Senior Supplier Quality Engineer
Location: Fremont, CA
Travel: Approximately 30–40%, primarily Asia-Pacific
Department: Quality / Supplier Quality
Reports To: VP Quality
Position Overview:
We are seeking an experienced Senior Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) to join our Quality organization and provide technical leadership across our global supplier base supporting semiconductor fabrication equipment and related subsystems. This role will be responsible for driving supplier quality performance, developing and qualifying suppliers, conducting Quality Management System and manufacturing process audits, leading root cause and corrective action activities, and ensuring that suppliers consistently meet demanding quality, reliability, delivery, and technical requirements. The ideal candidate will have significant experience working within the semiconductor capital equipment supply chain, with a strong understanding of the manufacturing processes and failure modes associated with precision-machined components, mechanical assemblies, PCB/PCBA, integrated circuits, semiconductor packaging, and other high-technology components. This position is highly cross-functional, and will work closely with Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Procurement, Supplier Development, Reliability Engineering, and Quality teams. The Senior SQE will be expected to work directly with suppliers to identify systemic issues, implement sustainable corrective actions, improve manufacturing processes, and establish robust quality controls. Approximately 30–40% travel is expected, primarily to suppliers and company factory sites located throughout Asia, including China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and other locations, as required.
Key Responsibilities
Supplier Quality Management:
Own and manage the quality performance of assigned strategic and critical suppliers.
Establish supplier quality requirements, quality agreements, inspection criteria, control plans, and acceptance standards.
Monitor supplier quality metrics, including PPM, defects, escapes, yield, corrective action closure, process capability, and on-time delivery.
Develop and implement supplier improvement plans for suppliers that do not meet established quality requirements.
Partner with Procurement and Engineering during new supplier selection, qualification, development, and ongoing supplier performance management.
Support supplier sourcing activities, including technical assessments, manufacturing capability reviews, and supplier risk assessments.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives throughout the supply base.
Quality Management System Auditing:- Conduct supplier Quality Management System (QMS) audits and manufacturing process audits.
- Evaluate supplier compliance with applicable quality standards and customer-specific requirements.
- Assess supplier processes for effective implementation of ISO 9001 and, where applicable, other relevant industry standards.
- Perform process/product audits, layered process audits, special process audits, and supplier capability assessments.
- Identify systemic risks and ensure audit findings are addressed through effective corrective and preventive actions.
- Verify the effectiveness and sustainability of corrective actions through follow-up audits and objective evidence.
- Root Cause / Corrective & Preventive ActionLead supplier Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Corrective Action and Preventive Action (CAPA) activities for significant quality issues.
- Drive structured problem-solving using methodologies such as: 8D, 5-Why, Fishbone/Ishikawa, Fault Tree Analysis, DOE, Pareto analysis, Statistical analysis and process capability studies.
- Challenge superficial or containment-only corrective actions and ensure suppliers identify and eliminate true systemic root causes.
- Establish clear containment, corrective action, preventive action, and effectiveness-verification requirements.
- Escalate chronic or high-risk supplier issues when appropriate.
- Communicate quality issues and corrective-action status effectively to internal stakeholders and senior management.
- Manufacturing Process & Product Quality
- Provide technical quality oversight across a broad range of supplier manufacturing processes, including:
- Precision Machining / Mechanical ComponentsCNC machining
- Turning, milling, grinding and precision finishing
- Tight-tolerance mechanical components
- Surface finishes and coatings
- Dimensional inspection and metrology
- Cleanliness and contamination control
- Welding, brazing and other joining processes
- Mechanical assembliesPCB / PCBAPCB fabricationSMT and through-hole assembly
- Soldering and reflow processes
- Component placement and workmanship
- Electrical test and functional testAOI, SPI and X-ray inspectionPCB/PCBA failure analysis
- Component traceability and counterfeit/quality risk mitigation
- Semiconductor / Integrated Circuits
- Integrated circuit manufacturing and supplier qualityIC assembly and packaging
- Semiconductor package technologies and associated failure mechanisms
- Wafer/die-related quality considerationsIC packaging, assembly and test processes
- Electrical and mechanical failure modes
- Reliability testing and qualification
- Failure analysis and corrective actionGD&T / Metrology / Inspection
- Demonstrate strong working knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) and its application to complex precision components and assemblies.
- Interpret engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, datums, and inspection requirements.
- Evaluate supplier measurement systems and inspection methodologies.
- Review and approve inspection plans and FAI/First Article Inspection documentation.
- Support source inspection and supplier inspection activities for critical components.
- Work with suppliers to establish appropriate measurement methods, sampling plans, and acceptance criteria.
- Evaluate CMM, optical measurement, surface measurement, and other dimensional inspection techniques.
SPC / Process Capability:
Establish and evaluate Statistical Process Control (SPC) methodologies at suppliers.
Review control charts and process performance for critical characteristics.
Analyze Cp, Cpk, Pp, Ppk and other process capability metrics.
Identify process variation, trends, shifts, and sources of instability.
Partner with suppliers to establish appropriate control plans and reaction plans.
Apply statistical techniques and data-driven approaches to improve process capability and reduce variation.
Support DOE and other statistical methodologies where appropriate.
Reliability / Failure Analysis:
Work with suppliers and internal engineering teams to investigate product failures and reliability issues.
Understand common failure modes associated with ICs, semiconductor packaging, electronics, PCBA, mechanical components, and assemblies.
Support development and execution of reliability testing and qualification programs.
Review reliability test plans, results, and failure analysis reports.
Participate in failure analysis activities, including identification of physical, mechanical, electrical, thermal, contamination, and process-related failure mechanisms.
Ensure lessons learned are incorporated into supplier processes and product controls.
Supplier Inspection & Qualification:
Perform and/or coordinate source inspection at supplier facilities.
Define inspection requirements for critical, high-risk, or first-time-build components.
Support First Article, prototype, qualification, and production-release activities.
Develop supplier inspection strategies based on product criticality and risk.
Review supplier inspection data, certificates, material certifications, test reports, and traceability records.
Support supplier process qualification and production readiness reviews.
Ensure critical characteristics are properly identified and controlled throughout the supplier's manufacturing process.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Partner with Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Reliability, Operations, Procurement, and Program Management.
Represent Supplier Quality in new product introduction (NPI) and design transfer activities.
Participate in design reviews and provide Design for Manufacturability/Design for Quality feedback.
Identify supplier-related risks early in the product development process.
Translate engineering requirements into practical supplier quality and inspection requirements.
Provide technical leadership and mentorship to other Supplier Quality Engineers.
Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering
