Development Engineer S011748

Job Title: Development Engineer

Salary: Competitive plus benefits

Job Type: Permanent     

Location: Co. Louth    Ref: S011748

RecruitmentPlus on behalf of our client have an exciting opportunity for the role of Supplier Development Engineer. This position will drive the technical development

and performance of suppliers within a specific commodity or technology area (such as Hydraulics, Cylinders, Steel Structures, Electrics, Power Train). This role focuses on developing and maintaining technical expertise in the assigned commodity while supporting a flexible team structure capable of handling a broad range of technology projects.

The Supplier Development Engineer will lead key supplier initiatives, including managing the PPAP (Production Part Approval Process), supplier assessments, sustainability audits, and supplier performance reviews. They will work closely with suppliers and internal teams to enhance technical capabilities, ensure scalability, and drive value creation and continuous improvement efforts.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related field (Master‘s degree is a plus).

• Strong technical expertise in one of the following commodities: Hydraulics, Cylinders, Steel Structures, Electrics, or Power Train.

• Proven experience in supplier development, quality management, or procurement, with a focus on technical supplier relationships.

• In-depth knowledge of the PPAP process, New Product Development (NPD) cycles, and source change management.

• Strong understanding of sustainability audits, capacity evaluations, and supplier

• performance assessments.

• Experience in leading recovery plans and resolving escalated supplier issues effectively.

• Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies, such as Lean, Six Sigma, or Kaizen.

• Excellent communication, problem-solving and analytical skills with the ability to make data-driven decisions in a fast paced environment while managing multiple priorities.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

Technical Expertise and Project Management:

  Develop in-depth technical expertise in assigned commodities (e.g., Hydraulics,

Cylinders, Steel Structures, Electrics, Power Train) and technologies, ensuring a deep

understanding of supplier capabilities and industry best practices.

  Maintain a flexible team structure to effectively manage diverse technology projects within the scope of the assigned commodity.

  Collaborate with cross-functional teams to manage New Product Developments (NPDs),

source changes, and product design modifications to meet organizational needs.

PPAP Ownership:

  Assume ownership of the PPAP procedure.

  Manage New Product Development (NPD) processes with suppliers.

  Oversee source changes, ensuring compliance with all necessary approvals and technical requirements.

Supplier Assessments and Capacity Evaluation:

  Lead supplier assessments, conducting technical evaluations and performance audits to ensure alignment with quality, capacity, and operational standards.

  Perform sustainability audits and capacity evaluations and continuously review supplier performance to ensure scalability and identify areas for improvement.

Supplier Development and Recovery:

  Oversee the development and execution of recovery plans for suppliers facing escalated technical or operational issues.

Supplier Roadmap and Performance Management:

  Develop and implement comprehensive supplier roadmaps, detailing focus areas for

improvement, performance goals, and milestones.

Value Creation and Sourcing Collaboration:

  Lead value creation initiatives with suppliers, driving cost reduction, process optimization, and product innovation efforts in collaboration and broader sourcing organization.

Supplier Technical Capability and SWOT Analysis:

  Conduct detailed SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analyses of suppliers‘ technical capabilities, using the results to guide future supplier selection and

project development strategies.

Sustainability and Continuous Improvement:

  Drive the execution of sustainability initiatives in collaboration with assigned suppliers, ensuring environmental and social governance (ESG) targets are met and exceeded.

  Implement continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma) to drive

operational enhancements within the supplier base and foster a culture of ongoing

improvement.

If you have the relevant qualifications and experience and are interested in this position, please apply now and Ciara who is based in our Northeast office will be in contact if you are suitable.

If you are living in Ireland and hold a VALID WORK PERMIT, please feel free to contact us directly. However, if you do not hold a valid work permit unfortunately we will not be in a position to assist you with your job search.

Recruitment Plus is not in a position to respond to each individual application due to the high volume of submissions. We will only contact those candidates whose CV matches the criteria for the vacancy. Thank you for your patience.

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