process validation and capability assessment
• Collaborate with internal teams (Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering) to align supplier strategies
• Perform on‑site supplier visits to evaluate operations and provide hands‑on support
• Drive adoption of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement tools (Six Sigma, Kaizen, etc.)
• Ensure suppliers meet company standards for quality systems, compliance, and operational excellence
• Execute supplier capacity analysis, identify bottlenecks and other opportunities for improvement

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related field)
• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing, supplier quality, or supplier development
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and factory operations
• Experience working directly with suppliers and managing performance improvement initiatives
• Familiarity with quality systems and root‑cause tools (8D, RCA, FMEA, etc.)
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and project management skills
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building abilities
• Flexibility to travel to supplier sites – frequent travel is possible at times

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean / Six Sigma certification
• Experience with supplier audits or supplier quality systems
• Background in factory setup, process validation, or production ramp‑up

Equal Opportunity Employer

Schneider Electric is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities in the areas of recruiting, hiring, training, transferring, and promoting all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, color, gender, disability, national origin, ancestry, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status or any other legally protected characteristic or conduct.