Supplier Quality Engineer

Job Title: Supplier Quality Engineer Job Description
The Supplier Quality Engineer plays a key role in ensuring that purchased materials and components consistently meet quality, cost, and delivery expectations. This position supports supplier selection and qualification, leads supplier cost reduction and continuous improvement initiatives, and drives robust quality systems at supplier locations. The role is highly collaborative, working closely with purchasing, engineering, and quality teams to support product launches, manage Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) activities, and maintain critical supplier quality documentation and metrics.
Responsibilities
- Support purchasing in the selection and qualification of new suppliers by assessing their capabilities and quality systems.
- Lead the assessment and implementation of supplier cost reduction initiatives while maintaining required quality standards.
- Monitor supplier performance trends and drive continuous improvement activities to reduce supplier-related cost of poor quality.
- Continuously improve suppliers quality systems and implement programs that enable suppliers to achieve self-certification, reducing or eliminating incoming inspection requirements.
- Support product launches using the Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) process, with emphasis on managing supplier activities, timing, and maintaining required documentation.
- Collaborate with engineering to develop material specifications and identify critical and significant characteristics related to supplier products.
- Provide training and support to suppliers in developing Production Control Plans, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), and other APQP and supplier quality system requirements.
- Initiate, review, and approve supplier Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) submissions to ensure compliance with specifications and requirements.
- Manage Supplier Deviation Requests and Supplier Requests for Engineering Approval, ensuring proper evaluation and documentation.
- Perform supplier quality and process audits to verify compliance with specified requirements and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Recommend incoming inspection requirements and support defective material disposition decisions as needed.
- Manage and maintain the Supplier Corrective Action Request (SCAR) process by working with suppliers to resolve defective material issues through root cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions.
- Develop, maintain, and distribute Supplier Performance Scorecards to communicate performance metrics and expectations.
- Update and track hard tooling assets located at supplier facilities to ensure proper control and accountability.
- Manage and maintain the Approved Supplier List, including supplier quality certification status and special process assessments.
- Manage and maintain the Supplier Quality Manual to ensure it reflects current requirements, standards, and processes.
Essential Skills
- Bachelors degree in engineering, technology, or a related technical discipline.
- 3+ years of experience in quality engineering, preferably in a manufacturing or automotive environment.
- 3+ years of experience performing root cause analysis, including problem investigation and implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
- 3+ years of experience with print reading and interpreting technical drawings and specifications.
- 3+ years of experience with control plan analysis and development.
- Hands-on experience in Supplier Quality Engineering, including supplier qualification and performance management.
- Strong knowledge and practical use of Production Part Approval Process (PPAP).
- Experience managing and resolving Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs).
- Demonstrated ability to apply root cause analysis methodologies to supplier and production issues.
- Familiarity with ISO 9001 or similar quality management system standards.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience working with Tier 1 automotive suppliers and supporting automotive OEM projects.
- Knowledge of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and its application to supplier-related activities.
- Experience with Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Production Control Plans.
- Ability to conduct supplier process and quality audits and document findings clearly.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills for working cross-functionally with purchasing, engineering, and quality teams.
- Ability to provide training and guidance to suppliers on quality tools and processes.
- Organizational skills to manage multiple supplier projects, documentation, and performance scorecards simultaneously.
Work Environment
This role operates within a Tier 1 automotive supplier environment supporting task-based work that directly contributes to major automotive projects. The Supplier Quality Engineer receives work direction from a quality engineering lead and collaborates cross-functionally with purchasing, engineering, and other quality professionals. The work involves regular interaction with external suppliers, review of technical documentation, and participation in audits and product launch activities. The environment is structured and process-driven, with a strong focus on adherence to automotive quality standards, APQP, PPAP, and ISO 9001 practices.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Minneapolis, MN.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $42.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Minneapolis, MN.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 11, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Minneapolis,MN. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
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San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
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shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,
including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications
and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
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