Supplier Development & Quality Engineer (Surface treatment/ Machining)

About VAT Group
At VAT, we change the world with vacuum solutions. As the world's leading supplier of high-performance vacuum valves, we have been driving innovation for more than 60 years. With over 3,200 employees worldwide, we operate from our headquarters in Haag, Switzerland, with manufacturing sites in Switzerland, Malaysia and Romania, as well as sales and service hubs around the world. We guided by our passions integrity, teamwork, customer centricity, and innovation - always working together as #oneVAT.
Joining us means becoming part of a passionate, international team where your voice is heard, your ideas matter, and your career growth is supported.
Supplier Development & Quality Engineer (Surface treatment/ Machining)
Supplier Development & Quality Engineer (Surface treatment/ Machining)
Purpose of the role
Ensure supplier product and process quality for machining, surface treatment and related high purity processes in line with VAT specifications, standards and customer requirements.
Drive supplier qualification, industrialization, risk mitigation and continuous improvement to support VAT's growth strategy and stable material flow.
KPI's:
Supplier quality performance for assigned suppliers, including QPPM target achievement
Timely qualification of suppliers, processes and second sources according to product group strategy
Closure effectiveness for complaints, audits and corrective actions
Responsibilities
:
Own supplier quality and development activities for machining, surface treatment and related high purity processes
Assess supplier capability, process maturity, capacity and readiness for serial production
Lead qualifications for new suppliers, relocations, transfers and second sources
Perform system and process audits covering machining, surface treatment, cleaning and manufacturing controls
Verify critical process controls, operator qualification, maintenance systems and validation evidence
Review and approve ISIR, PPAP and process qualification documentation
Lead supplier complaint handling, root cause analysis and corrective actions using 8D methodology
Monitor supplier KPIs, process capability and risk trends; define improvement actions with suppliers and procurement
Support Change Requests, customer escalations and shortage prevention with technical risk assessments
Ensure compliance with VAT standards, customer requirements and relevant regulatory expectations
Qualifications:
Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science or similar
5 to 10+ years of experience in supplier quality, manufacturing engineering or supplier development
Practical background in machining, surface treatment or high purity manufacturing
Experience in supplier audits, process qualification and corrective action management
Good understanding of quality management systems and semiconductor customer requirements
Ability to work in international matrix organizations with regular supplier travel
Strong communication, negotiation, project management and stakeholder management skills
High level of resilience, ownership and flexibility
Machining and surface treatment process knowledge, including:
CNC machining
Anodizing
Electropolishing
Nickel plating
Silver plating
Chroming
High purity cleaning requirements and contamination risk control
Technical drawing interpretation, GD&T and specification review
ISIR, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA, Control Plans and process validation
Root cause analysis, 8D, 5 Why and corrective action effectiveness verification
Supplier auditing, process assessment and risk based supplier development
Process capability analysis, KPI monitoring and data driven improvement
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