Ricardo Velasquez

About Ricardo Velasquez

Results-driven engineering professional with over 10 years of automotive industry experience in product development, supplier quality, and continuous improvement. Began career as a Product Development Engineer, leading strategic design changes, promoting root-cause analysis for cross-functional problems, and ensuring lessons learned were effectively incorporated to support vehicle launches and ongoing production. Currently employed as a Supplier Development Engineer with major focus on APQP and PPAP processes, supplier quality improvement, and problem-solving. Demonstrated team player and results-oriented professional committed to excellence, building alignment across teams, and delivering more than expected.

Experience

1. Lead Supplier Development Engineer - Interior Cockpit

   Rivian

   Jan 2025 — Present

   Manage complete ownership of supplier quality through the entire life cycle, from initial sourcing through development, tooling and industrialization phases as well as product launch and ongoing business management for assigned purchased components• Support Purchasing group in the supplier selection process by conducting supplier assessment audits and participating in supplier technical review• Ensure supplier advanced product quality planning (APQP) meet quality and timing expectations for production part approval (PPAP) for components.• Collaborate with design release engineers, design quality, technical program managers and others to secure PPAP approvals• Understand and interpret engineering drawings and manufacturing processes. Support Metrology, Inspection Methods and Equipment with the supplier-partners.• Facilitate the escalation of unresolved supplier quality issues within assigned projects and suppliers.• Report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in order to support the Quality organization to monitor and report on supplier product quality and performance. • Manage and coordinate supplier Parts Per Million (PPM), supplier problem solving on time, cost recovery and supplier warranty indicators. • Participate in cross-functional teams in the development of new products or changes related to current products in meeting customer requirements.

Education

• Universidad de Sonora

  Engineer's degree, Mechatronics Engineer

  2011 — 2016

• Instituto Politécnico Nacional

  Bachelor of Engineering - BE, Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering