Supplier Quality Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Supplier Quality Engineer jobs in Illinois are among the most active in the Midwest, concentrated in manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, and medical device sectors at levels from entry-level to senior principal. The heaviest hiring is in the Chicago metro, Rockford, and the Quad Cities corridor, where established employers like Abbott Laboratories, Caterpillar, and Boeing have deep supplier quality teams. The most in-demand specialties are supplier auditing, PPAP and APQP documentation, and incoming inspection for regulated industries. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is a global leader in mission-critical flow control solutions for energy and process industries that enable efficient and sustainable operations. Our products include mechanical seals and systems, couplings, bearings, filtration systems, and predictive digital monitoring technologies.
We have a global network of more than 200 sites in over 50 countries and employ more than 6,000 people worldwide. We partner with our customers to help them keep their operations safe, reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and meet the latest environmental standards.
John Crane is part of Smiths Group. For over 170 years, Smiths has been pioneering progress by engineering for a better future. We serve millions of people every year, helping to create a safer, more efficient, productive, and better-connected world across four global markets: energy, security & defence, space & aerospace, and general industrial. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs approximately 16,000 colleagues in over 50 countries.
Job Description
Reporting to the Operations Quality Manager, the Supplier Quality Assurance Engineer will directly manage external suppliers to resolve quality issues and to improve supplier quality. The Supplier Quality Engineer will be responsible for maintaining and improving supplier performance, analyze non-conformances, conduct supplier audits, and issue and participate in supplier corrective actions
Quality Management System
- Create and manage an improvement strategy for the United States.
- Measures and drives supplier performance on quality and delivery.
- Drives communication with supplier to improve process capability of supplied products.
- Conducts supplier quality systems audits.
- Fully understands, interprets, and audits to ISO 9001:2008.
- Works with supplier on process evaluation and continuous improvement.
- Leads team with purchasing, Engineering, Plants, and Supplier on root cause analysis for quality issues.
- Assists supplier with first article submissions.
- Reviews FMEAs, Control Plans and other supplier documentation for adequacy.
- Support Supplier Qualification and problem resolution.
- Additional duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Degree in Engineering or related technical field.- Must have considerable experience in technical roles preferably in a large multi-location business.
- Knowledge and understanding of QMS Processes and ISO 9001.
- Demonstrated experience in quality management tools, such as: Control Plans, Kaizen, 5S, Statistical Analysis, Root Cause analysis tools, Corrective Action Systems, FMEA, IPPAP and Cause and Effect Diagrams preferred.
- Ability to make good judgments and recommendations by effectively sourcing and analyzing critical information
- Demonstrated experience in data visualization in Microsoft Excel and/or other data visualization tools such as Power BI.
- Effective written, verbal and presentation skills.
- Demonstrated ability to persistently pursue and achieve results. Uses data / analytics to proactively monitor and review plans to hit or exceed targets and drives continuous improvement..
- Knowledgeable and demonstrated experience in understanding of technically complex problems.
Additional Information
With colleagues stretching across the globe, we are proud of our diversity. To foster inclusivity, we run employee resource groups (ERGs) to provide a safe space for employees to connect and support each other. Our cross-business ERGs include Veterans, Pride Network, Black Employee Network, Women@Work Network, and Neurodiversity.
Across our company, we recognize excellence, culminating in the Smiths Excellence Awards, our annual celebration of the most extraordinary activities, people, and projects that best showcase our strengths and help drive our business forward. We announce these on our annual Smiths Day, a global celebration of Smiths around our network.
Join us for a great career with competitive compensation and benefits, while helping engineer a better future.
#ZR
We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.
At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)
See All 25 Supplier Quality Engineer Jobs in Illinois
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Find JobsSupplier Quality Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Supplier Quality Engineer Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Energy
- Automotive
- Electronics & Hardware
- Mining & Natural Resources
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in supplier quality engineer jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering or a related field
- Hands-on experience with PPAP, APQP, and supplier auditing processes
- Familiarity with quality management systems such as ISO 9001 or IATF 16949
- Proficiency with measurement tools, GD&T, and statistical process control methods
- Strong written communication skills for corrective action reports and supplier correspondence
- Ability to travel to supplier facilities across Illinois and the broader Midwest region
Supplier Quality Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a supplier quality engineer in Illinois?
A bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering is the standard entry point for supplier quality engineer roles in Illinois. The state does not require a specific license for this role, but employers across Illinois's manufacturing corridor strongly favor candidates with a Certified Quality Engineer credential from the American Society for Quality, which is widely recognized by manufacturers in the Chicago metro, Rockford, and the Quad Cities. Relevant internship or co-op experience with an Illinois manufacturer adds significant weight to an application.
How much do supplier quality engineers make in Illinois?
Supplier quality engineers in Illinois earn a median of about $100,540 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $73,780 for the lowest 10% to over $155,650 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire supplier quality engineers in Illinois?
Employers hiring supplier quality engineers in Illinois right now include S&C Electric Company, Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences, and ECHO, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Illinois's deep concentration of aerospace, automotive, and medical device manufacturers means supplier quality roles appear consistently across both large OEMs and their regional tier-one and tier-two suppliers.
Which Illinois cities have the most supplier quality engineer jobs?
Chicago, Buffalo Grove, and Elk Grove Village have the most supplier quality engineer openings in Illinois. The Chicago metro drives the largest share through its dense cluster of aerospace, medical device, and industrial manufacturing employers, while Rockford's long-standing machining and fastener industries and the Quad Cities' heavy equipment and defense manufacturing base generate consistent demand in those corridors.
Are there remote supplier quality engineer jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. About 43% of supplier quality engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of the role, which routinely requires on-site supplier audits, incoming inspection, and floor-level problem solving. The portions most amenable to remote work are documentation review, corrective action report writing, and data analysis between site visits.
How can I get hired as a supplier quality engineer in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for quality technician or quality inspector roles at Illinois manufacturers, which provide the floor-level inspection and measurement experience that supplier quality positions build on. Large Illinois employers such as Caterpillar and Abbott run structured co-op and new-graduate programs that feed into quality engineering tracks. Earning an American Society for Quality Certified Quality Technician credential before applying signals readiness and is recognized across Illinois's manufacturing base. Engineering programs at the University of Illinois and Illinois Institute of Technology also maintain employer partnerships that surface these entry opportunities.
Where can I find and apply to supplier quality engineer jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to supplier quality engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across the Chicago metro, Rockford, the Quad Cities, and other manufacturing centers throughout the state. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly to each one.
See All 25 Supplier Quality Engineer Jobs in Illinois
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