Supplier Development Engineer

American Battery Solutions • Springboro, OH

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Supplier Development Engineer is a hands-on role responsible for supplier selection, evaluation, and component development for American Battery Solutions (ABS). The role develops supplier management systems and ensures suppliers’ systems, processes, and production capabilities meet product design intent, customer needs, and applicable quality standards. Working with component teams, the engineer develops new supply sources to improve cost competitiveness and address supply constraints, while serving as a key liaison between ABS and its suppliers.

The position leads supplier qualification and validation, audits, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement. It partners with suppliers and internal Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Procurement teams to investigate non-conformances, identify root causes, and improve quality, manufacturing processes, cost, logistics, and delivery. The engineer also supports new product development and launches, including APQP and PPAP activities, and communicates progress through reports and project meetings.

The role is based at ABS’s Advanced Battery Manufacturing Center in Springboro, Ohio. Work takes place primarily in a temperature-controlled office, with occasional work outdoors and in industrial environments.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering.
• At least five years of experience managing a certified quality management system, such as TS 16949 or ISO.
• At least four years of proven experience driving continuous quality improvement in a manufacturing environment.
• Exceptional mechanical or electrical aptitude, including an intuitive understanding of mechanical processes.
• Experience in the automotive industry.
• Customer quality assurance experience.
• Previous audit experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in Battery, Electronics, or Powertrain manufacturing is preferred.
• Previous work experience in an organization that supplied large OEMs.

Responsibilities

• Interface with component teams to prioritize supplier development needs by component, improving cost competitiveness or addressing supply constraints.
• Drive supplier selection through robust qualification processes.
• Assess new and existing suppliers’ product, cost, quality, capacity, fulfillment, performance, and delivery capabilities, including compliance with TS 16949, ISO 9001, and other applicable requirements.
• Drive supplier improvements using Lean methodologies, supplier scorecards, audits, systematic problem-solving, and process improvement plans.
• Track supplier performance indicators, publish scorecards, and develop suppliers’ ability to meet or exceed expectations based on their rankings.
• Consult with and coach Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Procurement teams to improve quality and manufacturing processes, minimize waste, introduce products, and improve product design cost-effectively.
• Provide technical expertise and leadership in supplier sourcing and development relating to technology, performance, quality, cost, logistics, and delivery.
• Lead investigations of major problems and special projects, developing working relationships with suppliers and the supply chain on product development and procurement.
• Lead solutions for supplier component concerns and drive APQP, PPAP, customer and supplier interaction, VA/VE support, supplier component development and approval, and supplier cost improvements.
• Conduct new supplier validation audits and support supplier APQP.
• Support new product launches by working with suppliers to achieve key milestones.
• Work with Design and Manufacturing Engineering to define process parameters and criteria that ensure supplier process capability meets product and process requirements.
• Keep current with manufacturing and engineering trends relevant to product quality and contribute to continuous improvement activities.
• Write reports and present progress at project meetings and to clients.
• Conduct benchmarking studies to identify best practices, designs, and future trends.
• Perform root cause analysis, resolve problems, and promote quality improvement initiatives.
• Review engineering and manufacturing specifications to identify materials needed for product assembly.
• Conduct supplier quality control audits to ensure vendors and supplies comply with company and federal manufacturing and production standards.
• Communicate regularly with vendors to address concerns and foster continual improvement in working relationships.
• Interpret manufacturing audits, including ISO 9001 and other industry standards.
• Maintain a supplier database containing performance evaluations and quality control audits for access by company and manufacturing management personnel.
• Drive supplier quality performance, including new product development and product quality improvement.
• Adhere to federal and state regulations and company policies, processes, and procedures.
• Perform other duties as requested, directed, or assigned.
• Maintain predictable and reliable attendance.

Benefits

• Three weeks of vacation, up to 72 hours of sick time, 15 holidays, and parental leave.
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees and their family.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) offerings.
• Company-provided 401(k) savings plan with immediately vested matching contributions.
• Voluntary benefits offerings.
• Tuition assistance.
• Employee Referral Program.
• Employee development and career growth opportunities.
• Competitive salary and retirement program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level