Supplier Quality Engineering Manager

Title: Supplier Quality Engineering Manager
Department: SCM

Location: Cleveland, OH
Supervisor: Director of SCM
FLSA Status: Exempt
Position Status: Permanent, Full-Time

Work Status: On-Site

SUPPLIER QUALITY ENGINEERING MANAGER

This is your chance to join the rapidly growing commercial solar energy business.

FLEXRACK by Qcells is an integrated solar company that offers custom-designed, fixed tilt ground mount and single-axis solar tracking systems in the commercial and utility-scale solar mounting industries. FLEXRACK by Qcells also offers full services, including engineering, geotechnical, pullout testing, field, and layout design services to address the actual site conditions of a project site. FLEXRACK by Qcells has completed over 3.5 GW of solar racking installations in over 40 U.S. states, 9 Canadian provinces and across the globe.

SUMMARY

The Supplier Quality Engineering (SQE) Manager will be responsible for developing and implementing supplier quality standards, conducting audits, and driving continuous improvement to ensure compliance with industry and company specifications. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in supplier management, quality control, and process improvement within a manufacturing or steel-related environment. This position reports to the Director of SCM, or another management personnel that the CEO of the Company may designate. This position is located On-Site in Cleveland, OH and working hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00am to 5:00pm or 9:00am to 6:00pm local time. This position is expected to travel up to 20%.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist in the development and writing of quality processes, procedures and policies.
• Work with internal cross-functional teams (sales, operations, engineering, field engineering and torque tube manufacturing) to ensure quality assurance and compliance with quality management best practices.
• Manage supplier quality issues and response to determine root cause issues and successful resolution of supplier quality issues.
• Responsible for working with suppliers on the submittal of all applicable drawings, specifications and quality documentation.
• Responsible for overseeing and managing the quality of products received from external suppliers by conducting audits, identifying quality issues, collaborating with suppliers to implement corrective actions, and ensuring compliance with company and industry quality standards.
• Manage, monitor and develop supplier performance metrics around quality including: (but not limited to) total number of defects, impact of supplier quality issues/defect, supplier response and resolution to quality issues.
• Develop and assist with supplier selection through on-site visits, auditing, review of supplier quality programs, processes and procedures.
• Drive supplier quality performance through proactive monitoring, corrective action management, and continuous improvement initiatives to maintain high quality standards across the supply chain. 
• Develop and manage quality agreements with suppliers, outlining performance expectations and quality metrics. 
• Conduct regular on-site audits at supplier facilities to evaluate their quality systems, processes, and compliance with standards. 
• Identify, investigate, and resolve quality issues arising from suppliers, including non-conformances, defects, and customer complaints. 
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with suppliers through training, process optimization, and Lean methodologies. 
• Provide technical support and guidance to suppliers to enhance their quality capabilities. 
• Lead and manage a team of supplier quality engineers, assigning tasks, providing coaching, and performance reviews. 
• Regular attendance, in accordance with the company's attendance policy and supervisory assignment, is an essential job duty requirement for this position.
• Perform other duties and special projects, as assigned by Management

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

·          Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Quality Assurance, or a related field

·          Proven experience in supplier quality management, including supplier audits and corrective action processes.

·          Strong understanding of quality management systems (ISO 9001, etc.)

·          Proven experience in supplier quality management, including supplier audits and corrective action processes.

·          Strong understanding of quality management systems (ISO 9001, etc.)

·          Experience with domestic and international supplier issues.

·          Minimum of 5-10 years’ experience in a Quality Engineering capacity.

EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL DEMANDS

·          Stationary Position: frequently remains stationary up to 90% of the time and sitting up to 8 hours in a day

·          Move/Traverse: infrequently bend, stand, stoop and/or walk

·          Carry Weight: infrequently carry weight and/or lift objects (light to heavy) weighing up to 10 pounds

·          Hearing and Speech: frequently communicates with the ability to hear and talk on a regular basis with employees, coworkers, and all personnel matters; must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations

·          Sight: frequent use of sight to detect images on computer, office documents, and office objects near and far

·          Climb: occasionally ascends/descends on stairway to get to office upper and lower floors

·          Travel: up to 20% as needed

EXAMPLES OF WORK ENVIRONMENT

·          Regular professional, office business setting

·          Noise level ranges from low to moderate (if in office setting)

·          Noise level ranges from moderate to high (if on construction worksite)

FLEXRACK by Qcells is proud to be an at-will Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination against race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status and any other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local law. 

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

We are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.  As part of this commitment, FLEXRACK by Qcells will provide reasonable accommodations to all qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.  Please contact us to request accommodations at [email protected].

Nothing in this statement shall imply implicitly or explicitly a guarantee of employment outside our at-will employment opportunity.