Lead Supplier Quality Engineer

The Lead Supplier Quality Engineer leads supplier quality strategy and execution to ensure supplied materials, components, and processes meet AMETEK, customer, and applicable quality management system requirements. This role serves as the primary technical liaison between suppliers and internal teams, driving defect prevention, supplier qualification, First Article Inspection (FAI), structured problem solving, and continuous improvement across supplier performance, cost, and risk.

Responsibilities

- Lead supplier quality strategy, priorities, and plans in alignment with business and Quality Management System objectives.

- Establish and maintain incoming material quality criteria, inspection plans, key characteristics, and acceptance requirements.

- Lead supplier selection, evaluation, qualification, approval, and re-evaluation in coordination with Purchasing, Engineering, and Supply Chain.

- Plan and execute supplier system, process, and product audits; document findings and ensure timely and effective closure of actions.

- Manage FAI, APQP, PPAP, and approval documentation for new products, transfers, and changes involving suppliers, processes, materials, or locations.

- Lead containment, investigation, and resolution of supplier quality issues using 8D and other structured problem-solving methodologies, ensuring root cause identification, corrective action, effectiveness verification, and prevention of recurrence.

- Issue and track supplier corrective action requests (SCAR/SQR) and escalate critical risks, delays, or noncompliance.

- Coordinate the identification, segregation, evaluation, and disposition of supplier-related nonconforming material, including MRB activities.

- Monitor and report supplier performance through defined KPIs, including PPM, rejections, escapes, recurrence, action closure, FAI, and cost of poor quality.

- Develop improvement plans for underperforming or high-risk suppliers and verify sustainable results.

- Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Production, Materials, and Customer Quality to resolve supply and quality risks.

- Maintain complete, accurate, traceable, and current supplier quality records, reports, certifications, and objective evidence.

- Promote disciplined application of the QMS and applicable AMETEK, customer, and regulatory requirements throughout the supply chain.

- Provide technical leadership, assign priorities, review deliverables, and mentor assigned Supplier Quality personnel.

- Initiate actions to prevent the release or use of nonconforming material and recommend suspension of shipments or releases when justified by risk and permitted by applicable authorization procedures.

- Participate in internal, external, and customer audits, performance reviews, and supplier-related continuous improvement projects.

- Perform other duties assigned by the supervisor based on business needs.

Requirements

- Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, Quality Engineering, or a related field.

- Five years of progressive experience in supplier quality, manufacturing quality, or supplier development, including technical leadership of projects and supplier problem solving.

- Strong knowledge of Core Tools, including APQP, PPAP, Control Plan, PFMEA, MSA, and SPC.

- Proficiency in structured problem-solving methods, including 8D, 5 Whys, Ishikawa, and root cause analysis.

- Experience with FAI, supplier qualification and auditing, corrective actions, and nonconforming material or MRB management.

- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), and acceptance criteria.

- Knowledge of quality management systems based on ISO 9001 and, when applicable, AS9100 or other customer and regulatory requirements.

- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, data analysis, KPI dashboards, and ERP/MRP systems.

- Demonstrated ability and willingness to leverage AI tools to improve productivity, decision-making, work quality, and cost effectiveness.

- The successful candidate must be able to identify appropriate AI use cases and critically evaluate AI-generated outputs.

- Ability to communicate technical information verbally and in writing in English and Spanish.

- Availability to travel to supplier locations.

- Lead or Internal Auditor, ASQ CQE/CSQP, or Six Sigma Green Belt certification is preferred.

- Demonstrated competencies in results orientation, change management, prioritization and resource analysis, team development, continuous improvement, and teamwork.