Principal Supply Chain Product Engineer

Description

The Principal Supply Chain Product Engineer is a recognized technical leader responsible for ensuring that products are designed, validated, and manufactured with robust, scalable, and cost-effective test solutions. This role serves as a key advisor across Product Engineering, Test Engineering and New Product Introduction (NPI) through mass production activities within Manufacturing, ensuring seamless transition from design to high-volume production. The role partners closely with design, quality, and external partners to deliver high-quality, reliable products while optimizing test coverage, yield, and cost.

Responsibilities

Strategic Product Leadership

• Define and drive enterprise-level product and test strategies aligned with business objectives, customer requirements, and operational goals.
• Lead NPI readiness and manufacturing ramp strategies to ensure successful product launches. 
• Partner with executive leadership to identify test risks and opportunities that impact business performance.

Test Product Engineering & Validation

• Lead the development and deployment of manufacturing test strategies, including functional, parametric, environmental, and reliability testing.
• Lead product engineering activities supporting manufacturing, including generating test requirement documents, engineering change implementation, driving root cause analysis and resolution of product related issues in production and field. 
• Optimize test coverage, cycle time, and cost while maintaining product quality and compliance.
• Oversee test equipment design, validation, calibration, and lifecycle management.
• Implement advanced test technologies, automation, and data analytics to improve efficiency and insight.
• Establish KPIs to test performance monitoring, efficiency and manufacturing readiness. 

New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Partner with design to ensure smooth product transfers from development to manufacturing.
• Establish robust validation processes and pilot builds.
• Drive readiness reviews, risk assessments, and launch performance tracking.

Manufacturing & Operational Excellence

• Lead test initiatives across manufacturing operations to improve process capability, yield, reliability, and operational efficiency.
• Identify and eliminate production inefficiencies and test bottlenecks
• Establish test requirements and validation strategies for new manufacturing processes and technologies.
• Provide technical leadership during critical manufacturing escalations and quality containment events.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Operations to ensure alignment on product requirements and execution.
• Support supplier selection and qualification for test equipment and capabilities.
• Act as a key liaison between engineering and manufacturing teams globally.

 Complex Problem Solving & Risk Management

• Lead investigation and resolution of high-impact quality issues affecting manufacturing, suppliers, customers, or field performance.
• Utilize advanced statistical analysis, structured problem-solving methodologies, and risk assessment techniques to identify root causes and drive sustainable corrective actions.
• Establish escalation frameworks and risk mitigation strategies for critical quality events.

 Technical Leadership & Mentorship

• Serve as a mentor and coach for Product Engineers and cross-functional technical teams.
• Lead development of test engineering standards, methodologies, and training programs.
• Influence organizational culture through technical leadership and knowledge sharing.

 Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing, product engineering or test engineering roles.
• Significant experience within electronics, hardware, semiconductor, high-tech manufacturing, or complex supply chain environments.
• Proven track record of supporting high volume manufacturing and complex product portfolios. 
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise-scale test initiatives and cross-functional programs. 
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, or a related technical discipline required. Master's degree preferred.

Technical Expertise

• Deep knowledge of product lifecycle management (PLM), configuration control, and engineering change processes.
• Strong expertise in manufacturing test methodologies, test system design, and validation processes.
• Experience with DFM, DFT, DFR, and reliability engineering principles.
• Familiarity with automation, data acquisition systems, and Industry 4.0 technologies.
• Background in test automation, software-driven testing, and data analytics platforms.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Strong communication and executive presentation abilities.
• Ability to manage complex programs and competing priorities.
• Track record of successful product launches and manufacturing scale-ups.
• High level of integrity, accountability, and adaptability.

Work Environment & Travel

• Combination of office, lab, and manufacturing environments.
• Travel required (~25%) depending on product lifecycle and location

Qualifications

Education and/or Experience

11 years of experience in supplier quality engineering, product engineering, test development, software development, sourcing engineering, or component engineering

OR

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Materials Science, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field AND 7 years of experience in supplier quality engineering, product engineering, test development, software development, sourcing engineering, or component engineering

OR

Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Materials Science, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field AND 5 years of experience in supplier quality engineering, product engineering, test development, software development, sourcing engineering, or component engineering

Job Skills:

Same as prior level.

Education and/or Experience

12 years of experience in supplier quality engineering, product engineering, test development, software development, sourcing engineering, or component engineering

OR

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Materials Science, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field AND 8 years of experience in supplier quality engineering, product engineering, test development, software development, sourcing engineering, or component engineering

OR

Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Materials Science, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field AND 6 years of experience in supplier quality engineering, product engineering, test development, software development, sourcing engineering, or component engineering

OR

Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Materials Science, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field AND 4 years of experience in supplier quality engineering, product engineering, test development, software development, sourcing engineering, or component engineering.