| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Procurement and Purchase |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Vendor Development Manager |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 2 to 5 years in supplier quality or vendor development |
Vendor Development Engineer job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Vendor Development Engineer
Department: Procurement and Purchase
Reports to: Vendor Development Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Vendor Development Engineer is the technical hands on the shop floor of supplier development. They qualify suppliers on process capability, run first article inspection and PPAP, read drawings with the vendor, and help fix quality and process problems at the source. The role reports to the Vendor Development Manager. A good vendor development engineer gets new parts approved right the first time, lifts supplier process capability, catches problems before regular supply, and localises parts by proving that a local vendor can hold the drawing and the tolerance.
Key responsibilities
- Assess supplier machines, tooling and process capability against the drawing and the part requirement.
- Run first article inspection and PPAP for new parts and clear them for regular supply.
- Read drawings and specifications with the supplier and confirm tolerances are understood and held.
- Support localisation by proving a local vendor can make the part to drawing at volume.
- Investigate quality problems at the supplier and drive root cause and corrective action.
- Set up process controls, gauges and check points with the supplier for critical dimensions.
- Conduct supplier process audits and follow up the actions with quality and the vendor.
- Support sampling, trials and capacity ramp up ahead of regular production volume.
- Record inspection results, PPAP files and audit reports for approval and traceability.
- Flag suppliers that cannot meet the requirement with evidence to the vendor development manager.
Requirements
- Diploma or degree in mechanical or production engineering
- Training in PPAP, APQP or quality tools is an advantage
- Ability to read engineering drawings
- 2 to 5 years in supplier quality or vendor development
KRAs and KPIs for a Vendor Development Engineer
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Part approval | New parts cleared through PPAP within the agreed timeline |
| First time right | First article approvals passed without repeat submission above the agreed level |
| Localisation support | Target parts proven at local vendors to drawing and volume |
| Supplier quality | Corrective actions closed at suppliers within the target time |
| Process capability | Critical dimensions held within capability on developed parts |
| Documentation | PPAP and inspection records complete and traceable |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Vernier and micrometer, CMM reports, PPAP documents, AutoCAD drawings, MS Excel.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Vendor Development Manager, Supplier Quality Manager, Senior Buyer
Interview questions for a Vendor Development Engineer
- Walk me through a PPAP submission and what each part proves.
- How do you assess whether a supplier process can hold a tight tolerance?
- How do you investigate a recurring dimensional reject at a supplier?
- What do you check in a first article inspection before approval?
- How do you prove a local vendor can replace an imported part?
- How do you handle a supplier that cannot meet the drawing at volume?
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What does a Vendor Development Engineer do?
A Vendor Development Engineer is the technical arm of supplier development. They qualify suppliers on process capability, run first article inspection and PPAP, read drawings with vendors, fix quality problems at the source and support localisation. Their job is getting new parts approved right and lifting supplier capability before regular supply.
What is the difference between a Vendor Development Engineer and a Vendor Development Manager?
A Vendor Development Engineer does the hands on technical qualification: capability checks, PPAP, inspection and problem solving at the supplier. A Vendor Development Manager plans the supplier base, decides which vendors to develop or localise, and owns the targets. The engineer executes; the manager sets direction.
What qualifications does a Vendor Development Engineer need?
Most roles ask for a diploma or degree in mechanical or production engineering with the ability to read engineering drawings. Training in PPAP, APQP and quality tools is a strong advantage, along with hands on experience of measuring instruments and supplier quality work.