H-1B Visa Supplier Quality Engineer Jobs
Supplier Quality Engineer roles sit firmly within H-1B visa specialty occupation territory, requiring at minimum a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field. Employers across automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing regularly sponsor H-1B petitions for SQE candidates, and the role's reliance on technical standards like PPAP, APQP, and IATF 16949 strengthens the specialty occupation case at filing.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Rivian Supply Chain team is looking for highly motivated technical professionals to ensure the stability and performance of our global supply chain. As a Senior Supplier Development, Industrialization & Quality Engineer, you will serve as a key individual contributor responsible for the quality performance and continuous improvement of an assigned commodity or group of suppliers. You will work with moderate autonomy to ensure that supplier manufacturing capabilities meet design requirements and that quality expectations are strictly followed.
In this role, you will drive results by proactively identifying challenges at the supplier level and proposing actionable solutions to remove risks before they impact production. You are expected to lead the APQP/PPAP process for your assigned area and maintain strong relationships with direct counterparts to resolve recurring issues. This role offers the opportunity to influence sourcing decisions through expert analysis and data-driven insights.
This position is based onsite in Normal, Illinois or Plymouth, Michigan with a 50–75% primarily domestic travel requirement and reports to the Sr. Manager - Supplier Development, Industrialization & Quality.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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Supplier Management: Own the quality performance for an Body/Battery Structures, focusing on maintaining "Low-to-No Risk" (CL3) status. Directly oversee action plans for CL2 suppliers to prevent regression into higher-risk categories.
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Problem-Solving and Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify challenges and propose specific solutions to remove risks before they impact production. Demonstrate proficiency in robust problem-solving tools (e.g., 5-Why, Fishbone, Is/Isn't) to resolve recurring issues.
-
Technical Skills: Own and lead the APQP/PPAP process for assigned parts, ensuring suppliers meet all technical and documentation standards. Define clear expectations and monitor timelines with suppliers to ensure on-time delivery of quality milestones.
-
Organizational Influence & Outreach: Act as the technical owner for the industrialization of assigned suppliers and manage the final quality sign-off process. Use data-driven insights to directly influence the work of peers.
-
Direction: Operate with moderate autonomy to drive improvements and results within an assigned scope or commodity. Proactively identify challenges and use data-driven logic to propose solutions that remove risk.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
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Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field and a minimum 3 years of relevant supplier development experience.
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Experience managing commodities and understanding the various factors of impact including economic and technology landscapes.
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Commodity-Specific Experience:
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Experience in Cold/Hot stamping, sheet-metal forming, fixture-based assembly, MIG welding, robotic welding, manual welding, e-coat interfaces, and final assembly processes.
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Evaluate fixture datum strategies, clamping, weld-gun access, poka-yoke, dimensional capability, and repeatability.
-
Drive controls for weld defects, dimensional variation, distortion, missing welds, spatter, undercut, porosity, burn-through, and rework.
-
Advanced knowledge of manufacturing techniques and supplier performance ownership.
-
Strong distributor of information, capable of aligning larger working groups and defusing conflicts.
-
Measured by the effective management of KPIs and the number of quality risks successfully mitigated.
-
Responsible for identifying and managing personal priorities to ensure all area-specific milestones are met on time.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
Regular primarily domestic travel is a core part of this role, expected to average between 50–75%.
INTRODUCTION
The Rivian Supply Chain team is looking for highly motivated technical professionals to ensure the stability and performance of our global supply chain. As a Senior Supplier Development, Industrialization & Quality Engineer, you will serve as a key individual contributor responsible for the quality performance and continuous improvement of an assigned commodity or group of suppliers. You will work with moderate autonomy to ensure that supplier manufacturing capabilities meet design requirements and that quality expectations are strictly followed.
In this role, you will drive results by proactively identifying challenges at the supplier level and proposing actionable solutions to remove risks before they impact production. You are expected to lead the APQP/PPAP process for your assigned area and maintain strong relationships with direct counterparts to resolve recurring issues. This role offers the opportunity to influence sourcing decisions through expert analysis and data-driven insights.
This position is based onsite in Normal, Illinois or Plymouth, Michigan with a 50–75% primarily domestic travel requirement and reports to the Sr. Manager - Supplier Development, Industrialization & Quality.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
-
Supplier Management: Own the quality performance for an Body/Battery Structures, focusing on maintaining "Low-to-No Risk" (CL3) status. Directly oversee action plans for CL2 suppliers to prevent regression into higher-risk categories.
-
Problem-Solving and Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify challenges and propose specific solutions to remove risks before they impact production. Demonstrate proficiency in robust problem-solving tools (e.g., 5-Why, Fishbone, Is/Isn't) to resolve recurring issues.
-
Technical Skills: Own and lead the APQP/PPAP process for assigned parts, ensuring suppliers meet all technical and documentation standards. Define clear expectations and monitor timelines with suppliers to ensure on-time delivery of quality milestones.
