Sr. Manager, Supplier Quality Engineering

Overview

If you would like to know a bit more about this opportunity, or are considering applying, then please read the following job information.

Sr. Manager, Supplier Quality Engineering

Onsite- Phoenix, AZ)

You’re passionate about a zero-emissions future and want to build something special. You want to own your space but work with talented, like-minded people on important projects.

The pace doesn’t scare you; it excites you. Quality and integrity matter to you. We feel exactly the same way. Drive Forward.

Introduce yourself to us and let’s start a conversation.

We are on the lookout for a Sr. Manager, Supplier Quality Engineering to join our team. The position works with technologies and components applied to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV), with the subsystems of chassis, structures, powertrain, and propulsion management systems.

In this highly visible role, this position will recruit, manage, and mentor a team of Supplier Quality Engineers and supplier quality team leader responsible for assuring the highest quality standards for our products.

The Sr. Manager, Supplier Quality Engineering is the key internal interface with Vehicle Engineering, Manufacturing, and our suppliers to develop ways to manufacture challenging designs while at the same time not sacrificing requirements for quality.

The position must be able to guide up-front design development as well as roll up sleeves with suppliers to create new manufacturing methods and control strategies when necessary to achieve ambitious specifications and ensure flawless execution during launch.

The right candidate has strong experience managing global suppliers and is able to direct supplier activities at the management level with the capacity to contribute consistently and positively in a high-paced, fast-changing and sometimes unpredictable environment.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead a world-class team of Supplier Quality Engineers;
• Establish and manage priorities and project assignments for all team members;
• Implement the Nikola Supplier Quality Engineering Manual along with Nikola Quality and Purchasing teams;
• Create and implement procedures and forms related to supplier quality engineering tasks, such as Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), supplier audits, supplier scorecards, supplier escalation process, and claim management;
• Manage total ownership of supplier quality through the entire life cycle, from initial sourcing through development, tooling, and industrialization phases as well as product launch and ongoing business management;
• Guide Engineering development to ensure manufacturing needs are considered in the design phase and that proper quality expectations are defined;
• Support purchasing in the supplier selection by conducting onsite supplier visits and participating in the supplier technical reviews;
• Perform supplier audits and site inspections; Develop process improvement plans and drive implementation;
• Monitor and maintain performance metrics;
• Develop, manage and improve the APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) process with suppliers from initial design stage through PPAP submission and start of mass production;
• Develop quality plans, design test methods and gages, identify potential failure modes and process weaknesses and drive corrective actions;
• Investigate supplier quality issues to determine root cause, identify and implement corrective actions.
• This position supervises the work of a Team Leader, Supplier Quality and a team of 6 to 8 Supplier Quality Engineers. Domestic and international travel to suppliers (up to 25%).
• At least once per month, travel will be required to Nikola's manufacturing facility located at 680 E. Houser Rd, Coolidge, AZ 85131.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or higher in Industrial Engineering or closely related discipline, or the foreign equivalent thereof;
• 60 months of progressive work experience in an automotive, electronics, or high-volume manufacturing business;
• Minimum experience must include experience managing or leading a supplier quality team;
• leading problem-solving, warranty and risk case analysis from supplier quality point of view;
• Mentoring a team;
• Leading supplier quality audits according to VDA 6.3 guidelines or ISO / IATF-16949 guidelines (as certified lead auditor);
• Leading supplier strategy regarding Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VAVE) cost reductions;
• Supplier quality liaison to OEMs.

This position requires legal authorization to work in the U.S. Visa sponsorship will not be considered for this position.

LI-EF1

EEO Statement

Nikola Corporation is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, color, age, sex, ancestry, marital status, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, medical condition, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information or any other classification protected by state or federal law.

J-18808-Ljbffr