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Senior Supplier Development Engineer

Waltham, United States

We are seeking a highly experienced and technically adept Supplier Development Engineer to lead supplier engagement strategies across high-value and complex component categories. As a senior-level individual contributor, you will be instrumental in driving supplier selection, qualification, readiness in support of New Product Introductions (NPI), technology roadmap alignment, and scalable production.

This role requires close collaboration with Product Development, Hardware Engineering, and Global Operations teams to develop world-class supplier partnerships and ensure performance, Quality, cost, and time-to-market objectives are met.

Key Responsibilities

Lead supplier engagement strategies (Quality, Delivery, Performance) across high-impact commodity areas such as semiconductors, PCBAs, perception systems, connectors, and precision mechanical parts.
Act as the technical liaison between Engineering and suppliers to ensure alignment on performance, manufacturability, and Quality expectations.
Drive supplier qualification and production readiness for NPI and volume manufacturing, ensuring compliance with capability, capacity, and regulatory standards.
Conduct technical assessments and audits of supplier facilities and processes, delivering detailed feedback and corrective action plans.
Identify and mitigate supply chain risks such as geopolitical exposure, component obsolescence, and long lead times through proactive planning and diversification.
Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and drive supplier improvement initiatives to resolve Quality and delivery performance issues.
Support and contribute to continuous improvement efforts across supplier development processes, documentation, and team knowledge sharing.
Represent Supplier Development in cross-functional reviews, product milestone meetings, and executive-level supplier negotiations

Core Competencies

Execution: Consistently delivers high-quality results under pressure by following efficient, effective processes.
Collaboration: Builds productive partnerships and communicates effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
Innovation: Embraces and drives continuous improvement and technology adoption within supplier and sourcing processes.
Adaptability: Maintains momentum and optimism in dynamic, fast-paced, and uncertain environments

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Deep understanding of component manufacturing processes, including electronics (e.g., PCBA) and mechanical systems (e.g., CNC machining, optics, injection molding).
Proficient in reading and interpreting complex engineering drawings, stack-ups, and tolerance analyses (mechanical and electrical).
Strong expertise in supplier qualification, Quality Management Systems (e.g., ISO, IATF), and tools such as APQP, PPAP, RCA, and FMEA.
Skilled in global supplier development, supplier Quality improvement, and supply chain risk mitigation.
Experienced in working within cross-functional, fast-paced environments with evolving priorities.
Proven leadership and influencing skills across multiple disciplines, global regions, and supplier tiers.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field required; Master’s degree preferred.
6+ years of experience in Supplier Development, Sourcing, Manufacturing Engineering, or Supplier Quality within high-tech or automotive environments.
Direct experience supporting NPI, technology ramp-up, and strategic sourcing, supplier quality in high-volume or mission-critical product categories.
Hands-on experience in supplier development, technical reviews, and manufacturing process optimization.
Preferred certifications: Lean, Six Sigma, CQE, PMP, or equivalent Quality/Operations credentials.

Travel Requirements