Supplier Development Engineer

Position: Supplier Development Engineer
Pay Rate: £25.09 per hour
Hours: 36.5 hours per week
Shifts: 08:00-16:30 Monday to Thursday, 08:00-12:00 Friday (flexible start/finish times)

Location: Fully site based with travel required (up to 50% within Europe, more travel initially for 6 months due to handover process)

Summary
We are seeking a Supplier Development Engineer to ensure the quality and compliance of supplied products by assessing supplier quality and supporting continuous improvement initiatives. The role involves conducting tests and audits on incoming supplies, developing inspection and evaluation mechanisms, and generating reports to monitor defect rates. You will work closely with suppliers to guide them in reducing defects and improving their manufacturing processes. This position requires strong knowledge of general engineering practices and quality standards, ideally within the automotive sector. The role is predominantly site-based but requires significant travel across Europe, especially during the initial handover period.

Role Responsibilities
- Ensure the quality of supplies by conducting tests and assessments on incoming materials to identify quality issues.
- Develop and implement supplier inspection, testing, and evaluation mechanisms.
- Generate detailed reports on supplier quality, monitoring defect rates and identifying potential areas of concern.
- Conduct supplier quality control audits to verify compliance with organisational and legal standards.
- Research and assess potential vendors, including their manufacturing environments and processes.
- Support suppliers in improving performance through process enhancements, process controls, and quality assurance plans.

Skills
- Strong knowledge of general engineering processes and practices
- Experience with supplier quality assessment and development
- Ability to conduct supplier audits and quality control inspections
- Competence in generating and analysing quality reports
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for supplier engagement
- Problem-solving and continuous improvement mindset
- Flexibility to travel extensively within Europe
- Familiarity with automotive industry standards (preferred)
- Understanding of IATF 16949 or at least ISO 9001 quality management systems
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities

Certifications & Standards
- IATF 16949 (preferred)
- ISO 9001 (minimum requirement)

Software/Tools
- Quality management systems software (e.g. SAP QM, Minitab)
- Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

LMIND