Supplier Quality Engineer | China

The Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) – Expatriate, based in China, is responsible for driving supplier quality performance, process capability, delivery reliability, and capacity assurance across the regional supply base. The role acts as a key interface between suppliers in China and MEA/EAP regional stakeholders, ensuring alignment with procurement strategy, engineering requirements, and manufacturing needs.

Reporting to the Senior Supplier Quality Manager – MEA/EAP, this position contributes directly to supplier development, risk mitigation, and sustainable operational performance.

If you are passionate about quality excellence, have a strong technical and commercial mindset, and thrive in a dynamic, cross-functional environment, this could be your next great opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish, implement, and continuously improve supplier QA/QC systems aligned with regional procurement and quality strategy.
• Collaborate closely with Strategic Procurement and Category Management to prioritize supplier development by product category, driving improvements in quality, cost competitiveness, delivery performance, and sustainability.
• Evaluate and qualify new and existing suppliers in China, ensuring compliance with technical specifications, quality standards, process capability, cost targets, and capacity requirements.
• Act as a key quality interface for procurement decisions, supporting supplier selection, qualification, and long-term sourcing strategies.
• Support procurement with data-driven insights on supplier performance, capability, risks, capacity constraints, and lead time reliability.
• Approve supplier products that meet Doka’s quality reliability, and performance standards.
• Introduce and deploy Lean methodologies, supplier scorecards, structured audit systems to enhance supplier maturity and transparency.
• Monitor and report supplier performance through key metrics, adherence, capacity utilization, and audit scores, and drive corrective actions where required.
• Track and follow up on open orders, production progress, and delivery schedules at supplier sites to ensure timely fulfillment and early identification of deviations.
• Assess supplier manufacturing capacity, load balancing, and scalability on a periodic basis; proactively communicate risks, constraints, and mitigation plans to internal stakeholders.
• Identify and escalate potential supply chain bottlenecks, lead time risks, and capacity limitations, enabling proactive decision-making and continuity planning.
• Lead supplier-related non-conformance management, ensuring effective containment, root cause analysis (8D), and sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Collaborate with Product Management and Engineering to align on technical requirements, process parameters, design changes, and new product introductions (NPI).
• Support supplier readiness for new product launches, ensuring process robustness, capacity availability, and milestone compliance.
• Provide technical guidance to suppliers to improve manufacturing efficiency, Process stability, cost optimization, and product quality.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, foster long-term partnerships and continuous capability development.
• Act as the regional representative in China, ensuring effective cross-cultural communication and alignment between local suppliers and MEA/EAP teams.

• Degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline.
• Minimum 7-10 years of experience in supplier quality, supplier development, or manufacturing quality within industrial or construction related sector.
• Strong experience with China supply base, preferably in steel fabrication, structural components, or industrial manufacturing.
• Proven expertise in supplier audits, development, performance management, and crisis handling.
• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, material standards, welding processes, and certification requirements (EN, ISO, etc.).
• Hands on experience with Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), 8D, and control plan methodologies.
• Familiar with manufacturing processes and standards, material grades, testing and certification requirements, and welding standards (e.g. EN, ISO, AS 1554).
• Proficient in reading and interpreting engineering drawings and specifications.
• Strong analytical and statistical skills to support data-driven decision-making.
• Experience in capacity assessment, production planning interface, and supply chain risk management is essential.
• Excellent command of English (spoken and written); proficiency in Mandarin Chinese is essential for supplier communication.
• Strong stakeholder management across procurement, engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers
• Proven problem-solving capability and ability to manage multiple projects with tight timelines.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural and fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel frequently within China and occasionally across the MEA/EAP region.