Senior Supplier Quality Engineer – Automotive 

About TPI

TPI Composites is a global provider of structural composites products and has 50 years of experience in the design, development, prototyping and serial production of advanced lightweight composite structures. We specialize in molding lightweight composite products for the Automotive and Wind Energy industries.  TPI Automotive also provides a full range of services that complement our customers’ extensive vehicle engineering capability. 

About the Role

The Senior Supplier Quality Engineer supports the Automotive Division by leading the Supplier Quality Assurance function. Works in a team environment with internal team and suppliers to develop and implement best practices that emphasize defect prevention, reduction in variation, and waste and provides for continuous improvements in meeting customer requirements. Collects root cause analysis and provides corrective feedback to prevent line stops due to supply issues. Manages the customer specific requirements and offer technical support to suppliers. Manages customer-specific requirements and offers technical support. Works on multiple phases or sub-tasks of projects or entire projects of high complexity, with results impacting on project completion.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Understands, supports, and drives many processes: supplier performance improvement process, PPAP (Production Part Approval Process), material approval process, sampling and inspection plan development, inspection methods, Measurement System Analysis, evaluation of quality systems, root cause and corrective action of supplier’s manufacturing problems, Non-Conformance Reports (NCR), and supplier/ material cost-out activity other related activities. 
• Supports the review of Customer Specific Requirements as part of the quality Team.
• Ensures that appropriate Customer Specific Requirements (CSR) are cascaded to supply base.
• Develops suppliers to ensure they understand Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive requirements and can drive continuous improvement and cost-out. 
• Manages all new supplier awards using Project Management Process and APQP Methodology.
• Ensures compliance to IATF during supplier selection and onboarding process. 
• Manages the Division Supplier Audit Plan and Lead Audits. 
• Supports Corporate Supply Chain Global Supplier Audits (as needed)
• Works with Global Supplier Quality Engineering team where there are overlaps in activities and best practices may already in place. 
• Develops and Manages Supplier Development Plans to monitor suppliers and manage the process going forward in accordance with IATF16949. 
• Develops and implement Supplier Scorecards throughout the Division in accordance with IATF standard reference 8.4.2.4, Supplier Monitoring. 
• Implement and manage Supplier Corrective Action process and Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) tracking at division level.  Drives Supplier Scorecard cadence and regular reviews for Automotive division. 
• Manages supplier risk for the division and annually conducts supplier Risk Assessments, working in conjunction with Global Supply Chain.  Manages risk mitigation plans coordinating with multiple groups and stakeholders. 
• Interfaces and maintains open communication with local and global resources (sourcing, supply chain, supplier quality, plant quality, engineering, program management, etc.) on topics including but limited to:
  • Supplier Monitoring
  • Global Supplier Audits
  • Material Qualifications/Cost Outs
  • PPAPs
  • Global Supplier Quality Issues
  • Global SCAR status meetings
• Supplier Monitoring (duplicate)
• Supports Supply Chain with Material Qualifications/Cost Outs (duplicate)
• Ensures that suppliers complete annual supplier questionnaire and compliance paperwork, and documentation is reviewed and complete in accordance with standards, regulations, Customer Specific Requirements (CSRs), and policies. 
• Manages sub supplier PPAPs. (duplicate)
• Participates in weekly and monthly Global Supplier Quality Team meetings.

Who we’re looking for:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in technical discipline, plus 5 years of IATF16949/automotive auditing experience of product, process, manufacturing, systems experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) / Production Parts Approval Process (PPAP) Experience
• Knowledge of automotive Core Tools: FMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, Process Capability, Run at Rate 
• Understands testing & verification, competent product validation techniques. 
• Prior experience in facilitating 8-D, Root Cause Corrective Actions in automotive industry. 
• Excellent written & verbal communication skills, and presentation skills. 
• Ability to communicate with customers professionally, clearly, both verbally and written. 
• Demonstrated analytical skills, detail oriented, and complex problem-solving skills.
• Effective planning, facilitating, and team coordination skills. 
• Understanding of business fundamentals and business acumen. 
• Practical application of Quality, Safety, and Regulatory standards (ISO9001/ IATF16949, ISO14001/45001, Conflict Minerals, etc). 
• Audit Certification and experience.
• Travel required up to 50% (domestic and international).

Desired

• IATF16949 Lead Auditor Certification. 
• ASQ Certification, CQE, CMQ/OE, CQA etc., Lean Six Sigma
• VDA 6.3 audit certification and experience. 
• Eight (8) plus years’ experience in quality in matrix organizations. 

Location

This position is based at our automotive composites products manufacturing plant in Warren, Rhode Island.