-
Organizational Influence & Outreach: Act as the technical owner for the industrialization of assigned suppliers and manage the final quality sign-off process. Use data-driven insights to directly influence the work of peers.
-
Direction: Operate with moderate autonomy to drive improvements and results within an assigned scope or commodity. Proactively identify challenges and use data-driven logic to propose solutions that remove risk.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
-
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field and a minimum 3 years of relevant supplier development experience.
-
Experience managing commodities and understanding the various factors of impact including economic and technology landscapes.
-
Commodity-Specific Experience:
-
Experience in Cold/Hot stamping, sheet-metal forming, fixture-based assembly, MIG welding, robotic welding, manual welding, e-coat interfaces, and final assembly processes.
-
Evaluate fixture datum strategies, clamping, weld-gun access, poka-yoke, dimensional capability, and repeatability.
-
Drive controls for weld defects, dimensional variation, distortion, missing welds, spatter, undercut, porosity, burn-through, and rework.
-
Advanced knowledge of manufacturing techniques and supplier performance ownership.
-
Strong distributor of information, capable of aligning larger working groups and defusing conflicts.
-
Measured by the effective management of KPIs and the number of quality risks successfully mitigated.
-
Responsible for identifying and managing personal priorities to ensure all area-specific milestones are met on time.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
Regular primarily domestic travel is a core part of this role, expected to average between 50–75%.
See all 290+ H-1B Visa Supplier Quality Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Supplier Quality Engineer
Align your degree to SQE job requirements
USCIS evaluates whether your specific degree directly relates to the role. A degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering maps cleanly. Materials science or quality management degrees work too, but prepare a brief equivalency statement linking your coursework to supplier quality functions.
Target manufacturers enrolled in E-Verify
STEM-adjacent manufacturing employers enrolled in E-Verify are already set up for compliant hiring. Cross-reference DOL LCA disclosure data by SOC code 17-2112 to identify which manufacturers have filed for quality engineering roles specifically, not just engineering broadly.
Search verified H-1B sponsors on Migrate Mate
Filter by SOC code or job title on Migrate Mate to find employers with documented LCA filing history for Supplier Quality Engineer roles. This surfaces companies that have already navigated the specialty occupation argument for this position, reducing your vetting work significantly.
Request the prevailing wage tier before offer stage
Ask your recruiter which DOL wage level the employer intends to file at before accepting an offer. SQE roles span Levels I through III depending on supplier complexity and autonomy. A Level I designation on a senior-scope role creates compliance risk and can weaken your petition.
Document your PPAP and audit experience precisely
USCIS officers scrutinize whether SQE duties genuinely require a specialized degree. Your resume and support letter should name specific quality systems you've worked within, such as IATF 16949, AS9100, or AIAG standards, connecting each directly to engineering judgment rather than inspection or clerical work.
Verify the prevailing wage using OFLC Wage Search
Before your employer files the LCA, confirm the posted wage matches or exceeds the DOL prevailing wage for your metro area and experience level. Use OFLC Wage Search with SOC code 17-2112 and your actual worksite zip code, not the employer's headquarters if they differ.
H-1B Visa Supplier Quality Engineer: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Supplier Quality Engineer role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes. USCIS treats Supplier Quality Engineer as a specialty occupation because the role typically requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering. The position involves applying engineering theory to supplier qualification, root cause analysis, and quality system audits, which supports the specialty occupation argument. Your employer's job description should tie each duty to specific degree-level knowledge to strengthen the petition.
Which industries sponsor H-1B visas most often for Supplier Quality Engineers?
Automotive, aerospace, medical device, and electronics manufacturing are the highest-volume industries for SQE H-1B sponsorship. These sectors operate under strict regulatory and certification frameworks like IATF 16949, AS9100, and ISO 13485, which require degree-level engineering expertise. You can browse employers with verified LCA filing history for this role on Migrate Mate, filtered by industry or location.
What SOC code applies to Supplier Quality Engineer for H-1B filing purposes?
Most SQE roles are filed under SOC code 17-2112, Industrial Engineers, or 17-2141, Mechanical Engineers, depending on the employer's framing of the role. The SOC code determines which prevailing wage tier applies, so confirm the code your employer intends to use before the LCA is submitted. You can check the O*NET profile for each code to verify the duties align with your actual job responsibilities.
Can a Supplier Quality Engineer on H-1B work across multiple supplier sites?
Yes, but worksite compliance requires attention. If your role involves regular work at supplier facilities in different metro areas, your employer may need to file amended LCAs or additional H-1B petitions for each worksite. Short-term placements under 30 days in a 12-month period have different posting requirements under DOL rules. Clarify the worksite structure with your employer before filing to avoid compliance issues.
How does changing employers affect an H-1B Supplier Quality Engineer?
You can change employers under H-1B portability rules once USCIS has approved your first H-1B and you've maintained lawful status. Your new employer must file an H-1B transfer petition before your start date. Because SQE roles vary in scope across industries, the new employer's job description should independently satisfy the specialty occupation requirement, not simply reference your previous approval.