
Supplier Development Engineer - Mechanical (R4561)
Required skills
- machined parts
- supplier development
- quality engineering
- production process improvement
- supply chain management
- aerospace industry
- supplier performance
- quality
- on-time delivery
- scaling
Nice to have
- travel up to 50%
Role summary
Shield AI, a defense-tech company, seeks a Supplier Development Engineer specializing in mechanical parts. This role is crucial for enhancing supplier performance, resolving quality and delivery issues, and supporting new design onboarding. The engineer will focus on improving supplier processes, conducting audits, providing technical guidance, monitoring performance, managing risks, and supporting new product introductions within the aerospace industry. The position requires 7+ years of experience in supply chain, manufacturing, or process engineering, proficiency in CAD, data analysis, PLM/ERP systems, and GD&T, with up to 50% travel.
Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Supplier Development Engineer to join Shield AI, focusing on machined parts. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in supplier development, quality engineering, production process improvement, and supply chain management within the aerospace industry. This role is critical in enhancing supplier performance by solving supplier challenges that impact quality/on-time delivery/scaling, supporting the onboarding of suppliers to new designs, and delivering on our mission to deliver affordable and autonomous mass at scale.
What you'll do:
Process Improvement: Audit and embed into core supplier processes to understand improvement opportunities to cost, lead-times, and quality
Quality Assurance: Conduct on-site audits to root cause supplier quality issues or performance challenges
Supplier Development: Assess and improve supplier capabilities, ensuring alignment with engineering and operational priorities.
Engineering Technical Support: Provide technical guidance to suppliers on part specifications, manufacturing processes and standards, and quality measures
Supplier Performance Monitoring: Track and analyze supplier performance metrics, including delivery, quality, and cost. Implement corrective actions and continuous improvement plans as necessary.
Risk Management: Identify and mitigate risks within the supply chain to ensure uninterrupted production and delivery of components
New Product Introduction (NPI): Support the introduction of new products by ensuring suppliers meet all quality and delivery requirements during the development phase
Required qualifications:
7 plus years of supply chain, manufacturing engineering, process engineering,
CAD (SolidWorks, NX, CATIA, etc.)
Excel / data analysis
PLM or ERP systems
Travel up to 50%
Can read drawings + GD&T confidently
Understand machining/welding/forming processes
Led root cause investigations (8D, 5 Whys)
Worked with suppliers or production lines
#LI-JM1
#LC
Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
###
Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
Similar roles
Senior Technical Program Manager (R6371)Shield AI · Remote · Hybrid
Senior Trade Compliance Specialist (R6250)Shield AI · Seattle, WA · Onsite
Senior Supplier Development Engineer I/II – ElectricalRocket Lab · Long Beach, CA · Onsite
Supplier Development Engineer, BrittlesŌURA · San Francisco, CA · Hybrid
Sr Supplier Development Engineering ManagerHoneywell · Northford, CT · Hybrid- Supplier Development EngineerTrue Anomaly · Denver · Onsite
