Supplier Development Engineer – Structures & Welding

About the role

Shield AI is seeking a senior Supplier Development Engineer to lead technical development and performance improvement of suppliers that provide welded assemblies, large metallic structures, and sheet‑metal components for aerospace and defense programs. The role combines supplier assessment, industrialization, and continuous‑improvement activities while acting as the primary technical liaison between suppliers and internal engineering, quality, and program teams.

Key responsibilities

• Lead technical development and performance improvement of suppliers for welded assemblies, large metallic structures, and sheet‑metal components.
• 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 supplier industrialization activities including tooling readiness, process validation, qualification and production ramp‑up.
• Review engineering drawings, GD&T, weld symbols, bills of material and special‑process requirements.
• Evaluate welding procedures, welder qualifications, nondestructive inspection methods and compliance with aerospace welding standards.
• Lead technical problem‑solving for weld defects, forming defects, distortion, tooling issues and material variability using structured root‑cause methods.
• Develop and manage supplier technical development, production‑readiness and corrective‑action plans, and monitor performance trends.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Welding or Industrial Engineering or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in supplier development, manufacturing or welding engineering within aerospace, defense or other highly regulated environments.
• Demonstrated ability to develop suppliers and resolve complex manufacturing, quality, capacity or delivery issues.
• Experience leading cross‑functional technical teams and supplier improvement initiatives with limited oversight.

Required skills

• GTAW/TIG, GMAW/MIG, resistance, laser and electron‑beam welding processes.
• Sheet‑metal forming techniques (brake, roll, stretch, hydro‑forming, stamping).
• Interpretation of GD&T, weld symbols and complex engineering drawings.
• AS9100 quality management system and AS9102 First Article Inspection.
• Structured problem‑solving methods (8D, 5‑Why, fishbone, fault‑tree analysis).
• PFMEA, control plans, statistical process control and measurement systems analysis.
• Supplier capability assessments, manufacturing audits and capacity analysis.
• Tooling and fixture design for large structures and sheet‑metal components.