Supplier Quality Engineer

Instructions:
The following includes French and English job description formats. For roles advertised in France, the description must be in French. Remove the language you don’t need, along with these instructions prior submitting. / Le texte ci-dessous contient les versions française et anglaise du descriptif de poste. Pour les postes publiés en France, la description doit être en français. Merci de supprimer la langue dont vous n’avez pas besoin, ainsi que ces instructions avant la soumission.

To build our future, the best energy is ours!
Arabelle Solutions, part of the EDF Group, is a global leader in nuclear turbine island technologies, providing innovative low-carbon power solutions from the world’s most powerful operating steam turbine to modular SMR-optimized designs, along with generators, pumps, heat exchangers, and controls. Its technologies are used in one-third of nuclear power plants worldwide, supported by a team of 3,500 experts across 16 countries.

Our cultural pillars define how we work together: Team, Expertise, Ownership.
We collaborate fully and value the spirit of teamwork, where every skill is recognized to create innovative and effective solutions. Guided by safety and integrity in all we do, we take ownership of our actions and results.

Your role and impact within the team :

1. Position Purpose

The Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) – Machining is responsible for ensuring the manufacturing capability, product conformity, process robustness and continuous improvement of suppliers manufacturing critical machined components for large steam turbines and generators.

The role covers the complete supplier-quality lifecycle:

Supplier Qualification → Manufacturing Feasibility → Industrialization → Production Quality → Inspection → Non-Conformance Management → Root Cause Analysis → Corrective Action → Supplier Development

The SQE acts as a key technical quality interface between suppliers and internal functions of Engineering, Advance Manufacturing Engineering, Sourcing / Procurement, Project Quality, Supply Chain, Project teams and Other relevant technical specialists

The position requires strong practical expertise in heavy and precision machining, engineering drawings, GD&T/GPS, dimensional metrology, manufacturing processes, supplier quality and structured problem solving.

2 . Key Responsibilities

2.1 Supplier Qualification and Technical Capability Assessment

The SQE shall:

• Assess and qualify new and existing machining suppliers.
• Conduct technical, manufacturing and quality capability assessments at supplier facilities.
• Identify supplier technical and quality capability gaps.
• Establish measurable supplier development and improvement actions.
• Assess supplier readiness prior to industrialization and production.
• Provide technical quality input during supplier selection and sourcing decisions.
• Identify manufacturing, quality, capacity and delivery risks associated with supplier manufacturing concepts.
• Monitor supplier quality performance and drive sustainable improvement.

2.2 Machining Process Expertise

The SQE shall possess strong practical knowledge of heavy and precision machining processes, including as applicable CNC turning, Heavy-duty turning, Vertical turning / VTL, Horizontal boring, Vertical boring, Milling, Multi-axis machining, Drilling, Deep-hole drilling, Grinding, Broaching, Slot and groove machining, Complex profile machining & Large-component setup and alignment.

The SQE shall be capable of technically reviewing and challenging the supplier's complete manufacturing route, for example:

Raw Material → Rough Machining → Heat Treatment / Special Processes → Intermediate Machining → Required Inspection → Finish Machining → Final Dimensional & Visual Inspection → Product Release

The exact manufacturing and inspection sequence shall be defined by the applicable engineering drawings, specifications, approved manufacturing documentation and contractual quality requirements.

3. Large Steam Turbine and Generator Component Scope

The SQE may support suppliers manufacturing critical turbine components including:

Rotating Components

• Rotor forgings and shafts
• Couplings and coupling interfaces
• Blade-related precision-machined components
• Other critical rotating components

Stationary Components

• Turbine casings
• Inner casings
• Diaphragms
• Diaphragm/blade carriers
• Bearing housings and pedestals
• Gland and sealing components

Valve Components

• Main steam valve bodies
• Control valve bodies
• Valve internals
• Other critical precision-machined valve components

The SQE shall understand the manufacturing risks associated with large, complex and high-value turbine components, where machining deviations may result in significant rework, manufacturing delays or component rejection.

4. Engineering Drawings, GD&T/GPS and Dimensional Quality

The SQE shall demonstrate strong competence in:

• Engineering drawing interpretation
• Technical specifications
• Manufacturing requirements
• GD&T/GPS
• Critical and key characteristics
• Tolerance evaluation
• Surface-finish requirements
• Dimensional inspection requirements

The SQE shall be capable of evaluating supplier controls for characteristics including:

• Datum structures
• Runout and total runout
• Coaxiality
• Position
• Profile
• Flatness
• Straightness
• Parallelism
• Perpendicularity
• Roundness and cylindricity
• Dimensional tolerances
• Fits
• Surface finish
• Critical machined interfaces

The SQE shall ensure that suppliers correctly interpret engineering requirements and establish appropriate manufacturing and inspection controls.

5. Dimensional Inspection and Metrology

The SQE shall be capable of assessing supplier inspection arrangements involving, as applicable:

• Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM)
• Portable and large-volume measurement systems
• Precision mechanical measuring equipment
• Bore measurement
• Height and depth measurement
• Surface-finish measurement
• Runout measurement
• Dedicated inspection fixtures
• Gauges and other dimensional inspection equipment

Responsibilities include:

• Review supplier dimensional inspection plans.
• Review dimensional inspection reports.
• Evaluate adequacy of measurement methods.
• Verify appropriate datum establishment.
• Assess measurement repeatability where required.
• Ensure measuring equipment is appropriate for the tolerance and characteristic being verified.
• Challenge incomplete, inconsistent or technically questionable inspection results.
• Support investigation of measurement discrepancies.

The objective is not simply to review final inspection results, but to establish confidence in the measurement process used to generate those results.

6. NDT Knowledge Visual Testing (VT) and Penetrant Testing (PT)

The role requires valid NDT Level 2 certification only in the following methods:

• Visual Testing (VT), Level 2
• Penetrant Testing (PT), Level 2

These are supporting inspection qualifications for the SQE – Machining role and do not change the primary specialization of the position from Machining to NDT.

7. Manufacturing Readiness and Industrialization

The SQE shall support:

• New Product Introduction
• New supplier industrialization
• Localization
• Resourcing
• Supplier/component transfer
• Introduction of new or modified manufacturing processes

Responsibilities include:

• Review supplier manufacturing process flows.
• Review machining sequences.
• Review inspection requirements.
• Review manufacturing and inspection control plans.
• Assess machines, tooling and fixtures.
• Review workholding and datum strategies.
• Evaluate machining feasibility.
• Identify manufacturing and quality risks before production.
• Conduct manufacturing-readiness reviews.
• Ensure adequate control of critical/key characteristics.
• Provide manufacturability feedback to Engineering.
• Ensure relevant lessons learned are incorporated into manufacturing planning.
• Monitor supplier readiness and qualification actions through closure.

8. Manufacturing Risk Management

The SQE shall proactively identify and mitigate risks associated with:

• Machine capability
• Supplier experience with component size and complexity
• Manufacturing sequence
• Machining datum strategy
• Component distortion
• Material condition
• Heat-treatment effects
• Tool accessibility
• Cutting strategy
• Tool wear
• Fixture design
• Workholding
• Setup repeatability
• Inspection accessibility
• Measurement methodology
• Sub-tier operations
• Special process interfaces

The objective is to identify potential manufacturing failures before they become product non-conformities.

9. Material and Special Process Interfaces

Although machining remains the primary technical specialization of the position, the SQE shall possess sufficient working knowledge of interfaces with:

• Forging
• Casting
• Heat treatment
• Welding and weld repair
• Stress relief
• Straightening and distortion correction
• Surface treatment/coating
• NDT processes

The SQE shall understand how upstream material conditions and manufacturing processes can influence:

• Machinability
• Component distortion
• Dimensional stability
• Surface condition
• Inspection results
• Final product conformity

Detailed technical evaluation requiring specialist competence shall be coordinated with the relevant Engineering or specialist function.

10. Non-Conformance Management

The SQE shall lead supplier-side investigation and resolution of manufacturing and machining non-conformities.

Responsibilities include:

• Ensure immediate and effective containment.
• Determine the potential extent of condition.
• Identify affected components, batches and orders.
• Review and technically challenge supplier NCR investigations.
• Review manufacturing and inspection evidence.
• Coordinate Engineering evaluation where technical disposition is required.
• Ensure root causes are supported by objective evidence.
• Drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Monitor actions through closure.
• Verify corrective-action effectiveness.
• Identify recurring and systemic quality problems.
• Ensure applicable lessons learned are implemented.
• Escalate significant supplier quality risks through the appropriate process.

11. Root Cause Analysis and Problem Solving

Problem solving shall be a technical, evidence-based quality activity.

The SQE shall lead or support structured problem solving using appropriate methodologies such as:

• 8D
• 5 Why
• Ishikawa / Fishbone analysis
• Pareto analysis
• Process mapping
• Cause-and-effect analysis
• Statistical analysis
• Process capability analysis
• Measurement-data analysis

The SQE shall ensure that:

• The problem is precisely defined.
• The extent of condition is understood.
• Effective containment protects downstream operations.
• Potential causes are evaluated based on objective evidence.
• The true root cause is demonstrated rather than assumed.
• Corrective actions address the identified root cause.
• Corrective-action effectiveness is verified.
• Recurrence-prevention actions are implemented.
• Applicable lessons learned are deployed.

12. Occurrence and Escape Root-Cause Analysis

Supplier corrective-action investigations shall address two distinct questions.

A. Occurrence

Why was the non-conformity created?

Potential areas include:

• Material
• Machine condition
• Manufacturing method
• Machining parameters
• Tool condition
• Fixture/workholding
• Datum/setup
• CNC program
• Heat treatment/distortion
• Operator execution
• Manufacturing sequence
• Process variation

B. Escape

Why was the non-conformity not detected before release?

Potential areas include:

• Inspection method
• Inspection coverage
• Measurement strategy
• VT/PT controls where applicable
• Inspection frequency
• Inspection equipment
• Acceptance criteria
• Inspector competence
• Documentation
• Process control

Corrective actions shall therefore address both defect prevention and detection effectiveness where applicable.

13. Supplier Process Improvement

The SQE shall drive continuous improvement addressing areas such as:

• Dimensional non-conformities
• Surface defects
• Machining variation
• Surface-finish defects
• Component distortion
• Datum and setup errors
• Tool wear
• Process instability
• Measurement variation
• Inspection escapes
• Repeat VT/PT findings where applicable
• Scrap
• Rework
• Repeat NCRs
• Low first-pass yield
• Manufacturing lead-time issues

The SQE shall use manufacturing, inspection and quality data to identify patterns, prioritize issues and drive sustainable improvements.

14. Supplier Audits and Manufacturing Surveillance

The SQE shall:

• Conduct supplier quality audits.
• Conduct machining process audits.
• Perform manufacturing surveillance for critical components.
• Verify implementation of manufacturing and quality controls.
• Witness critical machining and inspection operations when required.
• Perform/evaluate VT and PT activities within the scope of applicable Level 2 certification and internal authorization.
• Verify compliance with drawings and technical specifications.
• Verify compliance with approved Quality Plans/ITPs.
• Review manufacturing and inspection records.
• Raise audit findings where appropriate.
• Agree corrective actions with suppliers.
• Monitor actions through closure.
• Verify effectiveness of significant corrective actions.

15. Supplier Corrective Action and Development

The SQE shall work with suppliers to transform individual failures into sustainable process improvements.

Supplier development shall focus on:

• Prevention instead of reliance on final inspection
• Manufacturing-process capability
• Machining robustness
• Reduction of manufacturing variation
• Tooling and fixture optimization
• Effective inspection controls
• Personnel competence
• Process discipline
• Reduction of repeat NCRs
• Scrap and rework reduction
• First-pass yield improvement
• Lessons learned
• Continuous improvement

The expected approach is:

Prevent → Control → Measure → Analyze → Correct → Verify → Standardize

16. Cross-Functional Collaboration

The SQE shall work effectively with:

• Design Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Materials Engineering
• Project Quality
• Inspection
• NDT specialists where required
• Sourcing / Procurement
• Supply Chain
• Project teams
• Supplier manufacturing teams
• Supplier quality teams
• Supplier engineering teams

The SQE represents the technical supplier-quality and machining perspective during cross-functional decision making.

Where an issue falls outside the SQE's technical qualification or authorization, the SQE shall coordinate evaluation by the appropriate technical specialist.

17. Preferred Additional Technical Knowledge

Experience or knowledge in the following areas is advantageous:

• Large casing machining
• Turbine diaphragm manufacturing
• Large VTL/HBM operations
• Large-volume metrology
• Statistical Process Control
• Manufacturing process qualification

 

Your profile / Votre profil:

Education level and speciality : Diploma or Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering/Production Engineering/ Materials/Metallurgical Engineering

Experience level : 5-10 Years of experience in similar industry preferrably in production or production quality or supplier quality

In India, our presence spans Sanand (Gujarat), Noida (Uttar Pradesh), and Bengaluru (Karnataka), where our teams drive advanced manufacturing, precision engineering, and cutting-edge project delivery-underpinn by our commitment to safety, integrity, and sustainability.
Arabelle Solutions Nordics operates across Sweden and Finland, with offices in Västerås and Norrköping. With a team of 90 employees across a broad range of functions, we support customers globally with our main focus on the Nordic region, driving advanced manufacturing, precision engineering, and cutting-edge project delivery — all underpinned by our commitment to safety, integrity, and sustainability.
To learn more about Arabelle Solutions’ footprint and the locations where we operate, please visit: https://www.arabellesolutions.com/

Join a committed team making a difference by delivering cutting-edge technologies in support of sustainable nuclear energy.

Join us and work with global teams to support global customers ! At Arabelle Solutions, we have team members of more than 49 nationalities spread across 16 countries.

At Arabelle Solutions, we know diversity makes teams and business stronger.