Hicks

Supplier Development Engineer
Engineering
Chillicothe, Illinois Contract Sep 17, 2026

Supplier Development Engineer
Mossville, IL | On-Site Full Time | 12 Months
Job Details

  • Estimated Start Date: 19 October 2026
  • Building Location: IL-Mossville
  • Remote Possibility: On-Site Full Time
  • Daily Schedule: Working hours should be from 7:30am to 4pm (if 30 minutes lunch, 8h per day total of work)
  • Estimated Duration: 12 months
  • Potential Travel: 25-50% - Domestically + Canada
Position’s Contributions to Work Group
What You Will Do
  • Ensuring the quality of supplies by conducting tests and assessments on incoming supplies to identify any quality issues; Developing supplier inspection, testing, and evaluation mechanism.
  • Generating reports on supplier quality, by monitoring their defect rates and areas that can lead to potential flaws; Guiding suppliers to reduce these defect rates.
  • Researching the potential vendors, assessing their manufacturing environment, practices, and procedures; Conducting supplier quality control audits to ensure compliance with organizational and federal policies and standards.
  • Supporting suppliers in improving their performance through process enhancements, implementing process controls, and developing quality assurance plans.
What You Will Have
Effective Communications: Understanding of communication concepts, tools, and techniques to effectively transmit, receive, and interpret information.
  • Delivers constructive feedback and listens without defensiveness.
  • Communicates clearly in presentations and written reports, avoiding unnecessary jargon.
  • Interprets non-verbal cues to enhance understanding.
Problem Solving: Ability to recognize, anticipate, and resolve operational or process issues using appropriate tools and techniques.
  • Identifies problems and evaluates resolution options.
  • Considers stakeholder perspectives and analyzes risks and benefits.
  • Applies fact-finding and diagnostic tools effectively.
Process Improvement: Focus on evaluating product quality and production methods to drive continuous improvement.
  • Identifies and addresses process inefficiencies.
  • Implements controls and prioritizes high-impact improvements.
  • Escalates systemic issues for organizational resolution.
Quality Orientation: Commitment to quality management practices that support organizational goals.
  • Uses objective data to drive decisions and eliminate non-value-added activities.
  • Documents learnings for continuous improvement.
  • Addresses root causes, even beyond immediate team scope.
Production Part Approval Process (PPAP): Expertise in PPAP elements and submissions to ensure supplier compliance with quality standards.
  • Develops and monitors validation procedures and PPAP execution.
  • Resolves implementation issues and builds stakeholder trust.
  • Reviews documentation and trains others on PPAP levels.
Manufacturing Standards, Procedures and Policies: Knowledge of manufacturing standards and ability to ensure process compliance.
  • Participates in implementing and improving procedures.
  • Explains rationale and investigates exceptions.
  • Supports development of functional manufacturing policies.
Supplier Management - MFG: Ability to manage supplier relationships and ensure quality and performance.
  • Monitors supplier performance and resolves discrepancies.
  • Develops standards and maintains strategic partnerships.
  • Manages reporting and record-keeping requirements.
Supplier Evaluations and Certification: Skills in evaluating and certifying suppliers using defined methods and criteria.
  • Assesses supplier reputation and product quality.
  • Participates in certification processes and documentation.
  • Applies evaluation criteria to support selection decisions.
Typical Day or Week in the Role
Typical Task Breakdown
Responsible for improving supplier performance by identifying capability gaps and implementing corrective actions to ensure quality, cost, and delivery standards are met.
Interaction with Team
  • Works independently but also collaborates with team.
Work Environment
  • Office environment with visits to supplier manufacturing floor; PPE required
Education & Experience Required
  • Years of experience: 5+ years of experience; Masters - can consider 3 years experience
  • Degree requirement: Field of study in Mechanical Engineering, Welding engineering, Industrial engineering or other technical degrees.
Top 3 Skills
  • Experience with both light and heavy fabrications and familiarity with Advanced Product Quality Planning, Production Part Approval Process, New source Introduction, New part introduction and New technology introduction (APQP, PPAP NSI, NPI, NTI).
  • Exposure to manufacturing environments involving complex engineered components.
  • Ability to navigate supplier relationships and quality systems with confidence and heavy emphasis on people skills.
Additional Technical Skills
  • Quality Orientation.
  • Expertise in PPAP elements and submissions to ensure supplier compliance with quality standards.
  • Knowledge of manufacturing standards and ability to ensure process compliance.
  • Skills in evaluating and certifying suppliers using defined methods and criteria.
Soft Skills
  • Effective Communications.
  • Problem Solving (Ability to recognize, anticipate, and resolve operational or process issues using appropriate tools and techniques.)
  • Willing to do tactical work (day to day process / projects / presentations)