Supplier Development Engineer

About the role

PCB® manufactures piezoelectric sensors used to test and measure vibration, pressure, force, acoustics, load, and shock in research and development as well as industrial and military applications. This position will work closely with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to develop supplier capabilities to achieve design, production, quality, cost, delivery, and business relationship objectives for highly engineered, electro-mechanical components. The role involves managing new and existing supplier relationships, monitoring supplier performance, maintaining PCB’s approved supplier list, addressing quality concerns, and establishing product quality requirements through PSWs and PPAPs.

The position will lead new product sourcing projects, risk mitigation efforts, and dual sourcing initiatives, while representing the purchasing organization in meetings with suppliers, auditors, and customers. Proactive cross-functional communication, analytical skills, project management, supplier quality and development experience, and ERP system knowledge are essential.

Responsibilities

• Act as the procurement primary point of contact for supplier quality and development efforts.
• Manage PCB’s Approved Supplier List (ASL), including supplier certifications, declarations, and performance records.
• Manage the supplier scorecard system, communicate supplier performance, and implement action plans to improve poor-performing suppliers.
• Partner with internal groups (Purchasing, Design and Manufacturing Engineering, Program Management, Quality, and Sales) to define requirements and set standards for supplier selection and performance.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration initiatives to drive lowest total cost and highest value-add relationships with suppliers.
• Establish and drive regular supplier business meetings, including capability presentations and design, development, qualification, ramp-up, and quality improvement reviews.
• Conduct capability and risk assessments of current and potential suppliers.
• Provide technical expertise and project management for sourcing components, subassemblies, and services to approve and develop supplier capabilities in technology, performance, quality, cost, and logistics.
• Ensure selection, development, qualification testing, and validation of materials, manufacturing processes, equipment, and tooling meet PCB’s quality system requirements.
• Lead supplier-related efforts to develop new process technology and supply chain management methods for next-generation product offerings.
• Perform strategic sourcing activities, including authoring SOW, RFI, RFP, or RFQ documentation, reviewing responses, supporting supplier selection, and coordinating with stakeholders.
• Actively manage supplier relationships, communicate expectations and metrics, and track supplier development and conformance to agreements.
• Perform supplier audits and root cause analysis for non-conforming materials, products, or services.
• Maintain current knowledge of industry best practices and implement them internally and with suppliers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 5 years’ experience in manufacturing, sourcing, commodity purchasing, or project management.
• Experience working in an ISO/AS or equivalent Quality Management System Certified environment.
• Working knowledge to read drawings, tolerances, and dimensional data.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• 10–15% travel to suppliers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or Business.
• ISM/APICS Certification, Supply Chain Management Certification, or PMP.
• Training or Certification in APQP, PPAP, SPC, Gage R&R, Auditing, Lean/Six Sigma, and/or Project Management.
• Knowledge of metrology practices, industry-specific quality registration schemes, manufacturing process development, characterization, validation, and troubleshooting.
• 8 years’ experience in manufacturing, sourcing, commodity purchasing, or project management.
• Experience with high-mix, low-volume technical manufacturing sourcing.
• Demonstrated supplier development experience.
• Experience with DFARS and similar government/regulatory sourcing flow-down requirements.
• Comprehensive mastery of ERP systems.
• Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

This position requires access to “controlled technology” as defined in the Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. 730 et. seq.) and “technical data” as defined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 C.F.R, Chapter 1, Subchapter M). Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to access such controlled technology prior to beginning work.