Prin. Supplier Technical Engineer

Caterpillar•Gardena, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

This position has technical accountability for assigned purchase parts from initial concept through the product life cycle, including all aspects of quality management. The Supplier Technical Engineer serves as a liaison between internal customers—including operations leadership, engineering, NPI teams, and aftermarket areas—and external supplier contacts. The role reports to the Supply Chain Manager and/or the Site Sourcing Manager and serves as a technical resource for Supply Chain; at higher levels, it may also provide mentoring and technical leadership. The role provides leadership in resolving quality problems associated with purchased materials and engineering issues. It supports design and drawing work, supplier communications, drawing review and acceptance, Windchill and BAAN activities, tooling management, and Q Notes. The engineer works with suppliers and internal customers, including through supplier site visits, and participates in or leads cross-functional projects using 6 Sigma tools. At the senior level, projects increase in complexity and strategic value. The Supplier Technical Engineer contributes to supplier quality measurement and reporting, resolves SARNs and RNs, initiates root cause analysis, and implements supplier corrective and preventive action plans. The role supports continuous improvement and warranty cost recovery, collaborates with sourcing and materials colleagues to improve supplier cost, quality, and throughput, and provides technical input to supplier selection and evaluation. The role also coordinates with engineering on CPPD, NPI, and CPI activities, including proving designs for production, configuration management, deviations, supplier designs, specification approvals, and cost-reduction goals. It leads PPAP and develops the FAPITP with initial input from Design Engineering, and provides input to the Buyer regarding supplier tooling purchases. Some travel may be required. The position is onsite five days per week.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree from a college or university; preferably in engineering.
Familiarity with manufacturing processes used to produce components and assemblies, and knowledge of shop operations and maintenance procedures.
Familiarity with engineering practices and process planning, including interpretation of drawings, tooling concepts, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), and functional testing.
Familiarity with project management and Design of Experiment (DOE).
Understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles.
Familiarity with quality management principles.

Responsibilities

Provide technical accountability for assigned purchased parts from initial concept through the product life cycle, including quality management.
Lead resolution of quality problems involving purchased materials and engineering issues.
Develop concept drawings, communicate concepts to suppliers, review and accept designs and drawings, and perform Windchill, BAAN, tooling management, and Q Notes activities.
Act as a technical liaison between external suppliers and internal customers, including through supplier site visits.
Participate in and potentially lead cross-functional projects using 6 Sigma tools; at the senior level, lead projects of increased complexity and strategic value.
Participate in developing supplier quality metrics and gather and distribute measurements monthly.
Review, analyze, and report supplier quality performance data and trends.
Serve as the focal point for resolution of Supplier Advanced Reject Notices (SARNs) and Reject Notices (RNs).
Initiate root cause analysis and implement supplier corrective and preventive action plans.
Participate in continuous process improvement and warranty cost recovery related to supplier quality, including analysis of line-stop and rework charges.
Collaborate with Sourcing Specialists, Buyers, Supplier Development Engineers, and Material Schedulers to improve supplier cost, quality, and throughput.
Maintain knowledge of technological developments and trends to guide commodity teams in design, quality, and manufacturing advancement.
Provide technical subject-matter input to supplier selection and participate in supplier surveys, qualification, selection, and ongoing evaluation.
Coordinate with engineering on CPPD, NPI, and CPI activities, including production readiness, configuration management, deviations, supplier designs, specification approvals, and cost-reduction goals.
Lead the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) and develop the First Article Production Inspection Test Plan (FAPITP) with initial input from Design Engineering.
Identify supplier tooling needs and provide purchase input to the Buyer.