Shape the future today.
At Mercedes-Benz Vans, interdisciplinary teams are developing the mobility of tomorrow. This role supports supplier readiness and quality performance during vehicle launches, model changes, engineering changes, and new product introductions.
Job Overview
The Supplier Quality Engineer serves as the primary quality interface between suppliers, manufacturing, logistics, engineering, and procurement to ensure flawless launch execution, stable production, and achievement of quality targets from sourcing through Start of Production (SOP) and ramp-up stabilization.
Responsibilities
- Lead supplier quality activities during new vehicle launches and engineering change implementations.
- Assess supplier manufacturing readiness through project milestones and launch gates, including process capability, process flow, PFMEA, control plans, and capacity studies.
- Classify suppliers by risk and track supplier launch readiness, KPIs, and risk status.
- Coordinate supplier activities during prototype, trial, pre-series, and SOP phases.
- Lead supplier escalation activities related to quality, delivery, or capacity risks.
- Support plant build events, safe launch activities, containment strategies, and timely closure of supplier issues.
- Manage PPAP/PPA submissions in accordance with Mercedes-Benz and VDA requirements.
- Review dimensional, material, capability, and functional validation results and approve supplier readiness for SOP through quality gate reviews.
- Analyze supplier quality trends and drive corrective and preventive actions using 8D, 5 Why, Ishikawa, and other problem-solving methods.
- Conduct supplier performance reviews, improvement workshops, VDA 6.3 process audits, Run-at-Rate evaluations, and manufacturing readiness assessments.
- Coordinate with Supplier Management, Purchasing, Engineering, Parts Quality Engineering, Logistics, Manufacturing Operations, and Launch Management Teams.
- Provide launch status updates to management and support escalation reviews and executive launch meetings.
- Support product and process improvements with vendors, analyze issues such as noise and vibration, and perform other assigned duties.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Minimum 5 years of automotive launch and supplier quality experience, including VDA-RGA.
- Strong knowledge of APQP, PPAP/PPA, VDA-RGA, FMEA, control plans, and process capability.
- VDA 6.3 Certified Auditor.
- Experience with VDA 6.3 process audits and VDA-RGA.
- Ability to travel extensively to supplier locations internationally.
- Knowledge of launch management and supplier industrialization processes.
- Ability to assess manufacturing readiness and capacity risks.
- Good spoken and written Spanish.
- Strong project management, organizational, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to lead supplier escalation meetings and task forces.
Compensation and Benefits
Excellent compensation and benefits plan with 401(k) matching. Benefits may include a mobile phone for employees, health benefits, employee discounts, events, and parking.
About Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC
Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC operates a plant in Ladson, South Carolina, assembling Sprinter vans for the U.S. and Canadian markets under the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner brands. The company is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and providing equal employment opportunity.
Contact: Meg Seckinger, aston.seckinger@mercedes-benz.com.