Sr. Supplier Quality Engineer
Allison Transmission · Lafayette, IN
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Quality
- Industry
- Automotive
- Posted
- 8 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior quality role at Allison Transmission (automotive) in Lafayette, IN.
- Tools it names
- Root cause, DMAIC, SPC, FMEA, PPAP, APQP
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
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At a glance
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- 1
Find 2–3 people on the Quality team at this site
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- 2
Send a short, curious note
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- 3
Have a 15-minute chat
Good questions for this role:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply, ideally with a referral
Ask if they'd refer you or introduce you to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link and tell them the day you apply.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
About the role
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.
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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
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.
Supplier Quality Engineering
- •Supplier
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 Qual