Supplier Quality Engineer

Job Title: Supplier Quality Engineer

Job Description

The Supplier Quality Engineer provides ongoing support for supplier development and improvement activities, driving performance through corporate quality metrics. This role works closely with Materials/Purchasing, Sourcing, Branch Operations, and Quality Assurance teams to ensure suppliers meet stringent quality standards across a diverse range of components. The position is highly hands-on, combining on-site supplier audits, lab-based evaluation, and plant-level problem solving to improve supplier performance and support new product introductions in multiple industries.

Responsibilities

• Review and assess self-assessments from potential suppliers to determine suitability and readiness.
• Visit and evaluate suppliers’ quality systems to ensure alignment with company and industry standards.
• Plan, conduct, and document supplier audits, including new supplier qualification and ongoing evaluations.
• Issue supplier corrective actions, track responses, and verify the effectiveness of implemented actions.
• Participate in customer audits that involve key suppliers and represent the organization’s supplier quality function.
• Issue monthly supplier performance scorecards and communicate results to internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Perform on-site audits for poor-performing or critical suppliers and develop targeted improvement plans.
• Identify areas for improvement in supplier performance and develop action plans to enhance quality and reliability.
• Review and approve PPAP submissions when suppliers initiate changes, ensuring compliance with requirements.
• Provide aging reports for rejections by branch, supplier, reason code, and financial impact to support data-driven decisions.
• Assist the Quality Assurance team in processing and resolving customer concerns in a timely and effective manner.
• Provide technical support for new product introductions, ensuring robust quality planning and supplier readiness.
• Support operational excellence initiatives by applying appropriate quality assurance and continuous improvement processes.
• Work directly with key customers and at plant level to understand quality issues and develop practical solutions.
• Lead and support corrective action activities using structured problem-solving methods, including mini Six Sigma–type projects.
• Spend significant time on the production floor and in the lab to investigate issues, perform inspections, and validate solutions.
• Visit domestic and international suppliers to resolve quality issues, verify corrective actions, and support ongoing improvement.
• Continuously upgrade personal skills and knowledge, and provide training and guidance to less experienced or less skilled personnel.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure quality requirements are clearly communicated to suppliers and consistently met.
• Contribute to maintaining and improving the quality management system and supplier-related processes.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in supplier quality, quality assurance, or a closely related quality engineering role.
• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001:2015 quality standards and familiarity with IATF requirements.
• Certification in auditing and demonstrated experience conducting quality system and/or process audits.
• Proficiency in APQP and PPAP, including the ability to review, approve, and provide training on these methodologies to suppliers.
• Hands-on experience with corrective action and continuous improvement processes, including 8D, 5 Why, and fishbone (Ishikawa) analysis.
• Familiarity with various manufacturing processes and their impact on product quality and consistency.
• Knowledge of material testing and evaluation procedures to assess product conformity and performance.
• Experience with gauging and inspection methods, including the use of common measurement tools and techniques.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate data and observations into actionable improvements.
• Effective communication skills to interact with suppliers, internal teams, and customers at plant and corporate levels.
• Comfort working in both office and lab environments and spending significant time on the production floor.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline is preferred.
• Experience in the automotive and/or heavy truck industry, particularly with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, control plans, and GD&T.
• Exposure to ISO-based quality management systems and supplier process/product audits.
• Experience with gage calibration and quality-related software tools.
• Hands-on experience with inspection and lab equipment such as optical comparators, hardness testers, micrometers, calipers, and plug gages.
• Exposure to lean and Six Sigma principles and methodologies.
• Experience supporting customers in industries such as aerospace, automotive, heavy equipment, electronics, and defense.
• Demonstrated ability to provide training to suppliers and internal staff on quality tools and processes.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and supplier issues simultaneously while maintaining a high level of detail and follow-through.

Work Environment

The role operates in a small office environment attached to a very clean, well-equipped quality lab that supports inspection and testing activities. Lab instruments include micrometers, calipers, gages, optical comparators, hardness testers, and related measurement equipment, alongside standard computer systems and quality software.

The facility also includes a large warehouse dedicated to electrical components, and stamped and molded parts rather than in-house manufacturing. The position is highly hands-on, with significant time spent on the lab floor and in the warehouse, as well as at customer and supplier plants. Travel is a regular part of the role, with approximately 30–40% domestic travel and about 10% travel to Canada and Mexico, depending on project demands. The work environment emphasizes collaboration with Quality Assurance, Materials/Purchasing, Sourcing, and Branch Operations teams, and offers exposure to customers and suppliers across multiple industries, including aerospace, automotive, heavy equipment, electronics, and defense.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Mayfield Heights, OH.

The pay range for this position is $43.00 - $48.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Mayfield Heights,OH.

This position is anticipated to close on Apr 20, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000 extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.

Salary : $43 - $48