Supplier Engineer

Job Overview:

Pay Range: $60.00hr - $75.00hr

Requirement/Must Have:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline.
• Minimum 2 5 years of experience in Supplier Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Engineering, Supplier Quality, or related field.
• Experience supporting high-volume manufacturing environments, preferably in medical devices or regulated industries.
• Deep expertise in electronics manufacturing and components, acting as the SME for supplier issues related to PCBAs and electronic assemblies.
• Strong background in PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly), SMT (Surface Mount Technology), and through-hole processes.
• Experience with electronic components including ICs, connectors, sensors, cables, and harnesses.
• Understanding of soldering processes such as reflow and wave.
• Knowledge of IPC standards including IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001.
• Understanding of ESD controls and reliability concerns.
• Experience with electronics failure analysis including signal integrity, shorts/opens, and component failures.
• Experience with environmental and reliability testing such as thermal cycling and vibration.
• Ability to investigate field returns, intermittent failures, and firmware/hardware integration issues.
• Experience with electronic test methods including ICT (In-Circuit Testing), Functional testing, AOI (Automated Optical Inspection), and X-ray.
• Strong focus on electronic process validation and PCBA line qualification.
• Strong technical problem-solving and root cause investigation skills.
• Working knowledge of pFMEA, process validation, statistical analysis, SPC, inspection methodologies, and corrective action systems.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Project.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary technical interface between plant manufacturing teams and suppliers for quality issues, line disruptions, yield loss, delivery concerns, and capacity constraints.
• Lead supplier issue resolution from containment through root cause investigation and corrective/preventive action implementation.
• Support manufacturing operations by investigating and resolving supplier-related deviations, variances, nonconformances, and first article issues.
• Monitor supplier performance across quality, delivery, responsiveness, and manufacturing stability, driving improvement where gaps exist.
• Support uninterrupted production by proactively managing supplier risks and escalating critical issues appropriately.
• Work directly with suppliers to improve manufacturing processes, process capability, inspection methods, and process controls.
• Drive sustainable corrective actions using structured problem-solving methodologies and data-driven analysis.
• Lead investigations into recurring defects, quality escapes, process variation, and manufacturing inefficiencies impacting production.
• Partner with suppliers to improve yield, reduce variability, and strengthen manufacturing robustness.
• Build and execute supplier development plans using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, SPC, and continuous improvement principles.
• Own and execute supplier qualification and validation activities including pFMEA, IQ/OQ/PQ, and First Article Inspections.
• Approve and manage supplier process changes including new equipment, process transfers, facility moves, and production line validations.
• Assess supplier readiness and manufacturing capability to support sustaining production and NPI ramp activities.
• Identify and proactively manage supplier-related risks including quality, capacity, continuity, and manufacturing constraints.
• Generate and track supplier performance metrics and provide data-driven recommendations to improve supplier health.
• Partner closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, Procurement, and Engineering teams to support plant objectives.
• Communicate supplier risks, issue status, recovery plans, and project updates clearly to cross-functional teams and leadership.

Nice to Have:

• EMS (Electronics Manufacturing Services) supplier management experience.
• Knowledge of embedded systems integration.
• Hands-on experience with manufacturing processes such as machining, MIM, injection molding, stamping, or extrusion.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) and production scaling.
• Experience with ERP and document management systems such as SAP and Agile.
• Experience with Minitab or statistical analysis software.
• CAD / 3D modeling experience.
• Knowledge of 21 CFR Part 820 and ISO 13485.
• Six Sigma certification or Lean Manufacturing certification.
• Experience working directly with external suppliers and contract manufacturers.
• Experience supporting production issue escalation and supplier recovery activities.

Skills:

• PCBA.
• SMT.
• Electronic Components.
• Soldering Processes.
• IPC Standards.
• ESD Controls.
• Failure Analysis.
• Reliability Testing.
• ICT.
• AOI.
• X-ray.
• pFMEA.
• Process Validation.
• SPC.
• Lean Manufacturing.
• Six Sigma.
• SAP.
• Agile.

Qualification And Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline.
• 2-5 years of experience in Supplier Engineering or a related technical field.