Supplier Quality Development Engineer

Proto Labs; Illinois; On-site; USD 70,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

3 weeks PTO and holiday pay

401k with company match

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Job summary

Protolabs is seeking a Supplier Quality Development Engineer to drive supplier quality development across USA and Mexico. The role includes audits, PPAP review, and data-driven improvement initiatives within PLN standards. You will collaborate with Supply Chain to onboard new suppliers and improve order intake documentation.

Travel up to 50% is required, with a focus on quality targets and continuous improvement across the supplier network.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Industrial, Manufacturing or Mechanical) required.
• 2+ years in supplier quality or related role; ISO/AS/13485 experience preferred.
• Experience reviewing PPAP documents and quality audits.
• Ability to travel 30–50% in US and Mexico.
• Knowledge of quality systems in manufacturing and data-driven quality management.

Responsibilities

• Support internal and external certification audits and MP audits.
• Follow up on audit findings and close actions within timelines.
• Assist MPs and sales with orders requiring quality documentation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve order intake quality review processes.
• Support customer quality and compliance surveys and CAPA activities.
• Source, select, and qualify new suppliers; onboard per PLN standards.
• Monitor supplier performance and drive maturation against quality targets.
• Develop suppliers by implementing manufacturing best practices for consistency.
• Support development of new capabilities (technologies, materials, inspection methods).
• Design processes to manage supplier relationships and performance at scale.
• Set improvement targets for underperforming MPs; recommend off-boarding when needed.
• Benchmark best practices across the MP network; use data-driven supplier management.

Skills

Analytical mindset

Quality systems

Regulated environment

Auditing

PPAP knowledge

CNC machining

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Industrial/Manufacturing/Mechanical)

Tools

CNC machining

Injection Molding

Job description

Be yourself at Protolabs

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to building a diverse team that feels they are valued in the workplace. So do you feel you do not meet every single requirement but still intrigued? You can help make our company even better. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, mental or physical ability, or any way you represent yourself. We strongly believe diversity makes for more successful teams.

Why Protolabs?

We are the leaders in digital manufacturing. We hire doers, makers, and creative thinkers who tackle our roles with an entrepreneurial spirit. Our culture is centered around meaningful work that brings new and innovative products to market at unprecedented speeds. We are a diverse team that comes from all walks of life and take pride in our team who is smart, genuine, humble, and passionate about what we do. It’s our people who fuel our creativity and make our culture feel like home.

Join our team as a Supplier Quality Development Engineer!

The Supplier Quality Development Engineer is responsible for the supplier quality development activities in USA and Mexico. This role involves performing manufacturing partner (MP) audits, supporting MPs in problem-solving activities, training MPs on quality tools, driving continuous improvement projects with MPs, reviewing/approving PPAP documents, and supporting MPs on complex projects. The SQDE ensures that the quality requirements of Protolabs Network (PLN) are understood throughout the supply chain and supports compliance-related activities. Additionally, they provide support to MPs and the sales team in fulfilling quality documentation requirements for orders and improving the efficiency of the order intake process related to quality review and requirements.

This role involves working closely with the Supply Chain Teams to source, select, and qualify new suppliers, as well as supporting their onboarding process in accordance with PLN standards. The SQDE will monitor and proactively drive supplier performanceand maturation, focusing on quality targets and problem-solving. Additionally, they will identify and deploy the best manufacturing practices to ensure manufacturing consistency across the network.

What you will do

• Support internal and external certification audits, as well as support MP audits, to assess compliance and identify areas for improvement.
• Follow up on audit findings and actions, ensuring they are adequately addressed and closed within the specified timelines.
• Assist MPs and the sales team with orders that require quality documentation, ensuring that requirements are understood and fulfilled by the MPs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve the current systems and processes, making the order intake process more efficient in relation to quality review and requirements.
• Support customer quality & compliance surveys, corrective action requests etc.
• Collaborate with the Supply Chain Teams to source, select, and qualify new suppliers, ensuring adherence to PLN standards and requirements.
• Monitor and proactively drive supplier performance and maturation, focusing on capabilities, quality targets and problem-solving.
• Develop suppliers by identifying and implementing manufacturing best practices to ensure consistency across the network.
• Support the development of new capabilities, such as technologies, materials, inspection methodology, and post-processing options.
• Design processes to effectively manage supplier relationships and performance in a scalable manner.
• Monitor underperforming MPs closely and set clear improvement targets.
• Make data driven recommendations for off-boarding MPs that fail to correct issues.
• Benchmark and leverage best practices across the MP network.
• Utilize an analytical mindset and data-driven approach to supplier management.
• Travel of up to 30% to 50% is required for this role.

What it takes

• Ability to travel 30-50% in the US and Mexico
• A Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering (Industrial, Manufacturing, or Mechanical), physical Science, or related field, from an accredited college or university
• Understanding of Quality systems and practices in a manufacturing environment.
• 2+ years of experience in a similar role.
• An analytical and risk-based mindset and data driven approach to quality management.
• Experience in a regulated environment.
• Ideally lead auditors for ISO 9001, AS9100 or ISO 13485.
• Experience with CNC machining.
• Experience with Injection Molding.
• Nice to have: 3DP, and/or Sheet metal experience is a big plus.
• Experience reviewing PPAP documents

What is in it for you

• We offer amazing benefits including but not limited to:
• Health Insurance: Traditional OR High Deductible plan
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Health Savings Account (including employer contributions)
  • Dental and Vision
  • Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance
  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Paid caregiver leave
• You will receive at least 3 weeks of PTO, Holiday Pay, and Volunteer Hours
• 401k with company match and immediate vest
• Employee Stock Purchase Program at a discounted rate
• Matching grants through Protolabs foundation
• And More!

$69,500 - $92,700 a year

Protolabs offers a competitive total rewards package, and compensation mix vary based on position, such as base wage, as well as other earnings including incentives and commissions. Actual pay offered will vary depending on multiple factors which may include, without limitation, job function, work experience, specialized skills, training, education, and certifications.

Proto Labs maintains ITAR-compliant operations in all of our United States based facilities. Due to ITAR regulations, this role is only open to U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders) or foreign nationals granted refugee or asylee status. Individuals with temporary visas (e.g. E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, TN or OPT) are not eligible for hire in this role.

Proto Labs, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Physical Demands:

While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to sit; use a computer keyboard, monitor and mouse, telephone and printer; reach with hands, and arms, talk, see and hear. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, stoop or kneel and must be able to lift and/or move up to 50+ pounds.

Work Environment:

Indoors (A/C); nonsmoking; the majority of this job function is performed in a manufacturing area exposed to machinery and noise; with eye protection and safety shoes required. Occasionally works in outside weather conditions. Occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.