Manager, Supplier Development Engineering, Metals & Fabrication

Eaton Corporation•Raleigh, NC

11d•$146,000 - $215,000

About The Position

Eaton’s Corporate Sector division is currently seeking a Manager, Supplier Development Engineering, Metals & Fabrication. The expected annual salary range for this role is $146000 - $215000 a year. This position is also eligible for a variable incentive program. Relocation assistance is provided for this position! Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. Job Summary: Leads a team of Supplier Development Engineers responsible for developing supplier manufacturing capability, capacity, scalability, and operational readiness for the metals and fabrication categories to support current and future business requirements. Drives supplier performance improvement through structured supplier development strategies focused on manufacturing excellence, capacity readiness, operational maturity, new product introduction, supplier transfers, and business growth initiatives. Provides leadership for supplier capability assessments, development plans, risk mitigation, and strategic supplier improvement initiatives. Partners closely with Supplier Quality, Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, Operations, and business leadership to ensure suppliers can meet quality, delivery, cost, capacity, and growth objectives. Develops organizational capability within the Supplier Development Engineering team while establishing consistent methodologies, governance, metrics, and best practices across the supplier network.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, or related technical discipline
Minimum 8 years of experience in Supplier Development, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field
Minimum 3 years of leadership experience managing technical teams and cross-functional initiatives
Strong project and program management skills
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills
Demonstrates strong business acumen and technical judgment when assessing supplier and operational risks.
Successfully balances short-term business needs with long-term supplier capability development.
Operates effectively in a highly matrixed global organization.
Influences executive stakeholders and supplier leadership without direct authority.
Leads through ambiguity while maintaining disciplined execution and accountability.
Requires domestic and international travel to supplier locations and Eaton facilities.
All positions may require participation in video and in-person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job-related competencies, and all candidates’ privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience with metals or fabrication category
Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, operational excellence, and supplier development methodologies
Proven experience leading supplier capability improvement and recovery initiatives
Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, and structured problem-solving methodologies
Experience with capacity planning, industrialization, and production readiness assessments

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the supplier development strategy for assigned regions, commodities, or business segments. Establish priorities, objectives, and resource allocation to address supplier capability risks and support business growth initiatives.
Lead, coach, and develop a team of Supplier Development Engineers. Establish performance expectations, development plans, technical capability-building programs, and succession plans to strengthen organizational effectiveness and future leadership capability.
Provide oversight of supplier capability, manufacturing, operational, and capacity risk assessments. Ensure risks are identified proactively and appropriate mitigation plans are established, executed, and sustained.
Drive supplier manufacturing excellence initiatives utilizing Lean principles, Six Sigma methodologies, process capability improvement, advanced quality tools, material flow optimization, and structured problem-solving approaches.
Lead assessment and management of supplier production capacity, scalability, and operational readiness to support forecasted demand, growth initiatives, new product introductions, localization efforts, and footprint optimization activities.
Ensure suppliers are prepared to support new product launches, capacity expansions, industrialization projects, insourcing/outsourcing activities, supplier transitions, and strategic sourcing initiatives through early engagement and readiness assessments.
Establish consistent processes and standards for supplier capability assessments, operational reviews, manufacturing audits, production readiness evaluations, and supplier development planning across the organization.
Collaborate with Supplier Quality, Engineering, and Procurement teams to ensure supplier readiness throughout product development, APQP, PPAP, industrialization, and launch processes, with emphasis on manufacturing capability and operational performance.
Partner with Procurement, Supplier Quality, Operations, Engineering, Materials Management, Planning, and Business Leadership teams to align supplier development priorities with strategic business objectives.
Establish and monitor key performance indicators for supplier development activities, team effectiveness, supplier capability improvements, risk reduction, capacity readiness, and operational performance improvements.
Drive standardization, knowledge sharing, process improvements, and implementation of best practices across supplier development activities globally. Promote a culture of continuous improvement within both the supplier base and supplier development organization.