Sr. Supplier Development Engineer

Philips•Nashville, TN

22h•$117,000 - $208,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Supplier Development Engineer leads and executes targeted supplier development initiatives focused on niche technologies, supplier maturity advancement, Supplier-Owned Quality (SOQ), and First-Time-Right (FTR) performance. This role operates as a technical leader and change agent, directly engaging with strategic suppliers. This role is responsible for driving measurable supplier capability improvements, enabling long-term supplier autonomy, and supporting risk-based decision-making across the supply base.

Requirements

10+ years of experience with Bachelor’s or 7+ years with master’s in areas such as Quality Engineering, Safety Engineering, Process Engineering, Continuous Improvement Techniques or equivalent.
Strong understanding of medical device QMS, supplier controls, and regulatory expectations.
Ability to assess complex manufacturing and quality processes and identify risk-based improvement opportunities.
Knowledge of various special process strongly preferred (injection molding, etc.)
Bachelor’s/master’s degree in engineering science, Supply Chain Management, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering or equivalent.
Excellent communicator, negotiator, and relationship builder with internal and external partners.
High attention to detail, analytical thinking skills, and sound professional judgment.
Strong ability to work independently and manage multiple audits in parallel.
Willing and able to travel up to 50% domestically and internationally to supplier sites and flexibility to work across time zones as needed.
US work authorization is a precondition of employment. The company will not consider candidates who require sponsorship for a work-authorized visa, now or in the future.
For this position, you must reside in or within commuting distance to posted locations.

Nice To Haves

Problem solving methodology certifications

Responsibilities

Lead deep technical and process capability assessments for high-risk or specialized suppliers, including emerging technologies, to evaluate performance and identify gaps.
Drive resolution of critical supplier issues through root cause analysis, while identifying systemic risks and implementing sustainable mitigation strategies at both supplier and product levels.
Drive deployment of supplier maturity frameworks by assessing QMS effectiveness, process capability, and operational performance, translating findings into prioritized improvement roadmaps.
Monitor supplier maturity progression over time and integrate insights into sourcing strategies, supplier segmentation, and key business decisions.
Lead initiatives to shift quality ownership to suppliers by implementing robust process controls, in-process monitoring, and structured governance models.
Integrate FTR principles into APQP, NPI, and design transfer activities, ensuring alignment with CtQ requirements while proactively mitigating risks to improve first-pass yield and product conformance.
Serve as a technical subject matter expert by coaching suppliers and internal teams on quality tools, methodologies, and expectations, while driving adoption of standardized supplier development practices.
Promote consistency through training, knowledge sharing, and best practice deployment across teams and Business Units.
Lead complex supplier development programs for strategic and high-risk suppliers by defining objectives, KPIs, and success criteria while tracking progress and removing barriers to ensure measurable results.
Maintain regulatory and QMS knowledge, support audit best practices, and provide updates to stakeholders while contributing to continuous improvement of supplier development and audit programs.