Supplier Quality Engineer

Orion Talent; Olathe (KS); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Orion Talent is seeking a Supplier Quality Engineer to join our manufacturing team in Kansas. You will drive supplier quality from APQP through PPAP, partner with Sourcing, and support new product introductions to ensure purchased parts meet strict quality standards.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree and 3–5 years in manufacturing or purchasing, ASQ certification preferred, and hands-on knowledge of QA systems, audits, inspection planning, and continuous improvement tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing or purchasing.
• ASQ certification is preferred.
• Strong background in supplier quality assurance, auditing practices, and quality management systems.
• Proficient in MS Office and familiar with measurement systems, assembly procedures, and mechanical drawings.
• Practical knowledge of machinery operation, quality auditing, and improvement tools.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with new product development teams to provide supplier quality planning and risk assessment.
• Define APQP requirements for new parts and oversee PPAP processes.
• Participate in project meetings, engineering reviews, and manufacturing pilots to maintain quality from design to production.
• Partner with Sourcing to assess, select, and improve supplier performance.
• Conduct comprehensive supplier quality audits and implement corrective actions.
• Educate suppliers on our QA standards and best practices.
• Oversee disposition and cost recovery of non-conforming materials in collaboration with Quality Control.
• Develop incoming inspection plans and facilitate root cause analysis and 8D actions.
• Report key quality metrics (PPM) to the Global SQE Manager.
• Identify supplier quality risks and drive preventive actions with design teams.
• Contribute to product and process improvements to enhance manufacturability and quality.

Skills

Supplier Quality Assurance

Auditing Practices

Quality Management Systems

MS Office

Measurement Systems

Mechanical Drawings

Quality Improvement Tools

Cross-functional Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

APQP

PPAP

MS Office

MSA

Job description

Schedule: Monday through Friday (hybrid: in office M-Th, wfh Fridays)

Benefits: A full benefits package, including medical/dental/vision insurance (at date of hire) and 401(k) with matching and no vesting.

Travel: 20% local to suppliers

Position Description:

Looking for a candidate with demonstrated expertise in supplier development engineering to join our team. As our Supplier Quality Engineer, you will play a critical role in ensuring that all purchased materials meet our rigorous quality standards. Your work will support the success of our assembly facility by driving quality assurance from established suppliers and cultivating new supplier relationships that align with our production goals.

What You’ll Do:

Process Assurance

• Collaborate with new product development teams to provide supplier quality planning and risk assessment.
• Define Advanced Part Quality Planning (APQP) requirements for new parts and oversee supplier APQP processes, including Production Part Approval Process (PPAP).
• Actively participate in project meetings, engineering reviews, and manufacturing pilots to ensure quality standards are maintained from design to production.
• Partner with Sourcing to assess, select, and improve supplier performance to meet our quality benchmarks.
• Conduct comprehensive Supplier Quality Audits, implement corrective actions, and educate suppliers on our quality assurance standards and best practices.

Quality Deviation Management

• Oversee the disposition and cost recovery of non-conforming materials, working closely with Quality Control on fault classification and escalation.
• Develop and implement incoming inspection plans and facilitate root cause analysis and corrective actions (8D), ensuring effective solutions are validated.
• Report key quality metrics, including PPM (Parts Per Million) reject rates and quality issues, to the Global Supplier Quality Engineering (SQE) Manager.
• Contribute to product and process improvement by identifying supplier quality risks and recommending preventive actions.
• Partner with design teams to enhance component manufacturability and quality, aligning with best practices for continuous improvement.

Must-Have Skills, Experience, and Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required, with 3-5 years of relevant experience in manufacturing or purchasing.
• Certified Supplier Quality Professional (ASQ) preferred.
• Solid expertise in supplier quality assurance, auditing practices, and quality management systems.
• Proficient in MS Office and familiar with measurement systems, assembly procedures, and mechanical drawings.
• Practical knowledge of machinery operation, quality auditing, and improvement tools.