Staff Supplier Development Engineer – Propulsion & Landing Gear

About the role

The Staff Supplier Development Engineer – Propulsion & Landing Gear will lead technical development, industrialization, and performance improvement of suppliers that provide airframe structures, precision‑machined components, landing‑gear systems, and propulsion hardware. The role assesses supplier capabilities, manufacturing readiness, quality systems, and resolves complex technical, quality, and delivery issues while partnering with engineering, quality, manufacturing, supply‑chain, and program teams.

Key responsibilities

• Lead technical development and performance improvement of critical mechanical commodities such as airframe structures, precision‑machined parts, landing‑gear, and propulsion hardware.
• Assess supplier technical capabilities, manufacturing processes, capacity, quality systems, tooling, and workforce for prototype, development, qualification, and production programs.
• Conduct supplier capability assessments, manufacturing readiness reviews, process audits, capacity analyses, and onsite technical evaluations.
• Partner with Strategic Sourcing and Engineering to select suppliers that meet technical, quality, cost, schedule, and production‑rate requirements.
• Drive design‑for‑manufacturability and design‑for‑assembly discussions to improve producibility, reduce cost, and shorten lead times.
• Develop and manage supplier technical development, production‑readiness, capacity recovery, and corrective‑action plans.
• Lead technical problem‑solving for manufacturing defects, dimensional nonconformances, process variation, tooling issues, material shortages, and production constraints.
• Coordinate First Article Inspection activities per AS9102 and support resolution of FAI discrepancies.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Industrial Engineering or related field.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.
• 7+ years of experience in supplier development, manufacturing engineering, or supplier quality within aerospace, defense, or highly regulated manufacturing.
• Demonstrated success developing suppliers and resolving complex manufacturing, quality, capacity, or delivery issues.

Required skills

• CNC machining, structural fabrication, composite manufacturing, casting, forging, welding, heat treatment, plating, coating, and mechanical assembly.
• Interpretation of complex engineering drawings, GD&T, bills of material and material specifications.
• First Article Inspection (FAI) execution and AS9102 documentation.
• AS9100 quality management system knowledge and aerospace supplier qualification.
• Root‑cause analysis and corrective‑action methods (8D, 5‑Why, fishbone).
• PFMEA, control plans, statistical process control, measurement systems, and inspection methods.