Supplier Quality Engineer

GEOTEK; Stewartville (MN); On-site; USD 66,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, Ancillary Benefits

Generous PTO and 9 paid holidays

401k with 4% company match

HSA employer contribution

Tuition Reimbursement

Profit Sharing

Company Events

Job summary

GEOTEK seeks a Supplier Quality Engineer to own the quality of materials we buy in Stewartville, MN. You’ll visit supplier sites, drive root-cause fixes, and perform QA audits against ISO 9001 and GEOTEK requirements.

You’ll qualify new suppliers and parts, build control plans with PFMEA and SPC, and lead quality reviews with key suppliers while collaborating with engineering and supply chain teams. Travel is domestic, primarily 25-50%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field required.
• 2+ years in quality or manufacturing engineering, including supplier work.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 and structured problem solving.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, including GD&T.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Visit supplier sites, inspect processes, and drive fixes at the source.
• Issue SCARs and perform root cause analyses with 8D/5 Why.
• Conduct audits against ISO 9001 and GEOTEK requirements.
• Qualify new suppliers and parts through first article inspection.
• Build control plans, PFMEA and SPC for critical characteristics.
• Own supplier scorecards and lead quality reviews with key suppliers.
• Coordinate containment, returns and chargebacks with Purchasing.
• Work with Engineering to ensure drawings/specs are clear for suppliers.

Skills

Quality engineering

Supplier quality

Root cause analysis

ISO 9001 knowledge

GD&T reading

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Job description

• Location 1421 2nd Ave NW,Stewartville, MN, 55976-1615,United States
• Base Pay $66,265.00 - $103,870.00 / Year
• Job Category Engineering, Quality
• Industry Manufacturing
• Employee Type Full Time Office
• Required Degree 4 Year Degree
• Travel 30%
• Manage Others No

Contact information

• Name Derek Nelson
• Email [e-mail]

Description

Supplier Quality Engineer

About the Role

GEOTEK manufactures engineered fiberglass composite products for utility and infrastructure markets, including crossarms, light poles, fencing and trench drain systems, at our plants in Minnesota, Georgia and Utah. We’ve been doing it for over 30 years and we’re growing.

As we add plants, product lines and brands, our supply base is growing with us. That includes resins and chemicals, glass fiber, coatings, castings, grates, fabricated and galvanized steel, and finished components. We’re adding a Supplier Quality Engineer to own the quality of everything we buy.

This is a new role with real ownership. You’ll work with suppliers on their floors, solve problems at the root, and build the controls that keep quality consistent. Success means more material accepted the first time and a supplier base we can count on.

You don’t need composites experience walking in. If you know supplier quality in metals or another industry, the skills carry over. What we’re after is someone with the presence to hold suppliers accountable and the collaboration skills to work well with our quality, engineering and supply chain teams.

What You’ll Do

• Visit supplier sites, dig into their manufacturing process, and drive fixes where problems start
• Issue SCARs and lead root cause analysis (8D, 5 Why, fishbone), and push back on weak responses until the corrective action actually works
• Run supplier process and QMS audits against ISO 9001 and GEOTEK requirements
• Qualify new suppliers and parts through first article inspection and part approval
• Build process controls with suppliers, including control plans, PFMEA and SPC on critical characteristics
• Own supplier scorecards and lead quality reviews with key suppliers
• Coordinate containment, returns and chargebacks with Purchasing and our plants
• Work with Engineering so drawings and specs are clear before they reach a supplier

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (mechanical, materials, industrial, or manufacturing preferred) or a related field
• 2+ years in quality or manufacturing engineering, including direct work with suppliers
• Hands-on experience with process control and working alongside supply chain or purchasing
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 and structured problem solving
• Ability to read engineering drawings, including GD&T
• Comfortable challenging suppliers and influencing cross-functional teams
• Strong communicator and collaborator
• Preferred: experience with composites, castings, metal fabrication, coatings or chemicals
• Preferred: ASQ CQE or CSQP, ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, or Six Sigma Green Belt

Physical Work Conditions

Travel is 25-50% to supplier sites and GEOTEK plants. Most of it is domestic, roughly monthly, with busier and quieter stretches. International travel comes up about once every year or two. When not traveling, this role is based in our Stewartville office, with time split roughly 70% office and 30% plant floor. While working on the floor or at supplier facilities, there will be work with and around moving machinery, fumes and chemicals, and you must be able to wear required PPE. Office work requires sitting at a desk, using a computer and phone.

The compensation range for this position is $66,285 - $103,870. Final offers may vary based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The posted range represents the expected earning potential for this position within the current organizational budget and market conditions.

Who We Are

For over 30 years, GEOTEK has been internationally recognized for industry leading composite technologies, engineering, and service. The company has grown PUPI® into the leading global provider of fiberglass crossarms and is committed to adding and developing other market-leading composite brands for the world’s infrastructure. The company was founded in 1990 to manufacture and market Common Sense Fencing and other pultruded fiberglass products. Early on GEOTEK also began producing utility composite crossarms for Pultruded Utility Products, Inc., a company it acquired in 2000 and renamed Pultruded Utility Products International (PUPI) to reflect the global opportunity for these products. PUPI (pronounced "puppy") is a brand of GEOTEK. Using proprietary processes and several patented inventions, GEOTEK manufactures and distributes engineered fiberglass composites that are used by the transmission and distribution power lines and substations. The company is well positioned for sustained growth and profitability through market expansion and new product offerings.

Our Purpose

As the global leader in composite crossarms, we aim to broaden our engineered composite products in infrastructure applications with light poles and beyond.

Mission

Enhance the world’s infrastructure with engineered composite products.

Vision

Develop, acquire, and grow respected composite product brands; where each product line delivers market-leading reliability, performance, and value to global infrastructure customers.

Values

TRUE Values

TEAM - we before me
RELIABLE - every day in every way
URGENT - the drive to do
ENTERPRISING - be curious

• Health, Dental, Ancillary Benefits
• Generous PTO and 9 paid holidays
• 401k with 4% company match
• HSA employer contribution
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Profit Sharing
• Company Events (steak cookouts, holiday parties, community giving, and more)