Supplier Quality Engineering Specialist

ABB•Fort Smith, AR

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Supplier Quality Engineering Specialist is responsible for ensuring supplier quality, readiness, and performance across the value chain by leading supplier qualification, audits, onboarding, and PPAP activities to support repeatable, compliant production. The role owns supplier nonconformance management, driving containment, root‑cause analysis, and sustainable corrective actions in close partnership with suppliers and internal teams. This position plays a key role in standardizing and continuously improving supplier quality processes using Lean and Six Sigma principles, while monitoring supplier performance through KPIs and scorecards. Acting as the primary quality interface between suppliers and cross‑functional stakeholders, the Specialist ensures disciplined execution, data‑driven decision‑making, and continuous improvement to strengthen supplier capability and overall business performance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field with minimum 10 years experience OR Associate's degree with minimum 12 years experience and ability to travel 50-70%.
Experience in Supplier Quality, Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Quality, or a related role, with hands‑on ownership of supplier issues and corrective actions.
Working knowledge of supplier qualification and audits, PPAP (or equivalent readiness processes), and structured problem‑solving methods (8D, A3, DMAIC).
Proven ability to lead containment, root‑cause analysis, and corrective actions using KPIs, scorecards, and data to verify effectiveness and manage risk.
Demonstrated ability to map workflows, eliminate waste, standardize processes, and drive adoption; Lean / Six Sigma experience preferred.
Comfortable interpreting technical requirements (drawings/specifications) and working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and suppliers to resolve quality issues.
Candidates must already have work authorization that would permit them to work for ABB in the US.

Nice To Haves

Lean Six Sigma or ASQ certifications (CQE/CQA) are a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead supplier qualification, audits, onboarding, and PPAP / production readiness activities, ensuring suppliers meet quality, compliance, and manufacturing capability requirements for repeatable production.
Own supplier nonconformance management, including containment, root‑cause analysis, and corrective actions (8D/A3); partner with suppliers to implement sustainable fixes and support claims or cost recovery as needed.
Establish and continuously improve end‑to‑end supplier quality processes (incoming inspection, MRB interfaces, corrective action flow, performance reviews), applying Lean / Six Sigma methods to reduce cycle time and improve supplier capability.
Monitor supplier performance through scorecards and KPIs, lead regular reviews, maintain accurate quality documentation and systems, and serve as the primary quality interface between suppliers and cross‑functional teams.

Benefits

Health, Life & Disability
Choice between two medical plan options: A PPO plan called the Copay Plan OR a High Deductible Health Plan (with a Health Savings Account) called the High Deductible Plan.
Choice between two dental plan options: Core and Core Plus
Vision benefit
Company paid life insurance (2X base pay)
Company paid AD&D (1X base pay)
Voluntary life and AD&D – 100% employee paid up to maximums
Short Term Disability – up to 26 weeks – Company paid
Long Term Disability – 60% of pay – Company paid. Ability to “buy-up” to 66 2/3% of pay.
Supplemental benefits – 100% employee paid (Accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance
Parental Leave – up to 6 weeks
Employee Assistance Program
Health Advocate support resources for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation and virtual health, and infertility/adoption
Employee discount program
401k Savings Plan with Company Contributions
Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP)
11 paid holidays.
Salaried exempt positions are provided vacation under a permissive time away policy.