Principal Engineer, Supplier Quality

A Career at HARMAN

As a technology leader that is rapidly on the move, HARMAN is filled with people who are focused on making life better. Innovation, inclusivity and teamwork are a part of our DNA. When you add that to the challenges we take on and solve together, you’ll discover that at HARMAN you can grow, make a difference and be proud of the work you do every day.

About the Role

The Senior Engineer, SQE is supposed to be a subject matter expert in all topics regarding Quality assurance for components in the category Electro-Mechanical. As such, this role will train, oversee, and coach colleagues inside and outside the SQE team category specific topics and on the latest technologies to reach established quality goals while supporting procurement, BCA, programs, engineering, QO etc. with their supplier related activities.

The Senior SQE will aim to reach established quality goals for all assigned suppliers while supporting procurement, BCA, programs, engineering, QO, etc. with their supplier related activities.

With applying advanced quality planning activities (APQP) this role will guarantee that components delivered by approved and qualified vendors will meet all specified requirements and are produced on qualified, mature processes that are capable to produce products from SOP until End of Production at the committed quality and quantity.

This role will monitor the quality performance of all the assigned suppliers. In cases of poor performance, this role will drive for improvements, also in alignment with other functions, like category management.

This position will be the first escalation level in case there are critical quality issues with suppliers.

The successful candidate will help to implement quality specific strategies in the category in alignment with HARMAN category management, business units, engineering, quality, and manufacturing. This requires knowledge of the business unit's technology and product roadmaps and specific expertise in the quality assurance of components and associated development, qualification, manufacturing, inspection and test technologies.
 

Your Team

This position will not have any direct reports. This position reports into the Director SQE E-Mechanical.

What You Will Do

• Own overall global responsibility for all preventive supplier quality activities for all assigned suppliers.
• Contribute to develop, drive, and own the global category-specific quality strategy that aligns with business objectives and supports quality, growth, and profitability impacting the achievement of customer, operational and project objectives.
• Build and own appropriate supplier relationships with all assigned suppliers and present a single unified HARMAN International interface to the supply base for quality relevant topics.
• Build and own appropriate supplier relationships with all assigned suppliers and present a single unified HARMAN International interface to the supply base for quality relevant topics.
• Works with Category Management, Best Cost Analytics, HW and Component Engineering on technology roadmap plans and new supplier qualification initiatives to ensure long-term quality and cost competitiveness of components.
• Support Category Management in supply base optimization.
• Qualify and re-qualify suppliers in the category, to ensure HARMAN only has business with capable suppliers.
• Support the source board preparation and supplier selection process communicating difficult concepts and negotiating with suppliers technical specifications to meet the project requirements.
• Determine category specific requirements for quality assurance activities at suppliers.
• Be the interface to other departments (e.g. PM, Engineering, Procurement) to discuss requirements for suppliers.
• Apply Advanced Product Quality Planning activities (Feasibility Study, FMEA, Control Plan, PPAP, etc.) with the  assigned supplier along the entire lifecycle of a component to ensure good quality from Start until End of Production (SOP till EOP).
• Leads others to solve complex problems; uses sophisticated analytical thought to exercise judgment and identify innovative solutions.
• Support HARMAN programs with the timely release of supplier´s PPAP.
• Monitor the supplier quality performance and drive for improvement activities in case needed.
• Manage effective supplier negotiations and event driven quality improvement activities to meet quality targets.
• Requires specialized depth and/or breadth of expertise in the associated category such as Magnet technology and manufacturing processing, Injection Molding, Casting, Stampings, Modules, sub assemblies, etc.
• Support Quality in Problem Solving activities or escalations with the supplier, interpretating internal/external business challenges and recommends best practices to improve products, processes, or services.
• Escalate issues adequately and effectively, leading functional teams or projects with moderate resource requirements, risk, and/or complexity including specialized training for other SQEs and PQEs.
• Visit the supplier on a regular basis for all the above-mentioned activities and tasks.
• Enhance all processes, tools, systems, etc. used in SQE to make the work most efficient, reliable and in compliance with applicable standards, like IATF16949, VDA, etc.
• Train, oversee, and coach colleagues in and outside of SQE category specific topics and on latest technologies..
• Set priorities and balance the available resources based on criticality of the issue, component, technology, supplier, program, and other factors.

What You Need

• Bachelor’s Degree in engineering / graduated engineer
• Minimum 10 years of working experience in quality and/or manufacturing processes.
• 10 years’ Experience in automotive industry.
• Strong experience in quality problem solving and good knowledge of problem solving methodology and statistical tools and methods
• Expertise of development, qualification, manufacturing, and test processes
• Proven experience and knowledge in Quality core tools and standards, like IATF, VDA, APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, etc.
• Proven ability to lead and achieve on-quality, on-cost, and on-time commitments.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Success in collaborating with key work partners and able to maintain relationships at the working level.
• Communicates difficult concepts and negotiates with others to adopt a different point of view
• An effective team player committed to organizational goals, fostering collaboration among team members.
• Ability in communication across cultures.
• Magnet Technology and Magnet Manufacturing experience required.

What is Nice to Have

• SAP, MSOffice Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, etc.)
• Experience in auditing suppliers for conformance to quality standards (ISO9001, IATF16949, VDA 6.3).

What Makes You Eligible

• Be willing to travel up to 25%, domestic and international travel.
• Be willing to work in an [office, manufacturing facility, client-site} OR This role is eligible to work remotely full-time with occasional trips into the X office location required (this could be on 24-hour notice)

What We Offer

• Flexible work environment, allowing for full-time remote work globally for positions that can be performed outside a HARMAN or customer location
• Access to employee discounts on world-class Harman and Samsung products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG, etc.)
• Extensive training opportunities through our own HARMAN University
• Competitive wellness benefits
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Access to HARMAN Campus Fitness Center and Cafeteria
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development

HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.