Supplier Quality Engineer

RFA Engineering•Dubuque, IA

44d•Onsite

About The Position

RFA Engineering is seeking a growth-oriented Supplier Quality Engineer to become an integral part of their engineering team. The selected candidate will work with an experienced engineering staff using state-of-the-art engineering tools & processes. This position will operate onsite at our customer's world-class engineering and manufacturing facility. This is a full-time position with a full benefit package that includes opportunities for professional growth, direct hire by our customers, and additional opportunities within our own organization. We are seeking a Supplier Quality Engineer to lead the development and validation of weldment and sheet metal suppliers. This role focuses on assessing manufacturing capabilities, tooling, fixturing, inspection processes, and quality systems to ensure suppliers can consistently produce components that meet engineering and quality requirements. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in welding, fabrication, GD&T, metrology, and supplier quality, with the ability to drive root cause analysis, implement corrective actions, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to improve supplier performance and product quality.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Quality Engineering, or equivalent experience.
3+ years of experience in supplier quality, manufacturing engineering, quality engineering, or fabrication-focused manufacturing environments.
Strong understanding of welding processes, fabrication methods, and sheet metal manufacturing best practices.
Ability to read, interpret, and apply engineering drawings and GD&T requirements.
Experience evaluating manufacturing process controls and quality assurance systems.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience performing root cause analysis and corrective action validation.
Ability to effectively communicate technical requirements to suppliers and internal stakeholders.
Willingness and ability to travel to supplier locations as required.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing or auditing weldment suppliers.
Knowledge of common welding processes including MIG, TIG, robotic welding, and structural fabrication practices.
Understanding of fixture design, tooling validation, and process capability studies.
Experience with APQP, PPAP, Control Plans, PFMEA, and supplier quality processes.
Working knowledge of measurement systems and inspection methodologies.
Experience reviewing and interpreting CMM reports and dimensional analysis data.
Familiarity with metrology equipment including CMMs, laser trackers, portable arms, and conventional inspection tools.
Experience supporting supplier development, sourcing transitions, or quality improvement initiatives.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple supplier projects simultaneously.
Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.

Responsibilities

Develop and validate supplier capabilities for welded fabrications and sheet metal components.
Assess supplier manufacturing processes, tooling, fixturing, inspection methods, and quality systems to ensure production readiness.
Benchmark current production methods and product quality standards against prospective supplier capabilities.
Evaluate supplier capacity to manufacture components meeting established quality, dimensional, and performance requirements.
Review supplier process controls and inspection plans to confirm consistent product quality.
Verify supplier compliance with engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T requirements.
Lead supplier audits and capability assessments focused on fabrication, welding, machining, and inspection processes.
Investigate manufacturing and quality issues at supplier locations and drive root cause analysis activities.
Validate corrective actions and preventive measures implemented by suppliers.
Document supplier assessments, technical findings, capability studies, and improvement recommendations.
Collaborate with design, manufacturing, supply chain, and quality teams to support supplier development initiatives.
Support continuous improvement efforts related to supplier quality, process capability, and product performance.