Supplier Quality Engineer - Senior

Job Summary

The Senior Supplier Quality Engineer leverages strong technical expertise and quality management skills to develop suppliers and ensure delivery of high-quality, zero-defect components that meet customer and regulatory requirements. This role requires close collaboration with suppliers, engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams, with a specialized focus on automotive sensor technologies and emission-related systems.

Key Responsibilities 1. Supplier Quality Management & Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships with external suppliers, customers, and internal stakeholders (Purchasing, Engineering, Manufacturing).
• Support supplier selection processes and assess supplier capability for new components.
• Drive supplier performance improvement initiatives and ensure alignment with business and quality objectives.

2. Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) & Process Validation

• Apply APQP, AIAG tools, and Cummins-specific methodologies to ensure zero-defect product development.
• Lead and support DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plans, PPAP, SPC, and MSA activities.
• Validate that supplier manufacturing processes consistently meet engineering and customer requirements.

3. Supplier Audits & Compliance

• Conduct supplier audits to assess process capability, quality systems, and compliance risks.
• Ensure adherence to industry standards such as ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949.
• Verify compliance with emission norms, safety regulations, and environmental requirements.

4. Technical Expertise in Sensor Technologies

• Provide subject matter expertise in automotive sensor technologies, including:
  • NOx Sensors, EGTS (Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensors), AAT, LTS, OPS, O₂ Sensors
  • Pressure, Temperature, Delta P, and Exhaust Manifold Pressure (EMP) sensors
• Support application engineering, design validation (DVP&R), and technical calculations for emission and after-treatment systems.
• Ensure compliance with UL 2.2 and applicable regulatory standards.

5. Manufacturing Process Excellence

• Evaluate and improve supplier manufacturing processes, especially SMT (Surface Mount Technology).
• Ensure robust process design, controls, and component selection for high-quality output.
• Validate measurement systems and ensure alignment with GD&T and engineering specifications.

6. Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement

• Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions for supplier quality issues.
• Use Lean, Six Sigma, and statistical tools to drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure effectiveness and sustainability of corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

7. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing teams to resolve quality challenges.
• Influence decision-making to balance quality, cost, and delivery priorities.
• Support supplier readiness for new product introductions and ongoing production.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, or related field).
• Certifications in IPC-A-610 and IPC-A-620 (mandatory).
• Additional certifications in Quality or Six Sigma (preferred).
• May require licensing for export control or regulatory compliance.

Competencies

Technical Skills

• Strong expertise in emission norms and regulatory compliance.
• Deep knowledge of SMT processes and manufacturing controls.
• Proficiency in automotive sensor technologies and after-treatment systems.
• Strong understanding of GD&T, engineering drawings, and measurement systems.
• Expertise in APQP, PPAP, DFMEA, PFMEA, SPC, and MSA.

Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills

• Advanced root cause analysis and data-driven decision-making.
• Strong statistical analysis and process capability evaluation.
• Ability to interpret complex technical and quality data.

Behavioral Competencies

• Effective communication across multiple stakeholders.
• Strong customer focus and relationship management.
• Ability to manage complexity and drive results under pressure.
• Influencing skills to align stakeholders on quality priorities.
• Global mindset and appreciation for diverse perspectives.

Experience

• 8–10 years of professional experience in Supplier Quality, preferably in sensor technologies.
• Minimum 3+ years in manufacturing or engineering within the automotive or similarly regulated industry.
• Proven experience in supplier quality development, audits, and process validation.
• Hands-on experience with SMT manufacturing and automotive sensor systems is essential.

Core Technical Capabilities

• Supplier Quality Management & Development
• Supplier Auditing & Compliance
• APQP & Automotive Core Tools
• Manufacturing Process Design & Validation
• Measurement System Analysis
• Statistical Analysis & Quality Improvement
• Supplier Performance Improvement
• Supplier Product Reliability

Fully convergent with all applicable Emission Norms and regulatory requirements    IPC‑A‑610 and IPC‑A‑620 certified, with strong focus on workmanship and quality compliance   Subject‑matter expert in SMT (Surface Mount Technology) processes and manufacturing controls   Thorough understanding of Vehicle Safety and Environmental Regulations, including compliance and functional safety considerations  Strong technical expertise in application engineering, calculations, and DVP&R for emission and exhaust after‑treatment systems, including:  NOx sensors        EGTS (Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensors)    AAT (Ambient Air Temperature)     LTS (Lambda/Temperature Sensors)     OPS (Oil Pressure Sensors)     O₂ sensors      UL 2.2 compliance requirements     In‑depth knowledge of manufacturing line setup, process controls, and component selection for automotive sensor technologies, including:NOx, EGTS, AAT, LTS, OPS, O₂, UL 2.2     Pressure, Temperature, Delta‑P, and EMP (Exhaust Manifold Pressure) sensors