Supplier Development Engineer

Job Summary

Vertiv is seeking a Sourcing Engineer/Supplier Development Engineer to support next-generation rack, row, power, and thermal infrastructure solutions for high-density compute and AI-driven data center applications.

This role will support new product development (NPD) and customer solution programs within the IT Solutions business unit, bridging engineering requirements with supplier capability, availability, cost, manufacturability, quality, and lifecycle risk.

You will partner cross-functionally with engineering, procurement, offering management, project management, manufacturing, quality, and suppliers to help identify and qualify components, assemblies, and systems that enable scalable, production-ready solutions in a fast-paced environment.

Why This Role is Exciting

• Direct impact on next-generation data center and AI infrastructure solutions
• Positioned as a core engineering partner in NPD programs and customer solutions (not just procurement support)
• Ownership of component and supplier strategy that influences performance, cost, and scalability
• Work across electrical, mechanical, thermal, and controls systems
• High visibility across cross-functional teams and supplier partners in a fast-paced environment
• Opportunity to help shape sourcing standards, playbooks, and future capabilities (including PCB/controls exposure)

Key Responsibilities

1. Sourcing Strategy & Supplier Integration

• Translate product and engineering requirements into sourcing and supplier requirements
• Identify, evaluate, and select suppliers based on technical capability, cost, quality, and scalability
• Partner with procurement and engineering on supplier strategy and component selection
• Assess supplier readiness for NPI and production ramp

2. Component Engineering & Qualification

• Support selection and qualification of components across:

• Power distribution and electrical hardware

• Controls, PCB assemblies, and monitoring systems

• Mechanical structures, racks, and enclosures

• Thermal systems and cooling components

• Lead or support part qualification, second sourcing, and lifecycle risk mitigation

• Ensure components meet form, fit, function, compliance, and reliability requirements

3. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with electrical, mechanical, thermal, and systems engineering teams

• Participate in design reviews and provide input on:

• Cost, availability, and lead time

• Manufacturability and serviceability

• Supplier risk and technical feasibility

• Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, and test teams during builds and validation

4. Design Support & Production Readiness

• Support BOM development and management, AVL/AML alignment, and documentation
• Drive design-for-cost and value engineering initiatives
• Support prototype builds, pilot production, and factory integration activities
• Ensure supplier deliverables meet program timing, cost, and quality targets

5. Supplier Management & Issue Resolution

• Work directly with suppliers to resolve:

• Technical performance issues

• Manufacturing or quality concerns

• Specification gaps or deviations

• Support root cause analysis and corrective actions

• Help manage end-of-life components and supply chain risks

6. Continuous Improvement & Standards

• Contribute to development of sourcing standards, playbooks, and best practices
• Improve component selection guidelines and supplier qualification processes
• Stay current on market trends, supplier capabilities, and emerging technologies

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline.

• 3+ years of experience in sourcing engineering, supplier engineering, or technical procurement

• Experience supporting new product development or manufacturing environments

• Technical knowledge of one or more of the following areas:

• Electrical power distribution equipment

• PCB assemblies and controls hardware

• Connectors, sensors, breakers, relays, switches, power supplies, and monitoring devices

• Mechanical assemblies, sheet metal, racks, enclosures, and structural components

• Thermal systems, HVAC components, air/liquid cooling equipment, and fluid handling components

• Ability to interpret:

• Engineering drawings and schematics

• Bills of material (BOMs)

• Technical specifications and supplier documentation

• Strong understanding of:

• Cost drivers and lead time

• Manufacturability and supply chain risk

• Component lifecycle management

• Strong cross-functional communication and problem-solving skills

Preferred

• Experience in data center infrastructure, power systems, or thermal solutions
• Familiarity with UL, IEC, ISO, ASHRAE, or similar standards
• Experience with PLM/ERP systems (Oracle preferred)
• Background in value engineering, should-cost analysis, or supplier development
• Experience supporting global suppliers, contract manufacturers, fabrication houses, PCB vendors, or custom-engineered component suppliers.
• Experience with 3-phase power systems, controls hardware, thermal equipment, rack-level infrastructure, or factory-integrated data center systems.
• Knowledge of design-for-manufacturing, design-for-assembly, design-for-serviceability, and design-for-cost methodologies.
• Familiarity with AI tools to improve engineering productivity (e.g., summarization, requirements drafting, data analysis, supplier research support)

What We're Looking For

• A systems thinker who understands both engineering intent and supplier capability
• A hands-on problem solver who can work across technical and supply chain challenges
• Someone who takes ownership and drives decisions in fast-paced NPD environments
• A strong collaborator who can influence across engineering, procurement, and suppliers

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