Supplier Development Engineer

Lake Orion, Michigan OR Springboro, Ohio — Contract position (possible temp-to-hire)

Pay

$35.00–$45.00 per hour (based on proven work history)

About the role

The Senior Supplier Development Engineer is focused on corporate supplier selection, evaluation, and management of components division. They ensure the Supplier Development Management System supplies high-quality components by verifying that suppliers’ systems, processes, and build capabilities meet design intent and comply with end-customer needs. This includes initial supply-chain verification, developing new sources to improve cost competitiveness, and serving as the conduit between the company and suppliers. In cases of non-conformance, the engineer partners with suppliers to perform root-cause analysis and resolve issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead all reports involving Supplier Performance, Supplier Improvement Plans, and Supplier readiness status, including quality review meetings with suppliers.
• Assess new and existing supplier capabilities to meet product, cost, quality, capacity, and fulfillment requirements, ensuring compliance with IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ASIL, and other applicable standards.
• Drive improvements using Lean methodologies, supplier scorecards, and audits to ensure compliance while fostering systematic problem-solving and process improvements.
• Provide technical expertise and leadership in sourcing and developing suppliers regarding technology, performance, quality, cost, logistics, and delivery.
• Lead investigations of major problems or special projects, developing working relationships with suppliers and the supply chain for product development and procurement.
• Resolve supplier component concerns by driving Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), supplier validation audits, supplier selection, Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), and customer interaction.
• Support Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VA/VE), supplier component development and approval, and supplier cost improvements.
• Train Supplier Development staff, providing direction on audit schedules, development activities, and improvement tasks.
• Collaborate with Engineering (Design and Manufacturing Engineers) to define process parameters ensuring supplier process capability meets product and process requirements.
• Review engineering and manufacturing specifications to identify materials needed for product assembly.
• Conduct supplier quality control audits to ensure compliance with company and federal manufacturing standards.
• Communicate regularly with vendors to address concerns and foster continual improvement in working relationships.
• Maintain the Supplier Portal, driving criteria capture and reporting efforts, including issuance of supplier scorecards.
• Adhere to federal, state, and company regulations, policies, processes, and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Maintain predictable and reliable attendance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience managing a certified quality management system (e.g., TS 16949, ISO).
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience driving continuous quality improvement in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in the automotive industry; Battery, Electronics, or Powertrain manufacturing preferred.
• Exceptional mechanical or electrical aptitude and understanding.
• Previous work experience supplying large OEMs.
• Customer quality assurance experience.
• Previous audit experience.

A successful candidate will be subject to a background check and must receive satisfactory results as a condition of employment.