Job Description:
The Senior Supplier Quality Engineer is a technical and cross-functional leader responsible for critical suppliers, complex supplier quality issues, and major improvement initiatives. This role applies strong manufacturing, quality-system, problem-solving, and project leadership capability to reduce supplier risk, strengthen supplier performance, and ensure readiness for new product development, transfers, and ongoing production. The Senior SQE operates independently, influences decisions across multiple functions, coaches less-experienced engineers, and drives accountability with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
The role partners closely with Engineering, Advanced Quality, Purchasing, Operations, Manufacturing, and global quality teams to translate technical and business requirements into supplier quality plans, qualification activities, process controls, corrective actions, and measurable performance improvements. It is expected to identify risk early, communicate clearly, and lead difficult supplier situations to sustainable resolution.
You'll be DISRUPTIVE through these duties and responsibilities:
- Lead supplier quality improvement roadmaps that address chronic quality issues, escapes, process capability, control effectiveness, and supplier execution.
- Partner with suppliers to strengthen process capability, quality systems, inspection methods, measurement systems, manufacturing controls, and continuous improvement practices.
- Lead cross-functional teams and major supplier-quality initiatives, establish clear deliverables and critical paths, and hold stakeholders accountable for timely execution.
- Use supplier performance data, trends, and KPIs to identify systemic risk, prioritize intervention, and communicate clear recovery plans and decision points.
- Influence sourcing, engineering, operations, and supplier decisions through fact-based risk assessment, technical judgment, and practical understanding of quality, delivery, cost, and schedule trade-offs.
- Own supplier quality performance for assigned critical or high-risk suppliers, commodities, and projects; establish priorities and drive actions to closure.
- Lead supplier qualification, assessment, onboarding, and surveillance activities, including complex process and quality-system audits.
- Lead Supplier Quality engagement through New Product Development and product/process transfers, using VIGOR and applicable qualification requirements to identify manufacturing risk, validate readiness, and protect project timing.
- Develop and execute supplier and part qualification plans, including manufacturing feasibility, process risk assessment, control plans, capability studies, measurement strategy, FAI/SIR and applicable GPAP, GECKO, and/or SER deliverables.
- Lead critical supplier escalations, containment, root cause investigation, 8D/SCAR corrective action, effectiveness verification, and prevention of recurrence.
- Solve complex supplier quality and manufacturing problems using data, structured problem solving, statistical methods, technical drawings/specifications, GD&T, metrology, and appropriate process expertise.
- Coach and mentor SQEs and engineers; share technical knowledge, review problem-solving and qualification work, and help build capability across the Supplier Quality team.
- Improve Supplier Quality standard work, methods, dashboards, and tools by identifying recurring gaps and introducing practical improvements that increase visibility, consistency, and prevention.
- Communicate complex technical issues clearly to suppliers and internal leaders, including concise risk statements, recommendations, escalation needs, and recovery status.
- Manage multiple complex priorities in a fast-paced environment and travel to supplier and company locations as business needs require.
What TOOLS you'll bring with you:
- Bachelor's degree in Quality, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
- 5-8 years of progressive experience in Supplier Quality, manufacturing quality, engineering, operations, or a related technical discipline.
- Demonstrated ability to independently manage critical suppliers and lead complex cross-functional supplier quality improvements and escalations.
- Strong working knowledge of supplier auditing, supplier selection and qualification, corrective action, quality systems, manufacturing process controls, and supplier performance management.
- Demonstrated proficiency in New Product Development and supplier/part qualification, including manufacturing feasibility, process capability, risk assessment, control plans, and applicable Part Approval requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, GD&T, inspection requirements, and measurement methods and translate requirements into supplier controls.
- Experience leading structured problem solving and data analysis for complex issues using methods such as root cause analysis, 8D, statistical analysis, and process capability evaluation.
- Ability to lead projects and cross-functional teams, influence without direct authority, negotiate resolution of difficult issues, and drive accountability across suppliers and stakeholders.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to tailor technical content to engineers, suppliers, operations teams, sourcing partners, and leadership.
- Working knowledge of quality and business systems used to manage supplier performance, project execution, documentation, and data analysis.
- Practical manufacturing-process depth in one or more relevant areas such as electronics/mechatronics, molding, casting, machining, stamping/forming, heat treatment, coatings, assembly, motors, welding, or metrology.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 10-25% depending on business needs
Other TOOLS we prefer you to have:
- Lead Auditor training and experience with ISO 9001, IATF 16949/TS 16949, VDA 6.3, or comparable quality-system/process auditing.
- Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma training/certification and demonstrated application of continuous-improvement methods with suppliers.
- Professional quality certification such as ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or equivalent.
- Experience with complex electromechanical products, high-volume manufacturing, multi-tier/global suppliers, or regulated product requirements.
- Experience using Minitab, Power BI, or comparable analytical tools to identify trends, quantify risk, and communicate supplier performance.
Milwaukee Tool is an equal opportunity employer.
