Supplier Quality/Development Engineer

Trane Italia•Columbia, SC

4d•$77,963 - $126,200•Onsite

About The Position

This role is responsible for qualifying and developing suppliers, resolving supplier-related quality issues, improving process capability, and ensuring supplied materials and components consistently meet quality, delivery, and performance requirements. The ideal candidate will collaborate closely with suppliers and cross-functional internal teams — including sourcing, procurement, manufacturing, engineering, and quality — to reduce supply risk, strengthen supplier performance, and support plant and business objectives.

Requirements

Bachelors degree preferred. Will consider experience in lieu of a degree.
5+ experience in supplier quality, supplier development, manufacturing quality, or process engineering.
Working knowledge of quality tools and methodologies including PPAP, APQP, FMEA, SPC, MSA, and CAPA.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, GD&T, and tolerances.

Responsibilities

Lead supplier qualification, assessment, onboarding, and development activities for both new and existing suppliers.
Monitor, evaluate, and improve supplier performance in the areas of quality, delivery, responsiveness, and process capability.
Conduct supplier audits, process reviews, and capability assessments to verify compliance with technical, quality, and business requirements.
Drive supplier corrective and preventive actions using structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, 5 Why, and root cause analysis.
Support new product introduction and supplier readiness through APQP, PPAP, FMEA, control plans, and validation activities.
Partner with manufacturing, sourcing, procurement, engineering, and quality teams to resolve supplier-related issues impacting production, quality, and delivery.
Review and interpret technical documentation including drawings, specifications, dimensional reports, inspection plans, and capability studies.
Lead containment activities and support disposition decisions for nonconforming supplier material.
Develop and execute supplier improvement plans focused on quality systems, process controls, manufacturing discipline, and continuous improvement.
Analyze supplier quality trends, performance metrics, and defect data to identify risks, drive preventive actions, and improve overall supplier performance.
Support supplier change management, process changes, deviation requests, and launch readiness activities.
Participate in cost reduction, process optimization, and value improvement initiatives across the supply base.
Travel to supplier locations as needed to support audits, investigations, supplier qualifications, and development efforts about 5%.