Advanced Supplier Quality Engineer

Job Description

Role: Advanced Supplier Quality Engineer
Location: Porto, Portugal

Type of contract: permanent, full-time

Carrier is the leading worldwide provider of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security, and cold chain solutions. We invented the modern air conditioning, and our team of pioneers and innovators have a long history of developing new technologies. 

Addvolt, now part of Carrier, global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions, delivers advanced electrification technology, integrated power management and power electronics capabilities for transport refrigeration and auxiliary systems.  Driving innovation in the electrification and decarbonization of onboard systems for refrigerated trailers, trucks, vans and containers, Addvolt empowers fleets to avoid fuel usage, reduce major emissions and operate efficiently at a remarkably low noise level. By combining Addvolt’s innovative power solutions with Carrier Transicold’s expertise in transport refrigeration, we are enhancing the value we deliver to fleets, original equipment manufacturers and logistics operators worldwide. Together with Carrier, we are accelerating the transition to a more sustainable, efficient and intelligent cold chain. WHO WE ARE

Addvolt is a technology powerhouse with a mission to make goods transportation cleaner and quieter. We developed and offer the world’s first plug-in hybrid system for refrigerated transport, enabling refrigerated trucks to perform cold operations in electric mode with reduced noise and no local emissions.

Our customers are at the heart of every innovation. Working with our partners is a continuous learning opportunity, and joining Addvolt means helping deliver the future of transport today.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Addvolt is seeking an Advanced Supplier Quality Engineer with high energy, strong ownership, sound technical judgment, and a prevention-first mindset to join our Quality Team in Porto. This is a combined role covering both advanced supplier quality during project development and operational supplier quality throughout serial production.

Working as the supplier-quality interface between Engineering, Supply Chain, Program Management, Manufacturing, Operations, and suppliers, the Advanced Supplier Quality Engineer owns supplier quality across the complete product lifecycle. During the project phase, the role supports design and sourcing decisions, leads supplier APQP, validates manufacturing feasibility, controls supplier industrialization risk, and secures PPAP and launch readiness. During serial production, the role manages supplier performance, non-conformities, containment, corrective actions, changes, audits, escalation, and supplier development to protect production and customers.

The successful candidate will be equally effective upstream and downstream: challenging manufacturability and quality risks with Engineering before design release, driving suppliers to demonstrate robust and capable processes before SOP, and responding decisively to operational quality issues after launch. The role requires frequent presence at supplier sites and close support to Operations when supplier performance affects safety, quality, delivery, cost, or customer commitments.

As Advanced Supplier Quality Engineer you will:

Project quality, supplier selection and risk management

·   Partner with Procurement, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Program Management to assess supplier technical capability, quality maturity, capacity, business continuity, and launch risk before nomination.

·   Plan and lead supplier quality system, process, product, and special-process audits; define evidence-based findings, accountable owners, due dates, and verification of closure.

·   Approve suppliers and manufacturing locations only when objective evidence demonstrates that requirements, controls, competence, capacity, and risk mitigation are adequate.

·   Maintain risk-based supplier segmentation and surveillance plans, focusing resources on critical components, new technologies, weak-performing suppliers, and high-consequence failure modes.

Supplier APQP, industrialization, PPAP and launch readiness

·   Lead supplier APQP from sourcing through Start of Production, including feasibility, quality planning, timing, critical-characteristic flow-down, design and process reviews, capacity planning, and safe-launch readiness.

·   Define PPAP scope and submission level; review and approve the applicable evidence, including design records, change documents, process flow, PFMEA, Control Plan, MSA, dimensional results, material and performance testing, initial process studies, qualified laboratory evidence, samples, checking aids, and the Part Submission Warrant.

·   Ensure alignment and traceability among drawings and specifications, critical characteristics, process flow, PFMEA, Control Plan, work instructions, inspection methods, reaction plans, and validation results.

·   Lead supplier manufacturing process reviews, Run-at-Rate or capacity studies, and production readiness assessments. Escalate gaps that threaten prototype, pilot, SOP, or customer milestones.

·   Authorize full, interim, or rejected PPAP disposition based on objective evidence and ensure production material is not released without the required approval and documented risk controls.

Operational supplier quality, problem solving and escalation

·   Own supplier quality performance using leading and lagging indicators such as supplier PPM, escapes, repeat defects, SCAR/8D aging, containment effectiveness, audit closure, PPAP status, capability, Cost of Poor Quality, and delivery impact.

·   Lead supplier non-conformity response, including traceability, containment at supplier and Addvolt locations, suspect-stock assessment, material disposition support, controlled shipping, and protection of production and customers.

