Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE)

Brooks Automation•Chelmsford, MA

26d•$94,280 - $127,555•Hybrid

About The Position

The Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) is responsible for strengthening supplier quality, manufacturing readiness, and Customer confidence across the Brooks supply base. This role works directly with suppliers to ensure Brooks receives high-quality materials, components, and products that support our global automation platforms. Successful SQEs at Brooks are technical problem solvers, supplier developers, and partnership builders who help suppliers become quality-driven, healthy, strategic, and aligned to Brooks Customer commitments. Make a direct impact on Brooks Customers by improving the quality and reliability of supplier-provided materials, components, and products. Work at the center of supplier development, quality improvement, manufacturing readiness, and strategic sourcing alignment. Help shape a supplier ecosystem built on quality, accountability, responsiveness, and long-term partnership.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, or a related technical field.
5–15 years of relevant experience in supplier quality, manufacturing quality, process engineering, supply chain, or a similar technical role.
Experience working directly with suppliers in production, high-complexity manufacturing, or technology-driven environments.
Demonstrated ability to lead supplier improvement projects, audits, quality issue resolution, corrective action activities, and non-conforming material review or disposition processes.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, material specifications, tolerances, quality requirements, and supplier technical documentation.
Strong familiarity with manufacturing technology, quality management systems, process controls, qualification methods, and supplier relationship management.
Flexibility to travel to supplier and Brooks sites.

Responsibilities

Own supplier quality performance, technical process capability, and continuous improvement for assigned suppliers.
Drive supplier readiness to support Brooks automation platforms, Customer delivery expectations, and semiconductor manufacturing requirements.
Assure Form, Fit, Function, and Reliability (FFFR) for all supplier-delivered parts supporting Brooks locations worldwide.
Use supplier quality data, audits, and performance trends to identify risk, prioritize action, and strengthen supplier capability.
Support urgent containment, recovery, and escalation actions when supplier-related issues affect production, delivery, or Customer commitments.
Lead qualification activities for new and existing suppliers to ensure capability, compliance, and long-term fit with Brooks requirements.
Perform supplier audits and assessments to evaluate manufacturing readiness, quality systems, process discipline, and risk controls.
Drive supplier development plans that improve quality performance, reduce risk, strengthen responsiveness, and support Customer commitments.
Ensure supplier processes are controlled, documented, qualified, and capable of consistently meeting Brooks product, FFFR, and quality requirements.
Review supplier process changes through established change control processes to ensure risks to FFFR, quality, and Customer commitments are understood before implementation.
Partner with design, manufacturing, sourcing, and operations teams to support key product lifecycle milestones such as NPI and block changes to help define specifications, tolerances, inspection plans, and quality controls.
Lead resolution of supplier quality issues, including identification and disposition of non-conforming material, FAIR rejections, escapes, incoming part defects, and Customer-impacting risks.
Facilitate root cause investigations using RCCA, 8D, and other structured problem-solving methods to eliminate recurrence.
Manage Corrective and Preventive Actions and verify effectiveness through evidence, data, and sustained supplier performance.
Coordinate containment, disposition, recovery, and follow-up actions with suppliers and internal teams to protect production and Customer commitments.
Track supplier quality metrics including defect rates, PPM, delivery quality, responsiveness, recurrence, non-compliance trends, and process stability.
Use Supplier Scorecards to frequently measure non-compliance, quality issues, responsiveness, recurrence, and supplier performance risks requiring early detection and timely resolution.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives with supplier leadership, engineering, quality, and production teams.
Engage and lead global cross-functional teams to ensure execution of site material stock purges.