Supplier Quality Manager

Jobtailor; Torrington (CT); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking an experienced Supplier Quality Engineer to own the performance of the external supply base and drive corrective actions. You will lead audits, review process capability, and approve supplier changes while coordinating with purchasing and engineering to meet quality commitments.

Applicants should have 7+ years in supplier quality, read engineering drawings, and apply GD&T. This role requires travel to domestic and international supplier sites and leading a team of SQEs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, materials science, or related field.
• Seven or more years of quality engineering or supplier quality experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and apply GD&T to inspection decisions.

Responsibilities

• Own the quality performance of the external supply base and set standards.
• Drive corrective action for supplier quality issues and lead audits.
• Review and approve supplier process changes and capability studies.
• Publish supplier quality scorecards and conduct business reviews with strategic suppliers.
• Lead root cause investigations, containment, and verification of RCAs.
• Manage supplier quality budget and travel; report to Director of Quality.
• Collaborate with purchasing, engineering, and operations on sourcing and incoming quality.
• Ensure compliance with quality management systems and customer-specific requirements.

Skills

Quality Engineering

Process Capability

Failure Mode Effects Analysis

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing

Engineering Drawings Interpretation

Supplier Development

Quality Scorecard Management

Dimensional Results Review

Material Certification Review

Control Plan Governance

Leadership

Communication

Problem-Solving

Collaboration

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, materials science, or a closely related technical field

Tools

Enterprise Quality Management Software

Supplier Portals

Job description

• Own the quality performance of FuelCell Energy's external supply base
• Set supplier quality standards and verify ongoing compliance
• Drive corrective action for supplier quality issues
• Lead technical assessment, approval, capability reviews, on-site audits, and risk scoring for new suppliers
• Define quality requirements in supplier agreements and quality manuals
• Govern part approval processes, reviewing dimensional results, material certifications, process capability studies, and control plans
• Assess and approve supplier process, tooling, material, and location changes
• Own and publish supplier quality scorecards
• Conduct business and quality reviews with strategic suppliers
• Identify underperforming suppliers and support supplier development or resourcing
• Direct containment, disposition, and root cause investigations of supplier nonconformances
• Review and verify supplier corrective actions
• Manage supplier chargebacks and quality-related cost recovery
• Represent supplier quality on new product development teams
• Review supplier process flow diagrams, failure mode analyses, and control plans
• Lead run-at-rate and capacity verification activities
• Plan and execute the annual supplier audit schedule
• Ensure supplier quality processes satisfy applicable quality management system and customer-specific requirements
• Support internal, customer, and registrar audits
• Maintain supplier quality records and drive use of quality data systems
• Lead, coach, and develop supplier quality engineers and technicians
• Partner with purchasing, engineering, and operations on sourcing, specifications, and incoming quality issues
• Manage the supplier quality budget, including travel, third-party inspection, and sorting expenses
• Report to the Director of Quality and Reliability
• Serve as escalation point for supply-base issues threatening delivery, cost, or customer commitments
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, materials science, or a closely related technical field
• Seven or more years of quality engineering or supplier quality experience in a manufacturing environment
• At least two years leading people or projects
• Demonstrated command of root cause analysis, statistical process control, measurement systems analysis, process capability, and failure mode and effects analysis
• Working knowledge of a recognized quality management system standard
• Working knowledge of part approval and control plan disciplines used in regulated or customer-audited industries
• Ability to read engineering drawings
• Ability to apply geometric dimensioning and tolerancing to inspection and acceptance decisions
• Willingness to travel to domestic and international supplier sites
• Willingness to lead difficult conversations with suppliers and internal stakeholders
• Certification as a quality engineer, quality manager, or lead auditor (preferred)
• Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent formal problem-solving credential (preferred)
• Experience developing suppliers in machining, castings, forgings, electronics, or coatings (preferred)
• Experience managing a global supply base, including low-cost-country sourcing (preferred)
• Familiarity with enterprise quality management software and supplier portals (preferred)
• Successful completion of a drug screen, criminal background check, and employment and education verification

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in supplier quality management, including the ability to set quality standards, conduct audits, and drive corrective actions. Proficient in root cause analysis, statistical process control, and managing supplier relationships to ensure compliance with quality requirements.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Supplier Quality Management
• Root Cause Analysis
• Statistical Process Control
• Quality Management System
• Six Sigma Black Belt

Hard Skills

• Quality Engineering
• Process Capability
• Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
• Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing
• Engineering Drawings Interpretation
• Supplier Development
• Quality Scorecard Management
• Dimensional Results Review
• Material Certification Review
• Control Plan Governance

Soft Skills

• Leadership
• Communication
• Problem-Solving
• Collaboration
• Negotiation

Certifications & Qualifications

• Quality Engineer Certification
• Quality Manager Certification
• Lead Auditor Certification
• Six Sigma Black Belt

Industry Keywords

• Manufacturing Environment
• Supplier Quality Standards
• Regulated Industries
• Customer-Audited Industries
• Global Supply Base Management

Tools & Technologies

• Enterprise Quality Management Software
• Supplier Portals