·   Issue, coach, and approve supplier corrective actions using 8D and rigorous root-cause methods. Require evidence for occurrence root cause, escape point, systemic corrective action, prevention of recurrence, read-across, and effectiveness verification.

·   Lead cross-functional supplier escalations and recovery plans when performance, responsiveness, capacity, or execution is unacceptable. Recommend sourcing restrictions, controlled shipping, development support, or exit when risk is not adequately controlled.

·   Convert supplier failures and lessons learned into updated specifications, FMEAs, Control Plans, inspection strategies, audit checklists, and future sourcing requirements.

Supplier development, serial-production assurance and change control

·   Develop supplier capability in APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, capability analysis, mistake-proofing, layered/process audits, structured problem solving, and quality-at-the-source practices.

·   Drive measurable supplier improvement plans that reduce variation, defects, lead-time risk, rework, scrap, premium freight, warranty exposure, and total Cost of Poor Quality.

·   Evaluate supplier deviation and change requests before implementation, ensuring cross-functional approval, risk assessment, validation, document updates, and PPAP resubmission where required.

·   Control sub-tier risk by requiring suppliers to manage critical sub-suppliers, special processes, outsourced operations, and changes with the same rigor expected by Addvolt.

·   Build constructive, demanding supplier relationships that combine clear expectations, fact-based decisions, timely escalation, and sustainable capability development.

Engineering partnership and cross-functional quality leadership

·   Act as the supplier-quality voice in design reviews, sourcing decisions, industrialization reviews, quality gates, launch readiness reviews, and Material Review Board discussions.

·   Challenge incomplete evidence, unclear ownership, weak due dates, unsupported capability claims, and risks transferred downstream to incoming inspection or production.

·   Provide clear supplier-quality status, risk, decisions required, and recovery plans to Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Program Management, and leadership.

·   Coach internal teams and suppliers on prevention-focused quality methods and promote a culture of zero defects, accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.

CANDIDATE VALUES AND QUALIFICATIONS

·   Share Addvolt values: transparency, agility, trustworthiness, ownership, sustainability, innovation, passion, and determination.

·   Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Quality Engineering, or a related technical field.

·   At least 5 years of progressive experience combining Advanced Supplier Quality, NPI or supplier industrialization with operational Supplier Quality or Supplier Development in an industrial environment. Exceptional candidates with strong evidence of end-to-end lifecycle ownership may be considered with less experience.

·   Demonstrated hands-on ownership of supplier APQP and PPAP from project phase through launch, together with operational responsibility for supplier non-conformities, 8D/SCAR, audits, changes, performance improvement, and serial-production protection.

·   Proven ability to lead supplier process audits, technical gemba reviews, corrective-action investigations, and difficult performance escalations across international suppliers.

·   Strong knowledge of ISO 9001 and automotive quality core tools. Practical knowledge of IATF 16949 and VDA 6.3 is highly valued.

·   Ability to interpret drawings, GD&T, specifications, test requirements, BOMs, process flows, manufacturing documentation, and statistical quality data.

·   Working knowledge of manufacturing processes relevant to electromechanical products, such as electronics assembly, cable harnesses, power electronics, sheet metal, machining, welding/brazing, plastics, coatings, sealing, and final assembly.

·   Excellent analytical judgment, structured problem solving, written communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management. Able to influence without authority and make risk-based decisions under schedule pressure.

·   Fluent Portuguese and English, spoken and written. Additional languages are an advantage.

·   Willingness and ability to travel regularly to supplier sites, including international travel.

Preferred differentiators

·   Certified VDA 6.3 Process Auditor, IATF 16949 auditor, ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, or equivalent recognized qualification.

·   Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt;

·   Experience in automotive, transport refrigeration, EV, power electronics, electronics manufacturing, energy systems, or other high-reliability products.

·   Experience with supplier capacity validation, Run-at-Rate, special-process audits, reliability growth, safe launch, controlled shipping, and supplier cost recovery.

·   Experience with ERP/QMS/PLM systems and digital supplier-quality workflows, including PPAP, 8D, audit, and deviation management.

Success measures

·   Supplier risks identified and controlled before nomination, tooling release, PPAP approval, and SOP.

·   Project milestones and PPAP approvals achieved to program timing with complete, technically credible, and traceable evidence.

·   Sustained reduction in supplier PPM, escapes, repeat failures, open/overdue corrective actions, and supplier-related Cost of Poor Quality.

·   Improved supplier process capability, audit maturity, launch performance, serial-production stability, and responsiveness to operational issues.

·   No unauthorized supplier changes and no production release without documented approval or formally accepted risk.

Pay Range

€22,000.00-€44,000.00