Sr. Supplier Quality Engineer

JOIN THE TEAM THAT’S POWERING PROGRESS

Building cities. Driving commerce. Fueling Progress. For over 100 years, Allison has powered the vehicles and technology that move our world forward.

What powers us? Our employees. From the first person hired by James Allison in 1915 to the thousands across the globe who work for Allison today, we're driving progress everywhere because we employ top talent worldwide. In both the Allison Transmission and Allison Off-Highway Drive and Motion Systems business units, our team strives to Improve the Way the World Works.

Learn more about this role and how you can begin driving your career forward!

Benefits:

The below list features some of the benefits currently available. Eligibility may be subject to the terms and conditions of governing documents and available benefits may be subject to change at the company’s discretion.

• Choice of medical plans with prescription coverage

• Employer HSA contribution

• Dental & Vision Insurance

• Paid Parental Leave

• Short & Long-Term Disability

• Other voluntary benefits including: Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Identity Theft Protection and Pet Insurance

• 401K with generous Company match & contribution

• Accrued Paid Time Off

• 12 Paid Holidays + 1 Floating Holiday

• Robust employee wellness program

• Tuition assistance program

Job Description:

Primary Purpose of Role:

The Senior Supplier Quality Engineer is a strategic, hands-on role responsible for ensuring supplier performance and product/process quality across the supply base while leading cross-functional initiatives that introduce new suppliers, new products, or major process changes. This role blends deep technical quality engineering (APQP/PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC, audits, 8D) with program management (scope, schedule, risk, stakeholder management) to deliver new product launches, sustained quality, and total cost of ownership improvements. The ideal candidate partners closely with Procurement, Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain to drive supplier capability, reduce defects/PPM, and accelerate time-to-market.

The position requires a fully seasoned professional who has extensive expertise in the Automotive or Commercial Vehicle Industry. This person is accountable for significant enterprise-wide projects and problems. This person is a significant resource used to assist in the development of fellow CSQE’s in the areas of GD&T, APQP, and other Supplier Quality Engineering related subjects.

Key Responsibilities:

Supplier Quality Engineering

• Supplier Qualifications and Development
  • Assess and approve new suppliers: capability studies, process audits (ISO 9001 / IATF 16949 / AS9100 / ISO 13485 as applicable), QMS maturity, special process qualifications.
  • Create and execute supplier development plans to close gaps in quality systems, process controls, and measurement systems.
• Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) & PPAP
  • Lead APQP deliverables with suppliers: DFMEA/PFMEA review, Control Plans, Process Flow, MSA, capability (Cp/Cpk), run-at-rate, and PPAP submission levels per criticality.
  • Validate first articles and production parts; disposition, corrective actions, and escalation as needed.
• Process Control & Statistical Methods
  • Establish SPC at suppliers; define CTQs, sampling plans, AQLs, acceptance criteria; coach suppliers on DOE, capability improvement, and error-proofing (poka-yoke).
  • Ensure measurement systems are capable (Gage R&R), calibrations are compliant, and data integrity is maintained.

• Nonconformance Management
  • Lead supplier containment and corrective action (8D/A3/DMAIC) for defects, escapes, and field issues; verify effectiveness and prevent recurrence.
  • Manage SCARs (Supplier Corrective Action Requests) and systemic corrective actions across the supply base.
• Audits & Surveillance
  • Conduct process/product audits, layered process audits (LPA), and special process validations; monitor change control and supplier process stability.

Program Management (Supplier Quality Workstreams)

• Planning and Governance
  • Build integrated project plans (scope, schedule, budget) for supplier-related launches, transfers, or redesigns; align with stage-gate or Agile frameworks.
  • Maintain RAID logs (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies); facilitate cross-functional reviews and gate approvals.
• Execution & Delivery
  • Coordinate multi-site/multi-supplier readiness; track milestones (proto, pilot, run-at-rate, SOP), and drive critical path resolution.
  • Own supplier readiness metrics; ensure manufacturability, capacity, and logistics plans meet demand.
• Stakeholder & Change Management
  • Communicate status, risks, and decisions to leadership; align Procurement, Engineering, Quality, Operations, and Finance on tradeoffs.
  • Lead cross-functional problem-solving; coach teams on root cause analysis and decision quality.

Continuous Improvements & Transformation

• Champion cost-quality reductions (prevention vs. failure cost), yield improvements, and supplier capability uplift.
• Lead VA/VE efforts to reduce costs, improve manufacturing efficiencies, deliver quality components and/or assemblies.
• Identify and drive automation/analytics opportunities (PPM dashboards, SPC visibility, early warning systems).
• Contribute to category strategies with Procurement (dual-sourcing, risk mitigation, supplier consolidation, value engineering).

Key Performance Measures:

• Supplier PPM / DPPM: ≤ [target] within [months].
• On-Time PPAP/FAI Approval: ≥ [target]% for programs in scope.
• First-Pass Yield (FPY) at Supplier: ≥ [target]% and trending upward.
• Corrective Action Closure: Avg. cycle time ≤ [target] days; verified effectiveness ≥ [target]%.
• Audit Findings Closure: ≤ [target] days to close majors; reduction in repeat findings by [target]%.
• Launch Readiness (Run-at-Rate, Capacity): 100% suppliers green at SOP.
• Cost of Poor Quality (CoPQ): Year-over-year reduction of [target]% across assigned suppliers.
• On-Time Delivery (OTD): ≥ [target]% sustained post-launch.
• Savings/Value Engineering: Achieve [target] cost improvements without quality tradeoffs.

Competencies and Behaviors:

• Technical Depth & Judgment - Can challenge supplier process control and validate capability with data.
• Structured Problem Solving - Expert in root cause and corrective action with sustainable prevention.
• Program Leadership - Orchestrates multiple workstreams with clear governance and crisp communication.
• Negotiation & Influence - Partners with Procurement to drive supplier commitments and performance.
• Business Acumen - Balances quality, cost, delivery, and risk to meet product and transformation goals.
• Resilience & Ownership - Operates with urgency, escalates appropriately, and delivers outcomes.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Industria, Manufacturing, Electrical) or related field. Masters preferred.
• Technical Expertise:
  • APQP, PPAP, FAI, PFMEA/DFMEA, Control Plans, MSA (Gage R&R), SPC, capability analysis (Cp/Cpk), DOE, 8D/A3/DMAIC.
  • Auditing to ISO 9001 and relevant sector standards (e.g., IATF 16949, AS9100, ISO 13485). Lead auditor certification is a plus.
  • Proficiency with drawings/GD&T, metrology, special processes (e.g., heat treat, plating, molding, machining, PCBA/SMT), and PPV/NPV cost levers.
• Program Management: Proven delivery of complex, cross-functional programs; scheduling (MS Project/Smartsheet), risk management, and stakeholder communication.
• Tools: Statistical software (Minitab/JMP), PLM/ERP/MES familiarity, eQMS systems, and advanced Excel/Power BI for reporting.
• Proven skills in project and process management
• Ability to oversee several simultaneous projects
• Ability to manage conflict and strong organizational skills required
• Strong oral and written communication skills; comfortable and confident in presenting to hourly and salary, including senior executive leaders.

Experience:

• 10+ years of Supplier Quality/Manufacturing/Engineering with demonstrated program or project leadership; multi-supplier, multi-program launch experience strongly preferred.
• Complete working knowledge of AIAG standards - APQP, Control Plans, FMEA, PPAP, SPC, and MSA.
• Complete working knowledge of automotive industry 8D problem solving tool.
• Complete working knowledge in various advanced problem-solving skills - Six Sigma, Red X, Kepner Tregoe, or equivalent processes
• Working knowledge in Quality Systems fundamentals with a focus on IATF16949/ISO9001 requirements.
• Knowledge of geometric design and tolerancing (GD&T)
• Working knowledge in several [3 or more] manufacturing processes.

• undefined

Scope Factors

• AT Business Unit
• ~$3 billion in revenue
• ~450 direct suppliers
• ~10,000 Active Part Numbers
• Position based in U.S. (Midwest) and in manufacturing plant
• Not eligible to work from home or remote

Travel Requirements

• Office/Manufacturing Environment up to 100%
• Up to 50%

Allison Transmission is an equal opportunity employer. We have opportunities for all qualified applicants regardless of age, race, color, sex, religion, creed, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or veteran status.

If you are an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran requiring assistance and/or reasonable accommodations reviewing any of the careers information, please contact us at [email protected].

Please note that Allison Transmission will make an offer of employment only to individuals who have applied for a position using our official application. Be on alert for possible fraudulent offers of employment. Allison Transmission will not solicit money or banking information from applicants.