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Director of Quality - Supplier Development

Harley-Davidson · Wauwatosa, WI

Level
Director+
Team
Quality
Base pay
$169k–$254k
Travel
50%
Degree
Required
Experience asked
12+ years
Industry
Automotive
Posted
22 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A director-level quality role at Harley-Davidson (automotive) in Wauwatosa, WI. 3) Supplier Product Quality.

They ask for
12+ years · degree required
Tools it names
SPC, FMEA, PPAP, APQP, Control plans, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
Base pay
$169k–$254k
Day to day
about 50% travel

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Quality Engineer roles in Wisconsin: typical posted base $76k–$106k. This one lists $169k–$254k.

Median of the low and high ends of 12 live postings that list pay, out of 38 quality engineer openings in Wisconsin, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Wisconsin plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 37 other live quality postings in Wisconsin.

Base pay
About 135% above similar roles

Typical $74k–$106k, from 11 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
More than usual (12+ vs 4+)

Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • Root cause 58%
  • ✓ Supplier quality 47%
  • ✓ FMEA 39%
  • ✓ Control plans 39%
  • ✓ SPC 37%
  • Six Sigma 34%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for Injection molding, Stamping, Welding, Painting / coating, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 12+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

  1. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at Harley-Davidson

    Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.

  2. 2

    Send a short, curious note

    One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.

  3. 3

    Turn a reply into a short call

    Questions worth asking about this team:

    • 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?
    • The posting says about 50% travel. Between which sites?
    • How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 4

    Apply with someone vouching for you

    If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.

  5. 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.

This plant: Harley-Davidson in Wauwatosa

2 other open roles at this site.

Full description from Harley-DavidsonAs posted on their careers site.Show

Job Summary

The Harley-Davidson Motor Company is shaping the next generation of legendary motorcycles and rider experiences. Quality is foundational in everything we do. We are looking for bold leaders ready to join the ride and help us shape the future.

The Director of Supplier Development Quality leads one of four foundational groups within the Quality Organization:

1) Product Quality

2) Supplier Development Quality

3) Supplier Product Quality

4) Manufacturing Quality

The position is responsible for establishing and executing Harley-Davidson's global supplier development quality strategy across Original Equipment Motorcycle (OE) and Parts & Accessories (P&A) products. This role leads a global organization focused on ensuring product

requirements

are translated into capable supplier manufacturing processes through effective APQP, PPAP, risk management, supplier audits, and production readiness activities. The Director is accountable for reducing launch risk, improving supplier capability, enhancing customer quality, and enabling world-class product reliability through proactive supplier engagement and process control. Beyond the Quality organization, this position collaborates closely with Global Supply Chain, Engineering, Service, Advanced Manufacturing, Manufacturing Operations, and Dealer & Customer Operations.

Job

Responsibilities

The Director of Supplier Development Quality is responsible for developing, leading, and managing the performance of a global organization of teams / individuals to:

  • ◆Drive Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) supplier activities while increasing supplier knowledge and accountability to H-D’s Product Development Process (PDP).
  • ◆Confirm engineering design readiness by ensuring production quality

requirements

are clearly and robustly defined through DFMEA, Product Requirement Documents (PRDs), design drawings, and associated validation activities.

  • ✓Reduce product development rework and ensure successful product launches by developing and validating supplier manufacturing production process and control readiness (e.g., DFMEA to PFMEA connectivity, Control Plans, Gaging, etc.).
  • ✓Improve supplier quality performance (e.g., PPM) through risk assessment, capability development, and continuous improvement of manufacturing controls
  • ✓Proactively identify risks and assist with the resolution of launch readiness risks and current production quality spills through the execution of supplier VDA, SSE, & escalated control plans
  • ✓Measurably improve product quality and organizational performance by establishing, tracking, and driving progress against the metrics that matter most.
  • ✓Build confidence and improve the health of H-D’s supply base by influencing supplier selection with data-driven Quality assessments

Education Specifications

Bachelor’s Degree - preference for degrees and experience related to Product Development, Engineering, Manufacturing, & Quality

Requirements

This position typically requires a minimum of 12 years related experience and 5 years of management experience. In addition, the successful candidate will have demonstrated the following:\

  • ✓Strong leadership, analytical, communication, interpersonal, and technical skills with the ability to build and develop a high-performing global organization through coaching, succession planning, talent development, and performance management
  • ✓Passion and presence to drive a culture of Quality, representing the voice of Quality at all leadership levels and throughout the product development lifecycle
  • ✓Technical expertise in multiple manufacturing processes & related tooling / fixture design including casting; injection molding; machining & stamping; welding & forging; painting, coatings & cosmetics; electronics & harnesses; and software
  • ✓Direct experience with driving Quality teams to achieve aggressive business-wide quality goals inclusive of Total Cost of Quality, Repairs Per Hundred (RPH), Cost Per Unit (CPU), and Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI)
  • ✓Application and execution expertise in PPAP, particularly DFMEA, PFMEA, PFD, Control Plans, SPC and gaging methods
  • ✓Practical experience with Design for Manufacture (DFM) & Design for Assembly (DFA)
  • ✓Practical experience with supplier evaluation and selection
  • ✓General knowledge of motorcycles and engineering/manufacturing standards
Show full description ↓

Auto req ID: 60148

Title: Director of Quality - Supplier Development

Job Function: Continuous Improvement and Quality

Location: PDC

Workplace Category: Onsite

Company: Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Full or Part-Time: Full Time

Shift: SHIFT1

In 1903, out of a small shed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, four young men lit a cultural wildfire that would grow and spread across geographies and generations. Their innovation and imagination for what was possible on two wheels sparked a transportation revolution that would make Harley-Davidson the most recognizable motorcycle brand in the world. Today, we continue to define motorcycle culture, evoking soul-stirring emotion reflected in every product and experience we deliver - like we have for well over a century and will for generations to come. Are you ready to ride with us?

The Harley-Davidson Motor Company Product Development Center (PDC) located in Wauwatosa, WI is home to the mantra – You dream it. We build it. Join our team as a Director of Quality - Supplier Development.

Additional preferences

  • •VDA certification

The pay range shown represents the national average pay range for this role. Your pay may be more or less than the stated range and is dependent on your geographic location and level of experience.

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