Overview

Location: Ely (CB6)

Duration: Permanent

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Salary: Competitive

Job Reference: 35723

We're seeking a driven and collaborative Supplier Quality Engineer to join a global leader in photonics. In this role, you'll work closely with suppliers and internal teams to drive quality improvements, reduce waste, and build a culture of continuous improvement across the supply chain. This is a hands-on position involving on-site visits, process audits, and real-world problem solving at the source.

Responsibilities

• Visit key suppliers to perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions that reduce defects and improve quality
• Collaborate across departments to support supplier development initiatives that cut waste, prevent errors, and reduce variation
• Use tools like Lean, Six Sigma, Poka-Yoke, and PFMEA to enhance supplier processes and performance
• Analyse supplier quality data with internal teams to identify and drive improvements
• Coach underperforming suppliers through practical corrective action planning and execution
• Partner with Engineering to align supplier capabilities with product requirements (PPAP)
• Create and maintain supplier action plans with measurable KPIs for quality, cost, and delivery
• Support development and execution of supplier audit programmes to ensure ongoing compliance and improvement
• Contribute to broader quality initiatives and help enhance the overall quality management system

Requirements

• Degree in Manufacturing, Process, or Quality Engineering (or equivalent)
• 3+ years in a similar Supplier Quality Engineering role
• Working knowledge of Lean tools and principles; confident in coaching suppliers in Lean practices
• Familiarity with PPAP, FMEA, and ideally APQP
• Able to interpret complex engineering drawings, ideally to micron-level tolerances
• Experience in a low-volume, high-mix manufacturing environment
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build supplier partnerships
• Proven track record of driving improvement projects in multidisciplinary teams
• Strong multitasking, time management, and problem-solving abilities
• A positive, proactive mindset aligned with continuous improvement values

Desirable Skills

• ISO 13485 Internal Audit qualification
• Experience with CNC machining or Fanuc programming
• High-spec technical drawing interpretation

Please contact us as soon as possible for more details or apply below