Quality Engineer (Supplier Focused)

Job description

Working at Freudenberg: We will wow your world! Responsibilities: Maintain and improve the Quality & HSE Management System, ensuring alignment with global standards and customer and supplier expectations. Evaluate supplier performance and facilitate supplier audits, capability assessments, and corrective action activities to strengthen supplier quality. Support supplier development initiatives to improve quality, reduce risk, and enhance process capability, partnering closely with Purchasing and Engineering. Partner with Sales, Engineering, and suppliers to analyze warranty returns, ensuring robust root‑cause analysis and corrective actions while managing the claim process for customer and supplier issues. Outline, monitor, and improve Quality Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), developing and leading action plans to elevate internal and supplier-related quality performance. Facilitate internal, external, customer, and supplier audits while leading cross‑site audit activities and driving audit‑related improvements. Deliver Quality & HSE training to internal teams and provide guidance on quality standards, systems, and tools, including coaching on measurement systems and problem‑solving methodologies. Serve as a liaison for quality‑related communication with customers and suppliers, communicating trends, systemic issues, and improvement actions. Lead or support quality improvement projects using Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem‑solving methods while supporting process improvements, equipment upgrades, and measurement system enhancements. Prepare and maintain PPAP documentation and other required records, ensuring compliance with internal procedures, industry standards, and customer and supplier specifications. Support measurement activities, sampling documentation, and analysis for prototypes and requalification while participating in APQP activities to ensure flawless product launches. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical field preferred; advanced degree or equivalent experience accepted. Experience in Quality, Manufacturing, or Supplier Quality preferred. Strong knowledge of quality systems, statistical tools, and audit practices. Experience with ISO standards, APQP, PPAP, and other core Quality tools. Relevant certifications, system experience, and training (ASQ certifications preferred). Professional‑level English language skills preferred. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Analytical capability with strong problem‑solving skills. Ability to interpret customer and supplier requirements and apply them effectively. Proficiency with spreadsheets, word processing, and data analysis tools. Internal auditing experience preferred. Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required. Communication & Collaboration: Communicates clearly and concisely, while engaging proactively with colleagues at all levels of the organization. Value for Customers: Anticipates, understands and meets internal/external customers’ needs and expectations. Develops solutions based on a customer centric approach. Innovation: Drives and supports innovative ideas, while taking informed risks to seek and develop new or improved solutions. Drive & Execution: Proactively identifies what needs to be done and takes action. Explores new ways and pursues new opportunities. ‎ ‎ The Freudenberg Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment opportunities are available to all applicants and associates without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership