Engineer III – Supplier Technical Engineering (Complex Modules)

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Adherence to all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Safety Standards, Office

Job Description

The Engineer III – Supplier Technical Engineering is the technical owner for a portfolio of complex functional modules supplied by strategic suppliers. The role is responsible for ensuring suppliers can successfully industrialize, manufacture, validate, and continuously improve high-performance modules that meet Thermo Fisher's requirements for quality, reliability, cost, and delivery.

Working closely with R&D, Sourcing, Quality, Operations, and Supplier Management, the Engineer III leads supplier technical engagement throughout the product lifecycle—from New Product Introduction (NPI) and industrialization through sustaining production and continuous improvement.

The successful candidate combines manufacturability knowledge of electro-mechanical systems with strong supplier development, industrialization, and problem-solving capabilities. The role requires frequent interaction with suppliers and a hands-on approach to resolving technical manufacturing challenges at supplier sites.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Technical Ownership

• Serve as the technical interface between Thermo Fisher and assigned suppliers for complex functional modules and assemblies.  
• Develop in-depth technical knowledge of assigned modules, including functionality, critical characteristics, manufacturing methods, and performance requirements. 
• Establish strong technical partnerships with suppliers to ensure long-term capability, performance, and continuous improvement. 
• Assess supplier technical capabilities and manufacturing readiness for current and future business needs. 

Supplier Industrialization & NPI

• Lead supplier industrialization activities for new products, module transfers, and engineering changes. 
• Collaborate with R&D, Sourcing, and Quality to ensure manufacturability requirements are incorporated early in the development process. 
• Drive supplier readiness through robust industrialization plans, process qualification, validation activities, and production ramp-up. 
• Review and challenge supplier manufacturing processes, control strategies, PFMEAs, control plans, and validation approaches. 

Supplier Quality & Reliability

• Drive resolution of supplier technical and quality issues using structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, Root Cause Analysis, PFMEA, and CAPA. 
• Lead supplier containment, corrective actions, and verification of sustainable solutions.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks that may impact product quality, reliability, cost, or supply continuity. 
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve supplier performance, process capability, product reliability, and field quality. 

Technical Leadership for Complex Modules

• Provide technical leadership for complex electro-mechanical, vacuum, electronic, optical, and precision-mechanical assemblies supplied to Thermo Fisher products. 
• Coach and help SMEs to analyze technical failures, performance trends, and reliability data to identify improvement opportunities. 
• Support validation and deployment of specialized test equipment and manufacturing technologies at supplier locations. 

Supplier Development & Audits (has some overlap with supplier) 

• Participate in supplier selection, qualification, and development activities. 
• Conduct technical assessments, manufacturing reviews, and supplier audits. 
• Coach suppliers in implementing best practices related to quality systems, manufacturing controls, process validation, and continuous improvement. 
• Secure operational interests (cost of poor quality) by steering strategic supplier selection towards operational excellence. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the Operations Engineering representative within cross-functional project teams. 
• Collaborate with R&D, Quality, Sourcing, teams to ensure successful lifecycle management of assigned modules. 
• Communicate supplier risks, readiness status, and improvement actions to project teams and leadership. 

Preferred Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in supplier engineering, operations engineering, manufacturing engineering, or product industrialization within a high-tech environment. 
• Experience with complex functional modules and precision systems, preferably within electron microscopy, semiconductor equipment, analytical instrumentation, medical devices, or similar industries. 
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, process validation, and supplier quality methodologies. 
• Experience conducting supplier audits and leading supplier improvement initiatives. 
• Knowledge of PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, 8D, CAPA, and Lean Manufacturing principles. 
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. 
• Willingness to travel internationally (approximately 35–50%).

Thermo Fisher Scientific does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other legally protected status.