NPI Supplier Quality Engineer

Position Summary

The NPI Supplier Quality Engineer is responsible for executing proactive supplier quality activities and supplier development actions to support flawless new product introductions. This role focuses on evaluating supplier capabilities, ensuring process readiness, and validating the quality of purchased components and assemblies. The position requires strong technical expertise—particularly in brazing, welding, furnace operations, leak testing, casting, machining, and powertrain component balancing—to ensure suppliers can consistently deliver high‑quality components on schedule.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with supplier processes such as brazing, welding, furnace operations, leak testing, casting, machining, and powertrain component balancing.
• Demonstrated ability to lead supplier improvement initiatives and supplier development programs.
• Prior experience supporting NPI programs or APQP execution in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience delivering training on PPAP, APQP, SPC, or problem‑solving methodologies.
• Familiarity with global or diverse supply bases and working with cross‑functional project teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a technical field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in quality engineering or manufacturing engineering.
• Advanced English communication skills (written and verbal), including the ability to write technical reports and present cross‑functionally at all levels.
• Strong technical problem‑solving skills and experience with RCA tools.
• Advanced knowledge of quality tools, including SPC, APQP, 8D, PPAP, DOE, CAPA, MSA, PFMEA, Control Plans, and Quality Systems.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects effectively.
• Ability to establish collaborative working relationships with internal teams and global suppliers.

Position Overview

The NPI Supplier Quality Engineer leads key activities to ensure high‑quality components and assemblies during product development and launch. Responsibilities include:

• Supporting onboarding of new suppliers in collaboration with Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Development.
• Performing Quality System Audits and driving corrective actions to meet Polaris requirements.
• Identifying high‑risk suppliers and developing performance improvement plans.
• Training suppliers to successfully execute PPAPs, APQP, and Corrective Actions on time.
• Collaborating with suppliers and engineering teams during design reviews for Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA).
• Reviewing high‑risk designs/components for Key Product Characteristics (KPCs) and GD&T accuracy.
• Ensuring PFMEA and Control Plans address risks and are fully implemented at suppliers.
• Conducting process readiness and production readiness assessments at supplier facilities, driving closure of action plans.
• Ensuring suppliers maintain 100% PPAP compliance for pre‑production and production builds.
• Supporting continuous improvement in supplier processes and validating existing supplier suitability for future awards.
• Driving improvements in key metrics such as PPM, RMO reduction, and corrective action effectiveness.
• Leading cross‑functional root cause problem‑solving activities for production and service quality issues.
• Collaborating with Purchasing, Engineering, and Plant Quality to reduce supplier non‑conformances.
• Promoting SPC and continuous improvement methodologies across the supply base.
• Reviewing supplier Process Change Requests (PCRs) and assessing risk and validation requirements.
• Fast‑paced office and manufacturing environment.
• Up to 50% travel required to supplier sites.