Job Description

The Supplier Quality Engineer supports supplier quality initiatives that enable the business to achieve operational and strategic quality objectives across the supply base. This role collaborates closely with suppliers, sourcing, engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams to improve supplier performance, ensure product and process compliance, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and support effective quality planning and problem resolution throughout the product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, customers, sourcing teams, manufacturing, engineering, and other stakeholders to improve quality and business outcomes.
• Apply Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) methodologies, and Cummins-specific quality tools to develop and improve supplier manufacturing processes.
• Participate in supplier audits, assess manufacturing process effectiveness, identify risks and non-conformances, and support corrective action implementation.
• Support supplier quality issue resolution through structured problem-solving methodologies, root cause analysis, corrective action development, and verification of effectiveness.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the supply base using Lean, Six Sigma, and other proven quality improvement methodologies.
• Support quality performance planning and supplier quality improvement activities for assigned commodities, products, or supplier segments.
• Review and evaluate Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) documentation and provide disposition decisions including approval, interim approval, or rejection for assigned submissions.
• Coordinate with suppliers, Supplier Quality Engineers (SQEs), sourcing managers, and engineering teams to obtain required PPAP documentation and resolve submission gaps.
• Manage and monitor interim approvals, expired PPAPs, and change-related quality documentation to ensure compliance and timely closure.
• Maintain established turnaround time (TAT) targets for PPAP reviews and dispositions.
• Collaborate with change management teams to track engineering and supplier changes impacting PPAP submissions and supplier qualification activities.
• Support development and validation of manufacturing and measurement systems capable of consistently meeting technical, customer, and regulatory requirements.
• Contribute to supplier quality project planning, execution, and performance monitoring to ensure successful program launches and ongoing supplier performance improvement.

Skills and Competencies

Quality & Supplier Management

• Supplier Quality Management
• Supplier Performance Improvement
• Supplier Product Reliability Assessment
• Supplier Quality Project Planning and Execution
• Quality Systems and Standards Compliance

Technical Competencies

• Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
• Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
• DFMEA and PFMEA
• Control Plans
• Statistical Process Control (SPC)
• Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
• Source Release Processes
• Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)
• Engineering Drawing Interpretation
• Manufacturing Process Design and Validation
• Measurement Process Design

Problem Solving & Analysis

• Root Cause Analysis
• Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA)
• Statistical Analysis and Data Interpretation
• Continuous Improvement Methodologies
• Lean Manufacturing Principles
• Six Sigma Methodologies

Auditing & Compliance

• Supplier Auditing
• ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 Standards
• Quality Risk Assessment
• Regulatory and Customer Compliance Requirements

Professional Skills

• Effective Communication
• Customer Focus
• Stakeholder Management
• Cross-functional Collaboration
• Influencing and Negotiation Skills
• Project Coordination and Execution
• Conflict Resolution
• Cultural Awareness and Inclusion

Experience

• Entry-level to early-career engineering professional with relevant experience in supplier quality, manufacturing quality, quality systems, engineering, or related technical functions.
• Experience working with supplier quality processes, APQP, PPAP, quality audits, manufacturing processes, or quality improvement initiatives is preferred.
• Exposure to automotive, industrial manufacturing, heavy equipment, or related industries is advantageous.
• Experience collaborating with suppliers, sourcing teams, engineering, and manufacturing organizations is beneficial.
• Knowledge of quality management systems, statistical tools, and structured problem-solving methodologies is preferred.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Quality Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical or scientific discipline required.
2. Additional certifications in Quality Management, Six Sigma, Lead Auditing, APQP, or related disciplines are advantageous.
3. Position may require licensing or authorization to comply with export control or sanctions regulations.

Cummins is an equal opportunity employer. Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, sex, color, disability, national origin, age, religion, union affiliation, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship, gender identity, or other status protected by law.