Location: Ely (CB6) Duration: Permanent Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Salary: Competitive Job Reference: 35723 We're seeking a driven and collaborative Supplier Quality Engineer to join a global leader in photonics. In this role, you'll work closely with suppliers and internal teams to drive quality improvements, reduce waste, and build a culture of continuous improvement across the supply chain. This is a hands-on position involving on-site visits, process audits, and real-world problem solving at the source. Key Responsibilities: * Visit key suppliers to perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions that reduce defects and improve quality * Collaborate across departments to support supplier development initiatives that cut waste, prevent errors, and reduce variation * Use tools like Lean, Six Sigma, Poka-Yoke, and PFMEA to enhance supplier processes and performance * Analyse supplier quality data with internal teams to identify and drive improvements * Coach underperforming suppliers through practical corrective action planning and execution * Partner with Engineering to align supplier capabilities with product requirements (PPAP) * Create and maintain supplier action plans with measurable KPIs for quality, cost, and delivery * Support development and execution of supplier audit programmes to ensure ongoing compliance and improvement * Contribute to broader quality initiatives and help enhance the overall quality management system Requirements: * Degree in Manufacturing, Process, or Quality Engineering (or equivalent) * 3 years in a similar Supplier Quality Engineering role * Working knowledge of Lean tools and principles%3B confident in coaching suppliers in Lean practices * Familiarity with PPAP, FMEA, and ideally APQP * Able to interpret complex engineering drawings, ideally to micron-level tolerances * Experience in a low-volume, high-mix manufacturing environment * Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build supplier partnerships * Proven track record of driving improvement projects in multidisciplinary teams * Strong multitasking, time management, and problem-solving abilities * A positive, proactive mindset aligned with continuous improvement values Desirable Skills * ISO 13485 Internal Audit qualification * Experience with CNC machining or Fanuc programming * High-spec technical drawing interpretation Please contact us as soon as possible for more details or apply below