Supplier Quality Engineer

Job Summary

As a Senior Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE), you will play a key role in ensuring the quality, capability, and reliability of Fluke’s electromechanical and plastics suppliers. You will lead supplier development, drive process capability improvements, ensure compliance to specifications and standards, and guide suppliers through NPI and sustaining activities.

This role requires strong technical knowledge of injection molding, plastics tooling, electromechanical assemblies, DFM/A, component qualification, and supplier process control. You will work closely with Global Supply Chain, Operations, Design, Quality Engineering teams to ensure that purchased products meet Fluke’s performance, quality, and reliability expectations.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Development:

• Lead qualification and ongoing performance management of suppliers specializing in injection molded plastics, electromechanical parts, switches, connectors, cables, housing, and mechanical assemblies.
• Assess supplier manufacturing processes, including mold design, tooling capability, plastic flow/warp behavior, molding parameters, assembly processes, and electromechanical testing.
• Drive supplier quality controls, readiness, and overall performance improvement, including NPI readiness.
• Drive improvements in supplier process capability (Cp/Cpk), scrap reduction, consistency, and defect prevention.
• Lead APQP/PPAP flow‑down requirements with Engineering and Supply Chain.
• Develop and maintain IQC plans, sampling strategies, and test/inspection requirements.
• Support and approve First Article qualifications.
• Lead DFMEA and PFMEA activities related to supplier processes.
• Support stop-ships, containment, investigations, and other quality-related activities as needed.
• Conduct supplier process, system, and product audits; drive timely closure of nonconformities.
• Ensure quality procedures, work instructions, and records meet QMS requirements.
• Ensure proper documentation, traceability, change control, and configuration management at suppliers.
• Communicate supplier risks, quality status, and improvement progress to leadership with clarity and urgency.

New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Lead supplier‑related APQP/PPAP activities, including DFM/A reviews, PFMEA, control plans, MSA/GR&R, First Article Inspection (FAI), and process validations.
• Validate supplier readiness for production through line setup, tooling verification, material qualification, and production trials.
• Ensure suppliers meet launch quality targets (DPPM, RTY, escape rates).
• Provide supplier manufacturing and process capability input during Engineering Design Reviews.
• Partner with Design and Manufacturing Engineering, and Operations to ensure manufacturability and quality robustness of designs.

Sustaining & Continuous Improvement:

• Monitor supplier quality performance, including defect trends, process variation, COQ metrics, and incoming material quality.
• Lead structured problem‑solving (8D, 5 Whys, Ishikawa) for supplier‑related issues, customer returns, and internal escapes.
• Drive permanent corrective actions and verify effectiveness through data and process validation.
• Support containment, rework coordination, concessions, and stop‑ship decisions when needed.
• Partner with Engineering and Reliability teams on material, design, or process changes.
• Promote a culture of quality, data integrity, and continuous improvement using FBS tools.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Materials, Plastics Engineering, or related technical field.
• 10+ years of Supplier Quality Engineering experience in plastics, electromechanical components, assemblies, or mechanical manufacturing.
• Strong experience with injection molding, tooling development, plastics processing, electromechanical assembly, or mechanical component manufacturing.
• Demonstrated proficiency with APQP/PPAP, PFMEA, MSA, control plans, and statistical tools.
• Hands‑on experience with root‑cause analysis (8D, 5 Why, Ishikawa).
• Working knowledge of GD&T, engineering drawings, tolerances, and material specifications.
• Experience conducting supplier audits (ISO 9001 or equivalent).
• Ability to travel locally and internationally up to ~30% to supplier sites for candidates based in Norwich, up to ~50% for candidates based in Poland.

Desired Skills

• Experience with mold flow analysis, tooling qualification, or plastics material selection (ABS, PC, nylon, elastomers).
• Experience with electromechanical components such as switches, solenoids, motors, sensors, or precision mechanisms.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001/13485, IATF 16949, or similar standards.
• Working knowledge of Oracle PLM, ERP, and MES systems.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or strong Lean/CI experience preferred.
• Strong analytical, communication, and supplier‑facing negotiation skills.
• High sense of ownership, urgency, and continuous improvement mindset.