Supplier Technical Assistance Engineer
About The Position
We are looking for a degreed engineer with prior manufacturing experience and a strong quality background that has the ability to build strong relationships with supplier partners for success. There will be significant collaboration with senior leaders in the Ford Customization, purchasing, assembly plant teams. The position requires excellent verbal and written communication skills and a passion for teamwork and collaboration. Ideal candidates for this position will have prior experience managing automotive suppliers for an OEM or experience supporting a supplier manufacturing site as a supplier engineer. Candidates are needed who have specific experience in automotive manufacturing, with the ability to travel. The STA Engineer position is a critical role in ensuring supplier quality and resolving manufacturing issues within a mod center environment. It requires a blend of technical expertise, problem-solving skills, communication and collaboration, and a strong understanding of manufacturing processes and quality systems.
Requirements
- BS in Engineering or related field.
- 2-5 years of experience with supplier manufacturing
- 2-5 Years - Assembly/Component plant manufacturing experience
- 2-5 Years - Proficiency with at least one of the automotive disciplines (body exterior, body interior, chassis, electrical, or powertrain).
- Fluent in English
- Strong communication and relationship building skills
- Ability to travel up to 30%
Nice To Haves
- MS in engineering
- 5-10 years of manufacturing experience in or with the automotive supply base
- Prior experience leading manufacturing feasibility assessments
- Prior experience leading industrialization projects
- Prior experience in the Lean manufacturing disciplines (e.g. Bill of Process, capacity planning, design to target, etc.)
- Knowledge of problem-solving quality skills preferred-black belt
Responsibilities
- Supplier Quality Improvement: The primary focus is on improving mod center supplier quality and reducing quality rejects (QRs). This involves leading process improvements, analyzing warranty concerns, and ensuring data accuracy related to QR/PPM.
- Containment and Problem Resolution: A significant part of the role involves containing quality issues arising from suppliers, managing stop-ship situations, and supporting root cause analysis for prevent reoccurrences that lead to enhanced launch process improvements.
- Plant Liaison: The STA Engineer acts as a bridge between the plant vehicle team (PVT), STA, and plant leadership, providing updates on supplier-related quality issues and participate in quality meetings.
- Technical Support and Development: The role includes developing and implementing STA deliverables, industrialization plans, and quality systems for suppliers, particularly those involved in modification centers ("mod centers").
- Collaboration and Communication: The position requires strong collaboration and effective communication with both internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
- QR (Quality Reject) performance improvement: This is a core metric the role aims to improve.
- Stop Ship: Managing situations where shipments are halted due to quality concerns.
- Standardized Mod Center PPAP requirements, Review and approve mod center PPAP for both VP and FCS content: PFMEA, Process Control Plans
- APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning): Developing manufacturing APQP.
- DIO (Dealer Invoiced Option): DIO wheel program / Support for FAD processes, QOS best practices, APQP support.
- FCG (Ford Custom Garage): Support initiative in 3rd party post gate release upfitter, collaborate to develop and establish quality system/processes.
Benefits
- Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
- Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
- Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
- Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
- Tuition assistance
- Established and active employee resource groups
- Paid time off for individual and team community service
- A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
- Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
