Supplier Quality Engineer - eBOS Business Support

Nextpower•Nashville, TN

About The Position

The Supplier Quality Engineer – eBOS Business Support is responsible for ensuring the quality, reliability, and performance of Nextpower’s supplier base supporting eBOS products. This role drives supplier qualification, audit, and development activities while leading root cause analysis and corrective action efforts to resolve critical quality issues. The SQE partners closely with suppliers to implement robust quality systems, validate inspection processes and gaging, and deploy statistical process control methods to ensure ongoing compliance with Nextpower standards. This position owns supplier quality performance metrics—including DPPM, early life failures, and RMAs—while implementing scorecards and optimizing inspection strategies to continuously improve outcomes. The role requires strong technical expertise in PPAP, FAI, MSA, GD&T, ISO 9001 auditing, and SPC tools, along with the ability to influence suppliers, drive process improvements, and support cross-functional stakeholders in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility-scale power plants. Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power. Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data-driven insights, and advanced automation. Together, we’re building the foundation for the world’s next generation of clean energy infrastructure.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in quality/manufacturing engineering in a related industry experience required
5+ years of experience in quality engineering in a related industry required
A self-starter and a passion for making a real difference in a fast-growing company and industry
Ability to multi-task and support requests from multiple internal and external requestors
An intimate understanding of Supplier Quality best practices
Analytical skills using Excel and SPC tools (Minitab, etc)
Versed in problem solving techniques
Experience in auditing manufacturing facilities, or processes in accordance with ISO 9001 QMS
Knowledge about GD&T tolerancing, AQL inspection, Zero defects philosophy
Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Able to work under pressure, tight deadlines, and resourcefulness in solving problems
Strong project management, organizational skills, and keen attention to detail
The ability to generate new ideas and follow through to completion
Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal and presentations skills
Excellent people skills, an upbeat and enthusiastic attitude
Self-Driven, self-motivated and making responsible decisions
Ability to effectively interface with senior management and staff
Superior professionalism, judgment, and strong work ethic
Great team players and able to adapt to work in multi-cultural environment with different departments

Responsibilities

Audit new suppliers and make recommendations of whether we do business with them, based on the level of risk
Document audit results via a professional report that can be shared with financing partners
Provide guidance and support to suppliers to implement robust quality processes into their factory
Complete Quality requirements input into PPAPs, Critical Dimensions or aspects on prints, Inspection check sheet preparation, Measuring system plans, FAI process instructions and completion, MSA, Pre-production plan, production ramp up plan and sample inspections, Inline critical dimension/aspect checks, self-certification of suppliers
Be responsible for the specification and validation of inspection tools and gages for suppliers
Take ownership of and develop technical process improvement strategies at supplier facilities backed up by SPC data (Cp, CpK, P Chart, Xbar, etc.) to ensure compliance
Monitor key performance indicators for supplier quality, such as early life failures, DPPMs, and RMA rate
Own supplier performance results by monitoring, driving, and optimizing Inspection frequency based on DPPM outcome to ensure supplier quality compliance
Lead solving critical supplier quality issues. For example, when a supplier produces a product that does not meet Nextpower standards, deploys to a project site and lead root cause/corrective action activity
Manage timely resolution of supplier failure, corrective actions and preventive actions and drive their resolution through regularly set meetings with suppliers
Guide and mentor suppliers on how to improve their quality over time
Implement the supplier scorecard to measure ongoing supplier performance
Own and drive the relationship between NX and suppliers relating to quality performance, trends, and all corrective actions