Supplier Quality Engineer (Metallurgy)

About the Role

Wolverine Advanced Materials (WAM) is seeking a highly experienced Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) with deep metallurgical expertise to strengthen our metal raw material supply base and drive supplier quality performance across our global manufacturing network. This is a field-active, supplier-facing technical authority role – not a laboratory position.

Responsibilities

The SQE – Metallurgy will serve as WAM’s technical expert for metallic raw materials, working directly with steel mills, galvanizers, metal service centers, and internal manufacturing, quality, and R&D teams. The role demands proven capability to resolve complex metal-related quality issues, qualify new suppliers, manage supplier performance metrics, and support new product and process development.

• Own supplier quality performance for assigned metal raw material suppliers, including monitoring KPIs and driving continuous improvement.
• Manage Supplier Problem Notification (SPN’s) end-to-end: initiation, root cause verification, corrective action validation, and effectiveness monitoring.
• Lead or support supplier audits in accordance with IATF 16949, customer-specific requirements, and WAM internal standards.
• Lead technical investigations and root cause analysis for metal-related quality issues.
• Lead or support the development and qualification of new metal suppliers for carbon steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.
• Provide metallurgical expertise to manufacturing, quality, and engineering teams in areas including coil handling, slitting, forming, and downstream processing.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering, Materials Science, or related field (required). Master’s degree in Metallurgy or Materials Engineering preferred. 8+ years of combined experience in metallurgical engineering and supplier quality, preferably in steel mills, galvanizing operations, or metal processing/service centers.

• Demonstrated experience with APQP, PPAP, and IATF 16949 quality systems in an automotive or industrial manufacturing environment.
• Proven track record of leading supplier audits, managing supplier root cause analysis, and driving supplier quality improvement programs.
• Field-active experience: direct engagement with suppliers at their facilities (not purely lab or office-based).

Skills

In-depth knowledge of carbon steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, and aluminum metallurgy. Strong understanding of coil manufacturing, interaction between metal substrates and elastomer or polymer coatings, and automotive quality systems.

• Galvanization processes: hot-dip, electro galvanizing, coating weight control, adhesion mechanisms.
• Mechanical properties, testing methods (tensile, hardness, bend, formability).
• Microstructure, heat treatment, annealing, and forming behavior.
• Common coil defects and their metallurgical root causes.

Benefits

Competitive benefits and salary range: $90,000-$125,000. Bonus available.

Travel and Physical Requirements

Domestic and international travel required to support suppliers and WAM manufacturing facilities worldwide (estimated 30–40%). Valid Passport Required. Ability to stand or sit for extended periods, walk on the production floor, and lift up to 40lbs.