Supplier Industrialization Engineer (SIE) - Mechanical & Electromechanical

About the Role

We are seeking a Supplier Industrialization Engineer (SIE) to scale mechanical and electromechanical manufacturing from prototype through high-volume global production. This role acts as a technical bridge between engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain, driving DFM/DFA, supplier readiness, automation, and quality execution.

Experience in motor manufacturing (winding, lamination stack, soldering, electromechanical assemblies) is highly preferred.

As a Supplier Industrialization Engineer (SIE) focused on Mechanical and Top-Level Assembly (TLA), you will play a mission-critical role in scaling customer's manufacturing supply chain from prototype to high-volume, global production. You'll serve as a technical bridge between engineering and supply chain, embedding DFM/DFA best practices into the design process while driving supplier selection, tooling development, automation strategy, and quality assurance.

This role requires deep technical expertise across a broad spectrum of mechanical and electromechanical commodities - including motors, magnetics, thermal management systems (heat pipes, fans, housings), cameras, antennas, injection-molded plastics, and high-volume metal fabrication (casting, forging, stamping, and sheet metal). You'll work with suppliers around the world to ensure high-yield, scalable processes that meet rigorous safety and quality standards.

What You'll Do

Supplier Development & Selection

• Audit, qualify, and manage global suppliers across a wide range of manufacturing processes including: Motor winding, magnetic assemblies, and thermal components such as heat exchangers, heat sinks, fans, and ducts Injection and blow molding, vacuum forming, and foam molding for plastic and elastomeric parts.
• High-volume metal forming processes including die casting, forging, sheet metal forming, and stamping.
• Precision assemblies for cameras, sensors, and aerospace-grade antennas.
• Evaluate supplier capability to support automation, tight tolerance control, and consistent quality in both prototyping and full-rate production.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define supplier selection criteria that support both technical requirements and cost targets.

Quality & Compliance

• Own quality systems implementation with suppliers - ensuring compliance with ISO9001, AS9100, and IATF16949 standards.
• Lead development and execution of pFMEA, SPC, PPAP, and process control documentation, tailored to each commodity type.
• Conduct Design of Experiments (DOE) and Gage R&R studies to validate supplier capability in thermal system performance, magnet alignment, plastic part shrinkage, and casting dimensional repeatability.
• Use JMP, Minitab, or R to analyze manufacturing trends, monitor yield performance, and drive defect reduction. Investigate field and test issues related to motors, thermal components, or sensor modules, working with suppliers on root cause analysis and corrective actions.

Process Optimization & Manufacturing Readiness

• Partner with engineering to apply DFM/DFA early in design - with special focus on parting lines, wall thickness, cooling paths, tolerances, and fastener strategies across all materials and assembly types.
• Develop and optimize process flows for key assemblies that integrate motors, heat management elements, and electromechanical actuators.
• Define and lead semi-automated and fully automated processes for component manufacturing and top-level integration, including for camera and sensor modules, magnetic assemblies, and foam-molded aircraft exteriors.
• Implement robust End-of-Line (EOL) testing strategies: Collaborate with automation teams to implement robotic assembly cells and in-line test stations for cost-efficient, scalable production.

What You'll Bring

• 7+ years of experience in Supplier Industrialization, Supplier Quality, or Manufacturing Engineering for mechanical and electromechanical systems, such as:

Motors and magnetic assemblies (including winding, insulation, dynamic balancing)Thermal systems, such as heat pipes, fans, housings, and thermal interfaces. Injection molding, vacuum forming, and foam molding. High-volume metal production: die casting, stamping, forging, and sheet metal Cameras, sensors, and RF-based components (e.g., antennas).

• Strong understanding of fixture design, tooling development, and DFM for high-throughput, precision manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with NPI ramp, supplier audits, and automated process qualification.
• Proficiency in GD&T and 3D CAD tools (e.g., NX, SolidWorks).
• Experience with EOL testing development and in-process inspection systems for critical parts.
• Data-first mindset - confident using statistical tools (JMP, Minitab, Python) to drive root cause and quality tracking.
• Exceptional cross-functional communicator, able to lead conversations across engineering, operations, and external supplier teams.
• Work location: Potential work areas are Akita, Kyoto. Open to base location as long as they are within a few hours of travel to these areas.
• Language: Japanese and English required.