Job Title: Commodity Supplier Quality Engineer
Location: Waterloo, IA
Shift: 1st shift, 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (Overtime: May be scheduled at the end of the shift)
Pay Rate: $45/hour (W2 through KellyOCG for John Deere)
Assignment Length: 24 Months
Visa Sponsorship: Visa sponsorship is not available now or in the future for this position.

Position Summary

The Commodity Supplier Quality Engineer will lead quality solutions for supplier-related issues affecting shop-floor operations and customers. This role focuses on identifying permanent corrective actions, preventing recurrence, and implementing systemic improvements across supplier and manufacturing processes.

Primary commodity support will focus on fluid conveyance, with additional potential support for hydraulics, metal fabrication, and fasteners. The engineer will work with suppliers, engineering, manufacturing, and cross-functional teams to support quality planning, product changes, sourcing initiatives, and supplier improvement activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and facilitate quality solutions for urgent shop-floor and customer issues.
• Identify and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Prevent recurring issues through systemic corrective-action processes.
• Perform quality planning for:
  • Fluid conveyance
  • Hydraulics
  • Metal fabrication
  • Fasteners
• Support quality planning for:
  • Current products
  • Supplier change requests
  • Cost-reduction initiatives
  • Resourcing activities
  • Temporary sourcing
• Conduct Design Process and Assembly Reviews (DPARs).
• Perform print reviews and design reviews for new and existing products.
• Apply Six Sigma and other quality tools to identify and resolve quality concerns involving externally manufactured parts and assemblies.
• Use statistical analysis, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and 8D methodology.
• Lead Supplier Quality Improvement Teams.
• Facilitate cross-functional project teams and quality-improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with suppliers, engineering, manufacturing, and other stakeholders to resolve quality issues.
• Support quality improvements and ensure corrective actions are effectively implemented and sustained.

Required Qualifications

• Degree in one of the following areas or a related discipline:
  • Engineering or Engineering Technology
  • Communications
  • Business
  • Computer Science
  • Data Analytics
• Previous experience in Supplier Quality Engineering and/or Quality Engineering.
• At least two years of experience with standard quality-management principles and tools, including:
  • Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
  • Statistical Process Control (SPC)
  • Root-cause analysis
  • Control plans
  • Gauge Repeatability and Reproducibility (Gauge R&R)
  • Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
  • Capability studies
• At least two years of experience reading and interpreting complex part drawings.
• Functional knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• At least two years of experience with advanced data-gathering and analysis techniques, including statistical analysis.
• Functional knowledge or experience in project management.
• Ability to effectively facilitate, lead, and manage cross-functional teams.
• High level of self-motivation and initiative.
• Ability to work comfortably in a factory and shop-floor environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness and ability to learn new processes, products, and technologies.
• Experience with fluid-conveyance components or related manufacturing commodities.
• Experience with hydraulics, metal fabrication, fasteners, or externally manufactured assemblies.
• Six Sigma certification or experience leading Six Sigma projects.
• Experience with supplier quality improvement teams and 8D corrective-action processes.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

• Fully onsite position; remote work is not available.
• Requires regular time on the shop floor.
• Candidates must be comfortable working in an active factory environment.
• Occasional intra-facility travel is required.
• Business casual dress code.
• Metatarsal safety boots are required on the first day.

Transportation and Driving Requirements

• The employee may operate a John Deere-owned Gator inside the factory to travel between connected office areas.
• Gator operation requires successful completion of John Deere safety training.
• The Gator may be used to transport a computer, parts, tools, or other work materials.
• Other employees may ride along when traveling to the same area due to the limited number of available Gators.
• The Gator will not be driven outside the facility.
• The employee may occasionally use a personal vehicle to travel to other facilities within a 20-mile radius.
• Rental cars are not used for this travel.