Plant Materials Engineer

Magna International•Piedmont, SC

22d•Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Materials Engineer supports supplier quality and materials-related activities for Magna’s Cosma group. The role ensures suppliers comply with OEM requirements, customer-specific standards, and Drive Automotive supplier quality expectations. It leads supplier quality planning and documentation for launches, engineering changes, and process updates, and drives supplier performance through audits, corrective actions, root cause analysis, scorecards, and quality metrics. The position works with manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and OEMs to resolve quality concerns, minimize risk, and promote continuous improvement and operational excellence through hands-on problem solving.

Requirements

Four-year degree in Materials Engineering, preferably Materials Science, Metallurgy, or a related field.
Working knowledge of metallurgical techniques, demonstrating competent understanding.
Working knowledge of steel and aluminum making processes.
Knowledge of DMAIC, 8D, Six Sigma, or another problem-solving methodology.
Strong, data-driven root cause analysis ability, with clear and concise conclusions.
Ability to read technical drawings and standards as they relate to the manufacturing process.
Familiarity with metallurgical laboratory equipment, including metallographic sample preparation polishers and mounting equipment, optical microscopes, stereo scopes, a metallography machine, tensile testers, and hardness testers.

Responsibilities

Ensure supplier compliance with OEM requirements, customer-specific standards, and Drive Automotive supplier quality expectations.
Lead supplier quality planning and documentation for new launches, engineering changes, and process updates, including PPAP, ISIR, Control Plans, FMEAs, and engineering change activities.
Drive supplier performance through audits, corrective actions, root cause analysis, supplier scorecards, and KPI management, including PPM, incident rates, and quality metrics.
Partner with manufacturing, quality, and cross-functional teams to resolve supplier quality concerns and minimize risk through continuous improvement and lessons learned initiatives.
Conduct supplier visits and audits to address quality issues, verify compliance, and ensure adherence to Drive Automotive requirements and standards.
Provide technical leadership and independent decision-making to support quality objectives.
Communicate effectively with OEMs and suppliers and drive operational excellence through ongoing development and hands-on problem solving.