Supplier Quality Engineer

Location: Lancashire

Employment Type: Permanent

Report To: Strategic Sourcing Manager

Department: Planning & Supply Chain

Job Purpose: Reporting to the Strategic Sourcing Manager, the Supplier Quality Engineer is to work in conjunction with the supply chain, quality, planning, engineering, and programme functions, supporting the strategic and tactical business requirements in developing both new and existing suppliers. This role is key in forging effective relationships internally and in the external supply chain.

Main Duties & Responsibilities include:

• Own supplier rate readiness, production part approval process (PPAP), business continuity and ESG audits and assessments to ensure conformance and meet the expected OTIF delivery, quality, cost, HSE, and applicable regulations, industrial standards and customer requirements.
• Conduct source inspections and supplier quality audits/assessments in line with the surveillance plan and against Client.
• Review the supplier's corrective action progress, conducting product acceptance, with the aim of reducing supply chain risk.
• Ensure effective management of supplier non-conformances with defect investigations and ensure comprehensive root cause analysis is carried out using industry wide problem-solving methods.
• Ensure supplier corrective actions are effective and validated, ideally at supplier location, to ensure future deliveries are protected from further escapes.
• Provide supplier non-conformance data analysis and summary reports into senior management.
• Proactively identify supply chain quality issues/risks and identify and offer potential mitigation solutions.
• Regularly monitor supplier KPI performance and work with suppliers to ensure robust process controls are in place to secure supplier continuous compliance and meet the Clients supplier performance requirements.
• Supplier development and continuous improvement - lead supplier improvement activities, including putting development plans in place, drive systematic problem solving, process control and improvement.
• Assist new business biddings, NPI, product transfer and change management by working productively and positively with cross-functional team and the suppliers to ensure that key milestones are achieved, including qualifying new supplier and/or components.
• Support supplier selection through robust qualification processes.
• Carry out supplier pre-assessment, approval and qualification processes and validation audits.
• Follow initial approval, manage maintenance and surveillance of suppliers to ensure continuous compliance.
• Comply with company Values, Code of Conduct, policies, procedures, industry standards and regulations.
• Assist in other areas or perform other duties as assigned to support the business needs.

Qualifications: Relevant engineering degree preferred

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong knowledge of aerospace products, manufacturing processes, technologies, standards and regulations.
• Strong knowledge of PPAP, FMEA, root cause analysis, production rate readiness, business continuity assessment, and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of business management system.
• ERP & Microsoft Office PC skills.
• Process driven.
• Numerically astute with strong problem-solving skill.
• Lean/Six Sigma improvement techniques.
• Project management.

Personal Qualities:

• Strong organisation skills, structured and eye for details.
• Good verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• High integrity standards, open & honesty.
• Self-starter and have a willingness to learn and develop.
• Ability to work unsupervised.
• Able to work both independently, and in a team.

Travel is essential in this job role with potential overnight stays. Around 60%.