Supplier Development and Quality Engineer

In this role you will ensure supplier quality for machining and welding, driving qualification, industrialization, and ramp-up to secure VAT’s material availability. You will work with global suppliers, leading audits, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions to meet VAT standards and customer requirements. You’ll collaborate across Engineering, Operations and Strategic Sourcing to mitigate risk and improve supplier performance. This is a hands-on, international role that shapes supplier capability at scale and supports growth.

• Own supplier qualification and development for machining and welding suppliers globally
• Assess supplier capability, process maturity and readiness for serial production
• Drive supplier development, industrialization and ramp up with clear action ownership
• Support relocations, second source implementation and qualification projects
• Train suppliers in VAT requirements, standards, technologies and process expectations
• Lead supplier complaints, root cause analysis and corrective actions using 8D methodology
• Review and approve ISIR, PPAP and process qualification documentation
• Monitor supplier KPIs, process capability and risk trends; define improvement actions with suppliers and procurement
• Plan and perform system and process audits for machining, welding and manufacturing controls
• Audit CNC turning, milling, grinding, multi axis machining, TIG, orbital, laser and vacuum soldering processes
• Drive closure and effectiveness verification of audit findings
• Support supplier related Change Requests, customer escalations and shortage prevention with technical risk assessments
• Lead supplier recovery actions, including capability assessments, material risk assessments and top management escalation support
• Define and drive actions to secure material availability in close alignment with Engineering, Operations and Strategic Sourcing

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or similar
• 5 to 10+ years of experience in supplier quality, manufacturing engineering or supplier development
• Strong quality management, engineering or manufacturing background in machining and welding
• Experience in supplier audits, process qualification, ramp up and corrective action management
• Practical experience with supplier relocations, second sources or supplier recovery situations
• Good understanding of ISO 9001, ISO 3834 and semiconductor customer requirements
• Ability to work in international matrix organizations with regular supplier travel
• Strong communication, negotiation, project management and stakeholder management skills
• High level of resilience, ownership and flexibility
• CNC machining technologies including turning, milling, grinding and multi axis machining
• Welding technologies including TIG, orbital, laser and vacuum soldering
• Technical drawing interpretation, GD&T and specification review
• ISIR, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA, Control Plans and process validation
• Root cause analysis, 8D, 5 Why and corrective action effectiveness verification
• Process validation and capability analysis including Cp, Cpk and KPI monitoring
• Supplier auditing, process assessments and risk based supplier development
• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 3834 and manufacturing process control
• Project management, stakeholder management and escalation handling
• Fluent German and English skills (written and spoken)

• Strong communication
• Negotiation
• Stakeholder management
• ISO 9001, ISO 3834
• CNC turning, milling, grinding, multi-axis machining
• TIG, orbital, laser and vacuum soldering welding