Senior Supplier Development Engineer

Job Overview

The Supplier Development Engineer (SDE) independently develops and implements comprehensive quality assurance plans for complex products and systems, ensuring quality standards are met throughout the manufacturing process. This role drives critical thinking and problem-solving across all aspects of the business and with external suppliers, leading efforts to resolve quality issues, identify root causes, and implement continuous improvement initiatives that enhance product quality, operational performance, and supplier effectiveness. This position is designed for early-career to mid-career engineering professionals, with level and responsibilities aligned to the candidate’s experience, technical capabilities, and demonstrated success in quality, supplier development, and continuous improvement.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex quality improvement projects, utilizing Lean Six Sigma and other methodologies.
• Develop and implement quality management systems (QMS) to ensure compliance with ISO and other relevant standards.
• Conduct thorough root cause analysis to identify the underlying causes of quality issues.
• Develop and implement supplier quality programs to ensure the quality of incoming materials and components.
• Serve as a subject matter expert, providing guidance and support to other departments on quality-related matters.
• Mentor and develop junior quality engineers, providing guidance and feedback to enhance their skills.
• Stay informed about industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in quality management.
• Must be able to perform all essential job functions with/without accommodation.
• Uses office automation, communication, software, and tools used in Haworth office environment.
• Performs other duties within scope as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Quality Engineering or similar relevant field of study
• Education Equivalency: Associate's Degree plus 2 years related experience OR 4 years related experience if no post-secondary education
• Work Experience: 2+ years of experience in an engineering, quality, or manufacturing environment, utilizing analytical and problem-solving skills to drive continuous improvement, supplier quality initiatives, PPAP, corrective actions, manufacturing process audits, change management, and/or cross-functional quality improvements.
• Ability to travel up to 15%, mostly local day trips
• Applicants must be able to work in Holland, MI; this position does not offer remote or hybrid work and does not include relocation assistance
• Applicants must possess an unrestricted right to work in the US to be eligible for this position.

For candidates with military experience see military equivalency at www.mynextmove.org/vets/find/military

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in Quality Engineering within a manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on familiarity with PPAP and related quality tools.
• Proven problem-solving and critical thinking abilities in complex environments.
• Experience leveraging AI tools for data analysis and insights.
• Experience with program management and cross-functional project leadership.
• Knowledge of capacity planning and manufacturing capacity analysis.
• Working experience with SAP or similar ERP systems.
• Lean manufacturing certification or training (Green Belt, Black Belt, TPS, or equivalent continuous improvement methodologies).