Supplier Development Engineer - Chemicals & Polymers

Eaton Corporation•Raleigh, NC

1d•$113,000 - $165,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Eaton’s Corporate Sector division is seeking a Supplier Development Engineer focused on chemicals and polymers. This is a hybrid position based at one of the following locations: Beachwood, Ohio; Charlotte, North Carolina; Jackson, Michigan (Detroit Metro); Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin; Moon Township, Pennsylvania; or Raleigh, North Carolina. Candidates must currently live within 50 miles of one of those locations, except active-duty military service member candidates. No relocation benefit is offered. Significant supplier-site travel may be required, up to 50%. The expected annual salary range is $113,000–$165,000. The role develops supplier manufacturing capability, capacity, scalability, and operational readiness for current and future business requirements. It leads structured activities to identify and close systemic manufacturing, process, capacity, and operational gaps, and supports business growth, new product launches, supplier transfers, capacity expansion, and strategic supplier initiatives. The engineer works with Supplier Quality, Supply Chain, Engineering, Operations, COE, suppliers, and other stakeholders to deliver measurable and sustainable improvements. The position assesses chemical- and polymer-material supplier processes and controls, including formulation, raw material management, process parameters, characterization and testing, traceability, validation, and change management. It evaluates capacity and production-rate readiness, identifies risks and constraints, and leads mitigation, recovery, or expansion actions. It also supports APQP and supplier readiness, supplier assessments, structured problem solving, and technical recovery when performance issues reflect deeper capability gaps. Development outcomes are verified against measurable success criteria to ensure improvements are effective and sustained. Eaton does not offer employment immigration sponsorship or support for this position, including CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, or specified visa and immigration pathways. Eaton provides health and welfare benefits, retirement benefits, and programs for paid and unpaid time away from work; specific programs and options may depend on eligibility factors.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, or a related technical discipline.
At least five years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering, Supplier Development, Supplier Quality, Operations, or Supply Chain, including experience with thermoset, thermoplastic, resin, elastomer, adhesive, or other engineered polymer and chemical materials.
Demonstrated knowledge of material formulation and properties, raw material qualification, compounding and mixing, molding and curing, moisture and contamination controls, critical process parameters, material characterization and performance testing, lot and batch traceability, shelf-life and storage controls, process validation, change management, and manufacturing process controls.
Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and supplier-development methodologies.
Demonstrated experience assessing manufacturing capability and driving supplier improvement.
Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, and structured problem solving.
Experience with capacity analysis and production-rate readiness.
Knowledge of Lean or continuous improvement methodologies.
Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills.
Ability to influence and lead supplier improvement without direct authority.
Ability to lead cross-functional activities across multiple sites and functions.
Must currently reside within 50 miles of a listed Eaton location, unless exempt as an active-duty military service member candidate.
Must not require employment immigration sponsorship or support for this position.

Nice To Haves

Lead Auditor qualification.
Lean or Six Sigma certification.
Experience with supplier transfers, new product introduction, capacity expansion, and industrialization.
Experience working across multiple sites, regions, and cultures.
Advanced technical or business degree.

Responsibilities

Lead structured supplier development activities to identify and close manufacturing, process, capacity, and operational capability gaps.
Establish supplier development plans with clear objectives, actions, owners, timing, and measurable outcomes.
Assess supplier manufacturing processes and drive improvement using process capability analysis, Lean methodologies, structured problem solving, material flow, process controls, and applicable advanced quality tools.
Assess supplier controls for thermoset, thermoplastic, resin, and other chemical-based materials, including formulation, raw material management, process parameters, material characterization and testing, traceability, validation, and change management.
Assess production-rate readiness and capacity against current and future business requirements; identify constraints and risks and drive mitigation, recovery, or expansion plans.
Develop supplier readiness for business growth, new product introductions, supplier transfers, localization, volume increases, and capacity expansions, and address risks before they affect operations.
Lead the supplier-development workstream when quality, delivery, or operational issues stem from manufacturing, process, capacity, or systemic capability gaps; partner with the SQE and cross-functional resources within defined RASIC responsibilities.
Participate in Supplier Site Assessments and other risk-based assessments, evaluate capability and readiness, and drive actions for identified gaps.
Support APQP and supplier-readiness activities by evaluating manufacturing capability, capacity, scalability, and operational risks and driving development actions within the SDE scope.
Coach and support suppliers in structured problem solving, Lean, 8D, root-cause analysis, process capability, material management, and other applicable improvement methods.
Partner with Supplier Quality, Supply Chain, Engineering, Operations, COE, and other stakeholders according to established standard work and RASIC responsibilities.
Support critical supplier situations based on business risk and technical need.
Establish measurable success criteria, verify development objectives and improvement effectiveness, and confirm capability is sustained before closing development activities.
Lead improvement actions using tools such as problem solving, auditing, material management, and load and capacity planning.
Prioritize supplier-development activities by business impact and risk, communicate supplier issues to technical, operational, and leadership audiences, and execute with project-management discipline.