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Staff Supplier Development Engineer - Structures & Welding (R5984)

Shield AI· Aircraft Operations Division – Supply Chain
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Seattle, WA$170k - $260kFull Time EmployeePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Lead technical development and supplier improvement for welded structures and sheet metal components, coordinating with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to ensure capable suppliers, production-readiness, and compliant manufacturing processes in an aerospace/defense environment.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the technical development and performance improvement of suppliers supporting welded assemblies, large metallic structures, sheet metal components, and complex structural assemblies.
  • Assess supplier capabilities across welding, sheet metal forming, structural fabrication, machining, assembly, tooling, inspection, and special processes.
  • Conduct supplier capability assessments, manufacturing readiness reviews, process audits, capacity analyses, and onsite technical evaluations.
  • Partner with Strategic Sourcing and Engineering to evaluate and select suppliers capable of meeting technical, quality, cost, schedule, and production-rate requirements.
  • Serve as the primary technical interface between suppliers and internal Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Program teams.
  • Lead supplier industrialization activities, including manufacturing planning, tooling and fixture readiness, process validation, capacity planning, qualification, and production ramp-up.
  • Review engineering drawings, specifications, GD&T, bills of material, weld symbols, material requirements, special-process requirements, and statements of work.
  • Evaluate supplier welding capabilities, including welding equipment, personnel qualifications, weld procedures, process controls, inspection methods, and compliance with applicable aerospace welding standards.
  • Review welding procedure specifications, procedure qualification records, welder certifications, and nondestructive inspection requirements.
  • Work with suppliers to control weld distortion, residual stress, dimensional variation, heat-affected zones, joint fit-up, and other risks associated with large welded structures.
  • Evaluate sheet metal forming processes such as brake forming, roll forming, stretch forming, hydroforming, stamping, and complex contour forming.
  • Assess supplier tooling strategies for large structures and sheet metal components, including weld fixtures, assembly jigs, forming tools, trim tools, and inspection fixtures.
  • Drive design-for-manufacturability and design-for-assembly discussions to improve joint design, tooling access, weld accessibility, dimensional control, producibility, cost, and lead time.
  • Lead technical problem-solving involving weld defects, forming defects, springback, distortion, dimensional nonconformances, tooling issues, material variability, and assembly fit-up.
  • Develop and manage supplier technical development plans, production readiness plans, capacity recovery plans, and corrective-action plans.
  • Apply structured root-cause and corrective-action methods, including 8D, 5-Why, fishbone analysis, fault-tree analysis, and other appropriate problem-solving tools.
  • Review and approve supplier manufacturing documentation, including process flow diagrams, manufacturing plans, weld plans, inspection plans, control plans, PFMEAs, work instructions, and qualification documentation.
  • Coordinate First Article Inspection activities in accordance with AS9102 and support the resolution of FAI discrepancies and manufacturing nonconformances.
  • Evaluate supplier production capacity using cycle times, yield, equipment availability, skilled labor, tooling, floor space, material flow, and inspection capacity.
  • Support suppliers through engineering changes, new product introductions, prototype builds, qualification activities, and production-rate increases.
  • Develop measurable improvement plans for suppliers experiencing delivery, quality, capacity, or technical performance issues.
  • Lead onsite supplier recovery efforts and communicate progress, technical risks, and corrective actions to program and executive leadership.
  • Monitor supplier performance trends to identify recurring issues, systemic risks, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
  • Support alternate-source development and risk-mitigation strategies for sole-source, long-lead, and flight-critical structural components.
  • Work with suppliers to implement lean manufacturing, process controls, mistake-proofing, yield improvement, cycle-time reduction, and production-flow improvements.
  • Ensure suppliers comply with applicable AS9100, AS9102, engineering, configuration-control, special-process, and customer requirements.
  • Provide technical guidance and mentorship to less-experienced Supplier Development, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain team members.
  • Travel regularly to supplier locations to conduct assessments, resolve technical issues, and support production readiness and recovery activities.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Welding Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical field.
  • 7+ years of experience in supplier development, manufacturing engineering, welding engineering, supplier quality engineering, or related technical role within aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing environment.
  • Demonstrated experience developing suppliers and resolving complex manufacturing, quality, capacity, or delivery issues.
  • Technical experience with large metallic airframe structures, welded structural assemblies, sheet metal components and assemblies, sheet metal forming and fabrication, structural frames, supports, mounts, enclosures, complex mechanical and structural assemblies, or precision-machined structural components.
  • Strong working knowledge of welding processes (GTAW/TIG, GMAW/MIG, resistance, laser, or EBW).
  • Knowledge of sheet metal manufacturing processes (cutting, bending, forming, rolling, trimming, drilling, fastening, assembly).
  • Experience evaluating welding procedures, welder qualifications, joint preparation, filler materials, shielding, heat input, distortion control, and weld inspection methods.
  • Ability to read and interpret complex engineering drawings, GD&T, weld symbols, BOMs, material specs, and manufacturing requirements.
  • Experience assessing tooling and fixture concepts for welding, sheet metal forming, large-structure assembly, and dimensional inspection.
  • Experience conducting manufacturing process audits, supplier capability assessments, capacity analyses, and production readiness reviews.
  • Experience with First Article Inspection requirements and AS9102 documentation.
  • Working knowledge of AS9100 QMS and aerospace supplier qualification requirements.
  • Experience applying structured root-cause analysis and corrective-action methodologies (8D, 5-Why, fishbone).
  • Knowledge of PFMEA, control plans, process capability, SPC, measurement systems, and inspection methods.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical teams and supplier improvement initiatives with limited oversight.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with data-driven decision making.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including communicating risks and recovery plans to suppliers and leadership.
  • Ability to manage multiple supplier development projects in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to travel to domestic and international supplier facilities as required.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.

Skills

Required:Supplier development and program managementWelding and sheet metal fabricationAS9100/AS9102Root-cause analysis and corrective action

Benefits

  • Bonus
  • Benefits
  • Equity
Last updated Oct 23, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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