Supplier Development Engineer - Fabrication

Eaton Corporation•Raleigh, NC

1d•$113,000 - $165,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Supplier Development Engineer is responsible for developing, qualifying, and improving supplier manufacturing performance to support business growth, quality, delivery, and cost objectives. This role partners closely with suppliers and cross-functional teams to assess manufacturing capability, drive process improvements, support new product introductions, and ensure production readiness across a diverse supply base.

Requirements

Technical degree in an engineering discipline or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
Minimum of 5 years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering, Supplier Development, Supplier Quality, Operations, or Supply Chain.
Experience with metal fabrication manufacturing processes including stamping, machining, welding, forming, fabrication assemblies, and related production technologies.
Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and supplier development methodologies.
Demonstrated ability to assess manufacturing capability and implement supplier improvement plans.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making skills.
Legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Lead Auditor qualification.
Lean and/or Six Sigma certification.
Experience supporting supplier transfers, NPI, industrialization, and capacity expansion initiatives.
Advanced technical or business degree.
Experience working across multiple facilities, regions, and cultures.
Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
Experience performing capacity analysis and production readiness assessments.
Knowledge of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence outcomes across multiple functions and locations.

Responsibilities

Evaluate and develop supplier manufacturing capabilities across metal fabrication processes including stamping, machining, welding, forming, and assembly operations.
Lead supplier assessments, audits, and improvement initiatives to enhance quality, capacity, delivery, and operational performance.
Support supplier transfers, new product introductions (NPI), capacity expansion projects, and industrialization activities.
Drive implementation of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) processes, Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, and SPC methodologies.
Analyze manufacturing processes and production systems to identify risks, constraints, and continuous improvement opportunities.
Collaborate with engineering, quality, operations, supply chain, and sourcing teams to ensure supplier readiness and successful program execution.
Lead root cause investigations and corrective action activities using structured problem-solving methodologies.
Conduct capacity analysis and evaluate production-rate readiness to support business requirements.
Influence supplier performance and drive sustainable improvements without direct authority.
Support Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives across the supplier network.
Travel as required to supplier and manufacturing locations.