Strategic Supplier Quality Engineer

Inside the Role
Inside the Role

The Supplier Quality Engineer is responsible for ensuring suppliers consistently meet quality, delivery, capacity, and technical requirements throughout the product lifecycle. This role serves as the primary quality liaison between suppliers and internal cross-functional teams, supporting supplier performance, new product launches, production readiness, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The Supplier Quality Engineer works closely with Purchasing, Engineering, Manufacturing, Logistics, and suppliers to drive quality excellence, mitigate risk, and ensure continuity of supply.

Posting Information

We provide a scheduled posting end date to assist our candidates with their application planning. While this date reflects our latest plans, it is subject to change, and postings may be extended or removed earlier than expected.

We Take Care of Our Team

Position offers a starting salary range of $98,000 – $121,000 USD

Pay offered dependent on knowledge, skills, and experience.

Benefits include annual bonus program; 401k company contribution with company match up to 6% as well as non-elective company contribution of 3 - 7% depending on age; starting at 4 weeks paid vacation; 13+ calendar holidays; 8 weeks paid parental leave; employee assistance program; comprehensive healthcare plans and wellness programs; onsite fitness (at some locations); tuition assistance and volunteer paid time off; short-term and long-term disability plans.

What you drive at DTNA

Supplier Performance and Development

- Monitor supplier performance and drive continuous improvement in quality, delivery, capacity, and operational performance.
- Develop and implement supplier improvement plans to address quality concerns, recurring issues, and performance gaps.
- Monitor and communicate supplier performance using key metrics including DPPM, corrective action responsiveness, launch quality, customer disruptions, on-time delivery, and capacity readiness.
- Partner with suppliers to establish and achieve short-term and long-term quality improvement objectives.
- Lead supplier performance improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, and other continuous improvement methodologies.

Advanced Product Quality Planning and Launch Readiness

- Facilitate supplier Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) activities for new product launches, engineering changes, product transfers, and capacity expansions.
- Ensure supplier APQP deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule in accordance with customer and company requirements.
- Support supplier manufacturing readiness reviews, production readiness assessments, and launch activities.
- Participate in safe launch and early production containment activities as required.
- Collaborate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to identify and mitigate launch-related risks.

PPAP and Quality Planning

- Review and approve Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) submissions in accordance with customer and company requirements.
- Review and audit PPAP documentation including: Process Flow Diagrams PFMEAs and DFMEAs as applicable Control Plans Capability Studies Part Layouts Gage Design and Gage R&R Studies Material and Performance Test Results Customer-Specific Requirements
- Verify alignment between supplier manufacturing processes, quality documentation, and engineering requirements.
- Evaluate process capability and measurement system effectiveness to ensure process stability and control.

Supplier Auditing and Compliance

- Conduct supplier quality system, manufacturing process, and product audits to verify conformance to requirements and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Maintain and administer the supplier audit program, including audit scheduling, execution, reporting, and follow-up.
- Support supplier assessments utilizing IATF 16949, ISO 9001, VDA 6.3, AIAG Core Tools, and customer-specific requirements.
- Document audit findings and ensure timely implementation of corrective actions.
- Verify effectiveness of corrective actions through follow-up audits and performance monitoring.

Problem Solving and Corrective Action

- Lead supplier problem-solving activities utilizing structured methodologies such as 8D, A3, 5 Why, and root cause analysis.
- Ensure timely implementation and verification of supplier corrective and preventive actions.
- Support containment activities to protect manufacturing operations and customer deliveries.
- Document activities related to supplier quality investigations, containment actions, corrective actions, and issue resolution.
- Support resolution of customer, production, warranty, and supplier quality issues while preventing recurrence.

Supplier Risk and Change Management

- Identify and mitigate supplier quality, delivery, capacity, and business continuity risks.
- Support supplier change management activities including process changes, engineering changes, tooling transfers, material changes, capacity expansions, and manufacturing location changes.
- Ensure supplier changes are appropriately reviewed, validated, documented, and approved prior to implementation.
- Support supplier risk assessments and development of mitigation plans.
- Escalate supplier performance or quality concerns when business objectives are at risk.

