How to hire a supplier quality engineer

How to hire a supplier quality engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step supplier quality engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a supplier quality engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new supplier quality engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a supplier quality engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The supplier quality engineer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A supplier quality engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, supplier quality engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of supplier quality engineers.

   Type of Supplier Quality Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Supplier Quality Engineer	Industrial engineers find ways to eliminate wastefulness in production processes. They devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.	$30-51
   Manufacturing Engineering Internship	A manufacturing engineering intern is responsible for assisting the manufacturing engineers on the plant's daily operations, analyzing the manufacturing process and procedures, and recommending strategic solutions to maximize productivity and minimize costs. Manufacturing engineering interns shadow the production staff, inspect the tools and equipment of the manufacturing, analyze the quality control documentation, and perform related administrative tasks to familiarize themselves with the plant structure... Show more	$19-32
   Process Engineer Internship	A process engineering intern performs various tasks for an organization. These include collaborating with the technical team on cost savings, process efficiency improvements, and technology advancement, attending meetings with leadership teams, and participating in customer trials... Show more	$14-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Sigma
   • ISO
   • PPAP
   • Product Quality
   • SPC
   • APQP
   • GD
   • Quality System
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • FMEA
   • Process Control
   • Quality Standards
   • AS9100
   • Lean Six Sigma

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage manufacturing processes to ensure compliance with TS16949 and ISO9001 requirements.
   • Lead a team of cross function business units into defining a new PCB fabrication spec.
   • Lead the effort with all quality engineers to collect all code coverage during a full regression pass.
   • Program manage inter-departmental NPI activities.
   • Manage automated SPC programs and perform periodic system maintenance.
   • Manage quality and performance for precision investment casting products manufacture for aerospace customers.

   More supplier quality engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the supplier quality engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A supplier quality engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a supplier quality engineer in Wisconsin may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level supplier quality engineer. Additionally, a supplier quality engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average supplier quality engineer salary

   $83,182yearly

   $39.99 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level supplier quality engineer salary

   $64,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average supplier quality engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$121,790	$59
   2	Washington	$99,883	$48
   3	New Jersey	$94,003	$45
   4	Arizona	$93,158	$45
   5	Delaware	$92,862	$45
   6	Michigan	$86,161	$41
   7	Colorado	$85,389	$41
   8	Minnesota	$85,372	$41
   9	New Hampshire	$85,231	$41
   10	Texas	$84,589	$41
   11	Illinois	$81,088	$39
   12	Ohio	$80,413	$39
   13	North Carolina	$79,941	$38
   14	New York	$79,788	$38
   15	Georgia	$76,938	$37
   16	Wisconsin	$72,021	$35
   17	Florida	$71,580	$34
   18	Indiana	$71,205	$34
   19	Tennessee	$70,917	$34

   Average supplier quality engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$137,651	$66.18	158
   2	Apple	$131,464	$63.20	130
   3	Google	$126,057	$60.60	46
   4	Zoox	$118,615	$57.03	9
   5	Coty	$113,647	$54.64	12
   6	Waymo	$111,972	$53.83	2
   7	Amazon	$110,340	$53.05	166
   8	Entegris	$106,338	$51.12	8
   9	Applied Materials	$105,985	$50.95	34
   10	Varian Medical Systems	$103,536	$49.78
   11	Walmart	$100,405	$48.27	80
   12	KLA	$99,899	$48.03	6
   13	Toast	$99,872	$48.02
   14	JUUL	$98,912	$47.55
   15	Edwards Lifesciences	$98,634	$47.42	10
   16	Visteon	$98,173	$47.20
   17	Abiomed	$98,067	$47.15
   18	NetApp	$98,031	$47.13
   19	Bloom Energy	$96,486	$46.39	6
   20	Katerra	$96,164	$46.23

4. Writing a supplier quality engineer job description

   A supplier quality engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a supplier quality engineer job description:

   Supplier quality engineer job description example

   KONE, founded in 1910, is one of the largest, award-winning elevator companies in the world and our offering for employees is as competitive as our offering for customers. Not only do we provide highly competitive salaries, company vehicles for specific roles, and world-class benefits for our salaried employees - we also pride ourselves on our culture and principles. Innovation, sustainability, collaboration and ethical business practices are just some of the pillars that we use to define our own success. Come join our family in KONE Americas to be a part of something big!
   As Supply Quality Engineer, you will:
   
   Essential Functions:
   Execute operational Supply Quality Management work at KONE distribution centers and provide support to leadership and internal stakeholders Conduct supplier audits, in accordance with annual audit plan Prepare, negotiate, and maintain the Quality Annex, as part of Supply and Purchasing Frame AgreementActs as an active member in PD/CR projects, by ensuring supplier "Launch" readiness, including tasks such as risk management (FMEA), Critical-to-Quality (CTQ) Measure and report supplier Key Performance Indicators (KPIs*) Participate in supplier Scorecard process and supports contract owner in discussing results with supplier Identify and drive corrective, preventive, and recovery actions at/with suppliers Participate in supplier certification process Contribute to supplier development activities and participate in supplier negotiations, as required Ensure suppliers' compliance with Sourcing and KONE policies, processes, and procedures
   
   Specific Skills, Knowledge & Behavior
   2 to 5 years of experience in Quality, Engineering or Sourcing or similar industry required with entry level experience Fluent level of English spoken and written, additional languages are a plus Understanding of manufacturing processes and technologies within the relevant categories Able to troubleshoot and analyze using Critical to Quality, Statistical Process Control, Failure-Mode-Effect Analysis, DMAIC Methodology, Six Sigma and Lean, Mistake proofing Auditing of suppliers, supplier performance management and supplier QualificationStakeholder management skills Basic contract management skills Basic understanding of the supplier market in the relevant category/geography
   
   Education Requirements:
   Bachelor of Science in Quality, Engineering, or Supply Chain Management, or similar related field
   
   What can KONE offer you?
   A chance to work with products that are used by millions of people every day; products and services that are widely recognized for their quality and innovation; and the opportunity to develop our existing product family and customer offering An excellent opportunity to work with leading technologies and partners on a truly global scale and within a global portfolio International career opportunities and award-winning career development planningA genuinely multicultural work environment - we have colleagues from 25 countries Flexible working hours and remote working opportunities Competitive medical benefits Matching 401K and Pension Plan20 days PTO plus 11 holidays and 2 floating holidays KONE's elevate your health program
   
   *Applicant must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
   
   We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.
   
   #IND123
   
   At KONE, we are focused on creating an innovative and collaborative working culture where we value the contribution of each individual. Employee engagement is a key focus area for us and we encourage participation and the sharing of information and ideas. Sustainability is an integral part of our culture and the daily practice. We follow ethical business practices and we seek to develop a culture of working together where co-workers trust and respect each other and good performance is recognized. In being a great place to work, we are proud to offer a range of experiences and opportunities that will help you to achieve your career and personal goals and enable you to live a healthy and balanced life.
   
   Read more on www.kone.com/careers

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find supplier quality engineers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your supplier quality engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit supplier quality engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with supplier quality engineer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new supplier quality engineer

   Once you've found the supplier quality engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new supplier quality engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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