Prin. Supplier Technical Engineer

Solar Turbines•Gardena, CA

10d•$120,600 - $180,900•Onsite

About The Position

The Supplier Technical Engineer has technical accountability for assigned purchased parts from initial concept through the product life cycle, including all aspects of quality management. The role serves as a liaison between internal customers—including operations leadership, engineering, NPI teams, and aftermarket groups—and external supplier contacts. It reports to the Supply Chain Manager and/or Site Sourcing Manager and serves as a technical resource for Supply Chain; at higher levels, it also provides mentorship and technical leadership. The position leads resolution of quality and engineering issues associated with purchased materials; manages concept drawings, supplier communications, design reviews and approvals, Windchill and BAAN activities, tooling, and Q Notes; and supports supplier quality measurement, performance analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement. It collaborates with sourcing, buying, supplier development, scheduling, and engineering teams on supplier selection and qualification, product and process development, NPI, cost reduction, PPAP, and first-article inspection planning. Some travel may be required. The position is onsite five days a week.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree from a college or university, preferably in engineering.
Familiarity with manufacturing processes used to produce components and assemblies, shop operations, and maintenance procedures.
Familiarity with engineering practices and process planning, including drawing interpretation, tooling concepts, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), and functional testing.
Familiarity with project management and Design of Experiment (DOE).
Understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles.
Familiarity with quality management principles.
Some travel may be required.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership in resolving quality problems associated with purchased materials and engineering issues.
Manage concept drawings, communicate concepts to suppliers, review and accept designs and drawings, and perform related Windchill and BAAN activities, tooling management, and Q Notes.
Act as a technical liaison between external suppliers and internal customers, including through supplier site visits.
Participate in and potentially lead cross-functional projects using 6 Sigma tools; at senior levels, lead projects of greater complexity and strategic value.
Participate in developing supplier quality metrics and gathering and distributing measurements monthly.
Review, analyze, and report supplier quality performance data and trends; serve as the focal point for SARN and RN resolution.
Initiate root cause analysis and implement supplier corrective and preventative action plans.
Participate in continuous process improvement and warranty cost recovery related to supplier quality, including analysis of line-stop and rework charges.
Collaborate with Sourcing Specialists, Buyers, Supplier Development Engineers, and Material Schedulers to improve supplier cost, quality, and throughput.
Maintain knowledge of technological developments and trends to guide commodity teams in design, quality, and manufacturing advancement.
Provide technical subject-matter input to supplier selection; participate in supplier surveys, qualification, selection, and ongoing evaluation.
Coordinate with engineering personnel and CPPD, NPI, and CPI teams on design-to-production, configuration management, deviations, supplier designs, specification approvals, and cost-reduction goals.
Lead the PPAP process and develop the FAPITP with initial input from Design Engineering.
Identify supplier tooling needs and provide purchase input to the Buyer.