Capacity and Manufacturing Readiness

- Lead supplier capacity assessments and Run-at-Rate evaluations to ensure suppliers can support current and future production requirements.
- Assess manufacturing capability, process controls, staffing, tooling capacity, and operational readiness.
- Monitor supplier capacity performance and identify risks to continuity of supply.
- Collaborate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to develop and implement capacity recovery plans when necessary.
- Support sourcing and supplier development activities by evaluating supplier manufacturing readiness and operational capability.

Cross Functional Collaboration and Project Management

- Collaborate with Purchasing, Engineering, Manufacturing, Logistics, Program Management, and suppliers to support quality objectives and business goals.
- Serve as the primary supplier quality representative for assigned suppliers, commodities, or programs.
- Support sourcing decisions through supplier quality evaluations and risk assessments.
- Lead or participate in cross-functional projects related to supplier development, quality improvement, product launches, and issue resolution.
- Provide timely communication and reporting regarding supplier performance, risks, launches, audits, corrective actions, and recovery plans.
- Manage multiple projects and priorities while meeting established quality, cost, delivery, and timing objectives.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, or a related technical discipline and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience; or 8 years of equivalent experience in Supplier Quality, Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
- Knowledge of automotive quality systems and AIAG Core Tools, including APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC, and Control Plans.
- Experience interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Effective verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internally to supplier locations as required, occasionally over weekends.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience in automotive supplier quality, manufacturing quality, supplier development, or quality systems.
- Strong understanding of APQP and PPAP requirements and approval processes.
- Experience conducting supplier quality system, process, and product audits.
- Familiarity with IATF 16949, ISO 9001, VDA 6.3, and customer-specific requirements.
- Experience leading supplier corrective actions utilizing 8D methodology.
- Knowledge of statistical process control, process capability analysis, and measurement systems analysis.
- Experience conducting supplier capacity assessments, Run-at-Rate evaluations, and manufacturing readiness reviews.
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Value Stream Mapping, 5S, and Kaizen methodologies.
- Project management experience in a manufacturing or supplier-facing environment.
- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, VDA 6.3 Auditor, IATF 16949 Auditor, or similar certification preferred.
- Foreign language proficiency is a plus.

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Where We Work

This position is open to applicants who can work in (or relocate to) the following location(s)-
Detroit, MI US. Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

Schedule Type:
Onsite

At Daimler Truck North America, we recognize our world is changing faster than ever before. By listening to the needs of today, we’re building to solve with cutting-edge solutions in sustainability and future driving technology across electric, hydrogen and autonomous. These solutions, backed by years of innovative success and achievement, continue DTNA’s legacy as the undisputed industry leader. Our evolving brand portfolio is second to none, including Freightliner Trucks, Western Star, Demand Detroit, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis, and Financial Services. Together, we work as one team towards our envisioned future – building a cleaner, safer and more efficient tomorrow for all.

That is what we are working toward - for all who keep the world moving.

Additional Information

- This position is not open for Visa sponsorship or to existing Visa holders
- Applicants must be legally authorized to work permanently in the country the position is located in at the time of application
- Final candidate must successfully complete a criminal background check
- Final candidate may be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen
- Contractors, professional services, or other contingent workers should confirm with their local agency if they are eligible to apply for FTE positions
- EEO - Disabled/Veterans

Daimler Truck North America is committed to workforce inclusion and providing an environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, age, marital status, family relationship, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (including transgender and transitioning status), genetic information, or veteran status.

For an accommodation or special assistance with applying for a posted position, please contact our Human Resources department at 503-745-8982 or toll free 800-206-3369. For TTY/TDD enabled call 503-745-2137 or toll free 866-355-6935.