Supplier Quality Engineer

Flex is the diversified manufacturing partner of choice that helps market-leading brands design, build and deliver innovative products that improve the world. A career at Flex offers the opportunity to make a difference and invest in your growth in a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative environment. If you are excited about a role but don't meet every bullet point, we encourage you to apply and join us to create the extraordinary.

About the role

This Supplier Quality Engineer position is based in Austin, Texas and reports to Paola Flores. The role focuses on supplier development in manufacturing or service processes, working with suppliers to continuously improve performance, implement process controls, and develop quality assurance plans.

Responsibilities

• Supplier Selection: Collaborate with sourcing to select suitable suppliers based on quality, capability, pricing, delivery, environmental, and social regulations against customer requirements.
• Supplier Qualification: Implement new supplier qualification through capability matching, risk assessment, self-assessment, onsite audits, and database management. Experience with AS9100 is required.
• Problem Solving: Utilize quality tools such as 8D, 5 Whys, and Ishikawa (fishbone) for troubleshooting and issue resolution.
• Value-Added Engineering Activity (VEA): Review customer drawings and specifications to provide value-added engineering proposals for optimizing supplier manufacturing processes or products.
• Material (Component) Qualification: Implement PPAP (Production Part Approval Process), including FAI (First Article Inspection), Material Certificates, Quality/Process Control Plans, FMEA, MSA, Process Parameter Sheets, RoHS compliance, Reliability Testing, and COC.
• Pilot Run Tracking: Monitor new qualified parts' quality performance during pilot runs to ensure they meet customer requirements. Drive supplier corrective actions and facilitate smooth transition to mass production.
• Hot Issue Solution and Troubleshooting: Act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to resolve supplier quality issues.
• Maintenance Audit: Assist in annual maintenance audits for existing suppliers.
• Supplier Continuous Improvement Program (CIP): Help suppliers improve manufacturing processes and product quality using quality tools.
• ECO/ECN/SCR Implementation: Manage Engineering Change Orders (ECO), Engineering Change Notices (ECN), and Supplier Change Requests (SCR) from customers, ensuring PPAP/FAI is completed prior to production if required.
• Perform quality audits on suppliers to ensure compliance with ISO and regulatory standards.
• Build strong relationships with purchasing engineers and suppliers to maintain robust systems and supplier relationships.
• Provide cross-functional support for supplier selection, approval, and development to meet customer and business needs.
• Ensure supplier selection, development, approval, and rejection align with vendor guidelines and requirements.
• Drive full assessments of supplier process control plans, measures, and activities.
• Use statistical techniques and professional judgment to research data for process improvement.
• Develop and guide execution of process validations and tests; analyze and document results (protocols/reports).
• Guide supplier process capability studies and construct Design of Experiments to characterize processes or identify root causes.
• Develop and implement procedures for new or improved supplier processes.
• Provide engineering support to Receiving Inspection, including statistical research, measurement systems analysis, Gage R&R studies, and inspection procedures.
• Participate in Material Review Board resolutions for supplier-provided parts and services.
• Participate in supplier Quality System Improvement Plans.
• Guide the Supplier Requests for Change process.
• Perform supplier Quality System audits and corrective/preventive actions.
• Research non-conformances and supplier performance for key performance indicators.
• Perform dock-to-stock monitoring and part selection activities.
• Provide guidance to project teams for supplied component and supplier qualifications.
• Guide teams in identifying risks/hazards related to new product designs, processes, suppliers, and applications.
• Operate job-related equipment safely and skillfully.
• Rate and track supplier performance to drive continuous improvement.
• Establish and maintain supplier management processes and tools.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Typically requires 4 years of experience in engineering within the high technology electronics industry or a related field.
• Experience with the following tools may be required:
  • Electronic Assembly: color code, component, schematics, and various PCB operations.
  • Testing: oscilloscope, cable and harness testing, troubleshooting, component testing, logic analyzer.
  • Inspection: bare board, systems, components, cable and harness, microscope, measuring tools.
  • Mechanical & Electrical Tools: taps and dies, alignment tools, measuring tools.
• Demonstrates advanced functional and technical skills, as well as basic process skills.