Supplier Development Engineer

FEMA Corporation is seeking a Supplier Development Engineer (SDE) to blend technical expertise, project and people management skills to ensure the company’s goals and mission statement are met. The position of SDE at FEMA Corporation involves evaluating supplier’s capabilities, managing the APQP/PPAP process to be compliant with FEMA and Customer quality standards along with effective resolution of problems. The ideal candidate can think independently and be a thought-leader, while maintaining professional behavior and other qualities including decisiveness, communication, confidence, self-initiative, and high energy.

This position will involve 30-60% domestic and international travel to suppliers and customers, as necessary. The SDE position reports to the Quality Manager at FEMA Corporation’s Portage, MI facility. Normal work hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Key Areas of Responsibilities:  

Development Engineer – 80% of time

• Responsible for assessing supplier’s capabilities through onsite audits and performing supplier risk assessments to provide recommendations for supplier selection
• Proactively engage with assigned suppliers and coordinate cross-functional team activities around defined actions enabling aligned specifications, supplier validation and delivered quality
• Development of Supplier Product Quality through APQP and perform PPAP submission reviews. Utilization of AIAG methods for PFMEA, Control Plan and MSA throughout the process
• Provide periodic reports to key stakeholders on supplier performance
• Responsible for collaborating with various Engineering teams on new product development to ensure suppliers meet specifications and requirements
• Responsible for resolving issues related to supplier readiness and capability for new product launches
• Responsible for participating in cost and delivery initiatives for improvement
• Champion Continuous Improvement (CI) projects internally and externally

Quality Engineer – 20% of time

• Communicate and support resolution of product quality issues found in production
• Conduct internal and external audits of quality management systems and products
• Champion problem-solving and root cause analysis activities with suppliers to eliminate recurrence of non‐conformances

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering required

Experience Requirements: 

• Minimum 1 year work experience required
• Experience working within an ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems is required. Ideal candidate has a background with IATF 16949 Quality Management Systems
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) is desired. If no certification, willingness to attain while working is required

Technical Skills: 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Strong skills in applied metrology, blueprint reading and statistical data analysis
• APQP Working knowledge and process Management – Accountable for overseeing the launch of new components, including timing, quantity and quality
• Knowledge of various materials and manufacturing processes to optimize designs for cost, performance and manufacturability
• Regulatory Compliance and Standards: Ability to understand industry-specific requirements and standards such as ISO, ASME, ANSI, or other regulatory bodies
• Technical Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues, propose innovative solutions, and make data-driven decisions

Communication and Organizational Skills: 

• Must have excellent communication skills with the ability to interface directly with all levels of an organization concerning quality initiatives and project updates
• Coordinate project timelines with stakeholders and cross-functional teams, including continuous improvement and new development activities, collaborating with internal and external resources
• Consult with the Quality Manager and Engineering Managers to identify and implement cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality

FEMA is an EOE. Interested candidates can send their resume to FEMA Corporation at 1716 Vanderbilt Ave, Portage, MI 49024, email to employment@fema-corp.com  or submit through our website.