Senior Supplier Quality engineer

onsemi is seeking a self-driven and motivated professional to join our Supplier Quality Team with a role based in Bucheon, S. Korea. 

At onsemi, a global leader in Silicon Carbide (SiC) power solutions, you will have the opportunity to work with top-tier global vendors and collaborate with cross-functional teams worldwide across R&D, Product Engineering, Process Engineering, and Supplier Quality.

This role is responsible for Supplier Quality Engineering (SQE) across all front-end semiconductor raw materials — including SiC substrates, silicon substrates, metal targets, photo masks, photoresists, chemicals, and process gases. While the scope spans the full range of raw materials, there will be an initial concentration on SiC substrates, given their critical importance to onsemi’s leadership in SiC-based applications.

By joining this team, you will help define material specifications, ensure supplier compliance, and drive continuous improvements that directly impact the performance and reliability of onsemi’s semiconductor products. This position offers a unique chance to influence the global semiconductor supply chain and grow into a recognized expert across all front-end raw materials.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Quality & Management

• Qualify, audit, and manage suppliers for SiC substrates and other semiconductor raw materials.
• Establish and monitor supplier KPIs (yield, defect rates, on-time delivery, compliance).
• Drive supplier corrective actions (8D, 5-Why, Ishikawa) and continuous improvement projects.
• Act as the technical liaison between suppliers and internal cross-functional teams.

Product Engineering (Raw Material & Substrate Specifications)

• Define and maintain specifications for SiC substrates (wafer size, thickness, resistivity, orientation, bow/warp, micropipe density, defect density, surface roughness, crystalline quality,etc.).
• Extend specification ownership to silicon wafers, metal targets, masks, photoresists, and specialty chemicals/gases.
• Translate device-level and process requirements into supplier material standards.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI), including 150mm to 200mm SiC substrate transitions.

Material Engineering (Raw Material Qualification)

• Develop incoming quality requirements for SiC and other raw materials.
• Work with suppliers to ensure purity, consistency, and traceability of feedstocks.
• Partner with labs to validate material quality using advanced characterization (ICP-MS, GDMS, XRF, SEM, AFM, PL, Raman,…).
• Monitor how raw materials impact substrate quality, device yield, and reliability.

Process Engineering (Manufacturing & Inspection)

• Gain deep understanding of SiC substrate processes:
• Crystal growth (PVT, HTCVD,…).
• Ingot slicing, grinding, lapping, polishing.
• Epitaxy and surface preparation.
• Define inspection and metrology requirements:
• Surface morphology (AFM, optical,…).
• Structural quality (XRD, Raman, PL,…).
• Defect density (KOH etching, x-ray topography,…).
• Electrical performance (resistivity, carrier lifetime,…).
• Support similar process capability and inspection improvement projects with other raw materials.
• Crystal growth (PVT, HTCVD,…).
• Ingot slicing, grinding, lapping, polishing.
• Epitaxy and surface preparation.
• Surface morphology (AFM, optical,…).
• Structural quality (XRD, Raman, PL,…).
• Defect density (KOH etching, x-ray topography,…).
• Electrical performance (resistivity, carrier lifetime,…).

Compliance & Documentation

Compliance & Standards

• Ensure supplier compliance with international standards including ISO, IATF 16949, RoHS, REACH, and VDA 6.3.
• Conduct supplier audits and assessments to verify adherence to quality and regulatory requirements.

Supplier Qualification & Onboarding

• Evaluate and qualify new material suppliers to support manufacturing site needs.
• Train new suppliers on onsemi’s onboarding requirements and quality expectations.
• Represent Supplier Quality in the qualification of new suppliers and products, from NPI through safe launch and final production.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Maintain and manage supplier quality agreements, audit reports, and performance scorecards.
• Monitor supplier performance through ratings and scorecards, and provide clear reporting on supplier risks, readiness, and overall performance.
• Drive supplier performance improvements aligned with site goals for Quality and Operations.

Issue Resolution & Collaboration

• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to resolve supplier issues using structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D.
• Collaborate with process and device teams to define and publish product-specific quality requirements.
• Participate in supplier business reviews alongside Sourcing Managers.

Audit & Customer Engagement

• Participate in customer and third-party quality audits as the representative for Supplier Quality.
• Support cost improvement initiatives by qualifying alternative or new suppliers.

Cross-Functional Support

• Actively contribute to onsemi project and improvement teams.
• Serve as backup SQE for other team members as needed.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Materials Science, Semiconductor Engineering, Physics, Quality, or related field (PhD a plus).
• 10+ years of experience in supplier quality, semiconductor raw materials, wafer process engineering, or related disciplines.
• Hands-on experience with SiC substrate manufacturing, semiconductor equipment, wafer fab processes, or manufacturing.
• IATF 16949, AS9100D, and/or VDA 6.3 certified Lead Auditor experience.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% for supplier visits and audits.

Language

• Korean – Fluent
• English – Fluent
• Chinese – Nice to have

Technical Expertise

• Deep knowledge of SiC substrate manufacturing, defect mechanisms, and material characterization techniques.
• Familiarity with silicon wafers, masks, photoresists, chemicals, and gases.
• Proficient in reading and interpreting specifications, schematics, and technical drawings.
• Skilled in statistical and quality tools: SPC, DOE, CpK, APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, and PSW.
• Mastery of Six Sigma methodologies (Black Belt or Green Belt certification preferred).

Soft Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset.
• Effective time and project management capabilities.
• Ability to collaborate across global teams and drive results in complex supply chains.
• Solid supplier relationship management and cross-functional teamwork.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Improvement of supplier yield and defect density.
• Successful qualification of SiC substrate and other raw material suppliers.
• Timely closure of supplier corrective actions.
• Reduction of cost of poor quality (COPQ).

onsemi (Nasdaq: ON) is driving disruptive innovations to help build a better future. With a focus on automotive and industrial end-markets, the company is accelerating change in megatrends such as vehicle electrification and safety, sustainable energy grids, industrial automation, and 5G and cloud infrastructure. With a highly differentiated and innovative product portfolio, onsemi creates intelligent power and sensing technologies that solve the world’s most complex challenges and leads the way in creating a safer, cleaner, and smarter world.

More details about our company benefits can be found here:

https://www.onsemi.com/careers/career-benefits