Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE)

Description

The Supplier Quality Engineer is responsible for improving supplier quality performance and preventing supplier-related defects from impacting STER Seating's manufacturing operations and customers.

This position will serve as the primary Quality interface with STER Seating's North American and European supply base, working closely with Sourcing, Engineering, Operations, Incoming Inspection, and suppliers to identify risk, resolve quality issues, and drive sustainable corrective and preventive actions.

The role is intended to move STER's supplier quality function from primarily reactive inspection and containment toward proactive supplier development, process control, qualification, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Own supplier quality performance and corrective-action activities across assigned North American and European suppliers.
• Lead supplier investigations, containment, root-cause analysis, 8D, CAPA, and permanent corrective actions.
• Conduct supplier visits, process audits, quality-system audits, and supplier-development activities.
• Partner with Sourcing to evaluate supplier performance, capabilities, risks, and improvement priorities.
• Support qualification and development of new suppliers and manufacturing processes.
• Establish and maintain appropriate supplier quality requirements, inspection standards, First Article Inspection (FAI), PPAP or equivalent qualification processes, and change-control expectations.
• Develop supplier scorecards and quality KPIs in partnership with Sourcing and monitor supplier performance and recurring issues.
• Identify high-risk suppliers and develop improvement plans to reduce defects, disruptions, rework, incoming inspection, and customer exposure.
• Work directly with suppliers to improve manufacturing processes, process controls, inspection methods, documentation, and quality systems.
• Coordinate supplier-related nonconforming material activities and support the cross-functional Material Review Board (MRB).
• Provide technical guidance to Incoming Inspection regarding inspection requirements, supplier defects, containment, and escalation.
• Mentor and support the Quality Engineer in supplier-related root-cause analysis and supplier-improvement activities.
• Work with Engineering to ensure drawings, specifications, tolerances, and quality requirements are clearly understood and achievable by suppliers.
• Partner with Operations and Quality to identify supplier-related issues affecting production quality, throughput, rework, and customer escapes.
• Support customer corrective-action investigations when supplier material is identified as a contributing factor.
• Verify the effectiveness of supplier corrective actions and ensure improvements are sustained.
• Maintain supplier quality records, corrective-action documentation, audit findings, and performance data in support of STER's Quality Management System and ISO certification efforts.
• Promote a culture of defect prevention and continuous improvement throughout the supply chain.

Key Measures of Success

Success in this position will be measured by demonstrated improvement in supplier quality performance, including:

• Reduction in supplier-related defects and nonconforming material
• Reduction in repeat supplier quality issues
• Improved supplier corrective-action response and effectiveness
• Reduction in supplier-related production disruptions and customer escapes
• Improved supplier audit and qualification performance
• Reduction in reliance on incoming inspection as supplier capability improves
• Effective closure of supplier CAPAs and 8Ds
• Improved supplier quality performance as measured through supplier scorecards and KPIs

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline preferred; equivalent manufacturing and supplier-quality experience will be considered.
• 3+ years of experience in supplier quality, manufacturing quality, quality engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with manufacturing suppliers to resolve complex quality and process issues.
• Strong working knowledge of root-cause analysis, 8D, CAPA, FMEA, control plans, process auditing, and corrective-action methodologies.
• Experience with supplier qualification, FAI, PPAP, or equivalent production-readiness processes.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, and manufacturing requirements.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 or similar Quality Management Systems.
• Experience with fabricated metal components, weldments, machined components, plastics, foam, upholstery, coatings, or transportation-related manufacturing is highly desirable.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to distinguish containment from true corrective action.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with suppliers, Engineering, Sourcing, Operations, customers, and senior management.
• Ability to independently lead supplier meetings, audits, investigations, and improvement activities.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 25–40%, including international travel.

Role Profile

The successful candidate will be comfortable spending time both on the manufacturing floor and at supplier facilities. This position requires someone who can identify a quality problem, understand the manufacturing process that created it, work collaboratively with the supplier to establish root cause, and ensure that corrective action permanently prevents recurrence.

The Supplier Quality Engineer is not intended to function solely as an inspector or administrator of supplier corrective actions. The expectation is to actively improve STER's supply base and reduce quality risk before defects reach STER production or STER customers.