Supplier Development Engineer - Fabrication

Eaton Corporation; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 113,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Eaton Corporation is seeking a Supplier Development Engineer - Fabrication for our Charlotte, NC or Raleigh, NC location. The role focuses on developing, qualifying, and improving supplier manufacturing performance to support growth, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.

You will partner with suppliers and cross-functional teams to assess capability, drive process improvements, support NPI, and ensure production readiness across a diverse supplier base.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent
• Minimum 5 years in Manufacturing Engineering, Supplier Development, Supplier Quality, Operations, or Supply Chain
• Experience with metal fabrication processes including stamping, machining, welding, forming, fabrication assemblies
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and supplier development methodologies
• Ability to assess manufacturing capability and implement supplier improvement plans

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and develop supplier manufacturing capabilities across metal fabrication processes
• Lead supplier assessments, audits, and improvement initiatives
• Support supplier transfers, NPI, capacity expansion projects, and industrialization activities
• Drive APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, and SPC methodologies
• Analyze manufacturing processes and production systems to identify risks and improvements
• Collaborate with engineering, quality, operations, supply chain, and sourcing teams for readiness
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions using structured problem solving
• Conduct capacity analysis and production-rate readiness assessments
• Influence supplier performance and drive sustainable improvements
• Travel to supplier and manufacturing locations as required

Skills

Supplier development

Manufacturing engineering

Problem solving

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

APQP

PPAP

PFMEA

MSA

SPC

Job description

Eaton’s Corporate Sector division is currently seeking a Supplier Development Engineer - Fabrication. This role can sit at our Charlotte, NC location or Raleigh, NC.

The expected annual salary range for this role is $113000 - $165000 a year.

Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

What you’ll do:

Position Summary

The Supplier Development Engineer is responsible for developing, qualifying, and improving supplier manufacturing performance to support business growth, quality, delivery, and cost objectives. This role partners closely with suppliers and cross-functional teams to assess manufacturing capability, drive process improvements, support new product introductions, and ensure production readiness across a diverse supply base.

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluate and develop supplier manufacturing capabilities across metal fabrication processes including stamping, machining, welding, forming, and assembly operations.
• Lead supplier assessments, audits, and improvement initiatives to enhance quality, capacity, delivery, and operational performance.
• Support supplier transfers, new product introductions (NPI), capacity expansion projects, and industrialization activities.
• Drive implementation of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) processes, Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, and SPC methodologies.
• Analyze manufacturing processes and production systems to identify risks, constraints, and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with engineering, quality, operations, supply chain, and sourcing teams to ensure supplier readiness and successful program execution.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective action activities using structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Conduct capacity analysis and evaluate production-rate readiness to support business requirements.
• Influence supplier performance and drive sustainable improvements without direct authority.
• Support Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives across the supplier network.
• Travel as required to supplier and manufacturing locations.

Basic (Required) Qualifications

• Technical degree in an engineering discipline or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering, Supplier Development, Supplier Quality, Operations, or Supply Chain.
• Experience with metal fabrication manufacturing processes including stamping, machining, welding, forming, fabrication assemblies, and related production technologies.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and supplier development methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to assess manufacturing capability and implement supplier improvement plans.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making skills.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.
• No relocation benefit is being offered for this position. Only candidates within a 50-mile radius of Charlotte, NC or Raleigh, NC. Active-Duty Military Service member candidates are exempt from the geographical area limitation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lead Auditor qualification.
• Lean and/or Six Sigma certification.
• Experience supporting supplier transfers, NPI, industrialization, and capacity expansion initiatives.
• Advanced technical or business degree.
• Experience working across multiple facilities, regions, and cultures.
• Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Experience performing capacity analysis and production readiness assessments.
• Knowledge of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence outcomes across multiple functions and locations.

Skills

• Demonstrates strong technical and business judgment when assessing supplier risk.
• Works independently and effectively in supplier-facing environments.
• Builds effective relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrates urgency appropriate to business risk while maintaining structured problem solving.
• Communicates complex supplier issues clearly to technical, operational, and leadership audiences.
• Demonstrates strong project-management and execution discipline.
• Able to prioritize multiple supplier-development activities based on business impact and risk.
• Comfortable working in a matrix organization with cross-functional accountability.
• Significant supplier-site travel may be required.
• Up-to 50% travel.

All positions may require participation in video and in-person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job-related competencies, and all candidates’ privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.

We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Eaton believes in second chance employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction history will be considered regardless of their arrest or conviction history, consistent with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and other local laws.

You do not need to disclose your conviction history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Eaton is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

To request a disability-related reasonable accommodation to assist you in your job search, application, or interview process, please call us at 1-800-836-6345 to discuss your specific need. Only accommodation requests will be accepted by this phone number.

Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.