Supplier Quality Development Lead

Be yourself at Protolabs  Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification.  We are an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to building a diverse team that feels they are valued in the workplace.  So do you feel you do not meet every single requirement but still intrigued? We encourage you to still apply!  You can help make our company even better.  We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, mental or physical ability, or any way you represent yourself.  We strongly believe diversity makes for more successful teams. 

Why Protolabs?  We are the leaders in digital manufacturing.  We hire doers, makers, and creative thinkers who tackle our roles with an entrepreneurial spirit.  Our culture is centered around meaningful work that brings new and innovative products to market at unprecedented speeds.  We are a diverse team that comes from all walks of life and take pride in our team who is smart, genuine, humble, and passionate about what we do.  It’s our people who fuel our creativity and make our culture feel like home. 

We are looking for Supplier Quality Development Lead

The Supplier Quality Development Lead is responsible for leading a team of Supplier Quality Development Engineers (SQDEs) located across the globe and driving the quality performance, capability development, and risk management of manufacturing partners. The role ensures that suppliers are effectively onboarded, qualified, monitored, and continuously improved to meet business, customer, and regulatory requirements.  The Supplier Quality Development Lead provides strategic direction, coaching, and operational oversight to the SQDE team while partnering closely with Manufacturing Partners, Supply Chain Managers, Sourcing Team, and Quality Control teams to achieve quality, delivery, and business objectives. 

What You'll Do:

• Strategically plan the MP quality development in line with commercial inputs

• Together with our Supply Chain Teams, select and qualify new manufacturing partners, support with onboarding in line with Protolabs standards.

• Monitor and proactively drive supplier performance: Quality targets, problem solving    

• Develop suppliers: identify and deploy manufacturing best practices to ensure manufacturing consistency across the network

• Support the proper development of new capabilities (technologies, materials, post processing options...)   

• Design processes to manage our supplier relationships and performance in a scalable way

• Closely monitor underperforming MP’s, set clear targets for improvement

• Supporting quality management system by creating & maintaining procedures, forms and documentation

• Benchmark and leverage best practices across the MP network

• Manage Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) What It Takes:

• 5+ years of experience in quality (supplier quality development is a plus) An analytical mindset and data driven approach to supplier management

• Experience in quality control and continuous improvement methods

• Flexibility to travel (within EU and overseas), 20-30% of the time

• Previous experience in  CNC Machining in a Production or Quality role (additive manufacturing and/or injection moulding is a plus) What's In It For You: Our success is built on our people. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to be their authentic selves and do their best work. Alongside a supportive and inclusive culture, we offer a range of benefits designed to make work both rewarding and enjoyable:

• Annual company bonus – we celebrate success together and reward both individual contributions and overall business performance.

• Well-being support – access to OpenUp, providing professional psychological support to help you stay healthy and balanced.

• Daily lunch and snacks – shared meals in the office create space to connect, recharge, and strengthen collaboration.

• Learning & development opportunities – access to external training and events, as well as our in-house LEARN platform, offering a wide range of courses and workshops to support your growth.

• Regular team events and socials – fostering connection, collaboration, and a strong sense of community.