Supplier Quality Engineer

Jobtailor; North Carolina; On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in the United States is seeking a Supplier Quality Engineer to manage qualification, performance, and development of assigned category suppliers. You will work closely with Procurement to embed quality into supplier selection and project-based sourcing decisions, while proactively driving defect prevention and CAPA.

You will lead supplier qualification processes, including audits, documentation reviews, and first article inspections, ensuring readiness for project deliveries.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering.
• At least 3 years in supplier quality, manufacturing, or industrial QA.
• Experience with supplier audits and qualification activities.
• Knowledge of APQP, NCR/CAPA, and ISO standards.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes (casting, machining, welding).

Responsibilities

• Manage supplier qualification processes, including audits and first article inspections.
• Collaborate with Procurement on supplier selection and quality risk input.
• Drive defect prevention, CAPA, and root cause analysis.
• Conduct supplier visits and process/gemba audits.
• Support COPQ and supplier scorecards for continuous improvement.

Skills

Supplier quality

Root Cause Analysis

CAPA

Quality Tools

ISO Standards

Education

Technical Engineering Degree

Tools

APQP

Control Plan

SPC

Job description

• To ensure supplier quality excellence by managing qualification, performance, and development of assigned category(ies) suppliers
• Works closely with Procurement to embed quality into supplier selection and project-based sourcing decisions
• Proactively driving defect prevention, supplier capability building, and compliance with Valmet’s standards at the source
• Collaborate with procurement during supplier selection and qualification, providing input on quality risks, capabilities, and technical compliance
• Lead supplier qualification processes, including audits, documentation reviews, and first article inspections, ensuring readiness for project deliveries
• Act as the primary supplier quality contact for the assigned category(ies)/projects, managing supplier quality and punctuality performance
• Coordinate with Procurement to embed quality expectations in supplier agreements and onboarding processes
• Drive timely resolution of supplier quality issues through root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA)
• Conduct supplier visits, process audits, and Gemba walks to verify compliance and enable proactive risk mitigation and explore development opportunities
• Support Procurement with supplier claim management activities, validating cost of poor quality (COPQ)
• Support supplier coaching on quality tools and practices to foster self-inspection, problem-solving, LEAN, and capability development
• Contribute to supplier scorecards and performance reviews with data-driven insights for continuous improvement and escalation when needed

Requirements

• Technical degree in Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering (or equivalent technical field)
• At least 3 years of experience in supplier quality, manufacturing, or industrial quality assurance roles
• Experience in capital projects or low-volume/high-complexity production environments preferred
• Hands-on experience with supplier audits, inspections, and qualification activities
• Exposure to project-based procurement, customer-facing quality, or field quality is a plus
• Good knowledge of supplier quality processes (APQP, Audits, NCR/CAPA, qualification)
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes (e.g., casting, machining, welding, fabrication)
• Competence in quality tools and techniques (8D, FMEA, Control Plan, SPC, root cause analysis)
• Understanding of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and related QHSE standards
• Proficiency in interpreting technical drawings and quality specifications
• Ability to collaborate across functions (Procurement, Assurance, Engineering, Projects) and with suppliers

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in supplier quality management, including supplier qualification, audits, and compliance with industry standards. Proficient in quality tools and techniques, with a strong ability to collaborate across functions to drive continuous improvement.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Supplier Quality Management
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
• Corrective/Preventive Actions (CAPA)
• Quality Tools and Techniques (8D, FMEA, SPC)
• ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Supplier Audits
• Supplier Qualification
• Quality Assurance
• Technical Drawing Interpretation
• Manufacturing Processes

Soft Skills

• Collaboration
• Problem-Solving

Industry Keywords

• Quality Management
• Capital Projects
• Low-Volume/High-Complexity Production
• Gemba Walks
• Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)

Tools & Technologies

• APQP
• Control Plan
• Statistical Process Control (SPC)