Senior Staff Engineer, Supply Chain - Mechanical Commodities (R6524)

The role

You will lead the technical development, industrialization and performance improvement of suppliers for critical mechanical commodities. You will be the main technical contact between suppliers and Shield AI's Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Program teams.

What you will do

• Lead technical development and performance improvement for precision machining, airframe structures, landing gear, composites and propulsion/engine hardware suppliers.
• Assess supplier capabilities, processes, capacity, quality systems and readiness for prototype, qualification and production programs.
• Lead industrialization, tooling readiness, process validation and production ramp-up.
• Coordinate First Article Inspection under AS9102 and resolve FAI discrepancies and nonconformances.
• Lead onsite root-cause investigations and corrective actions using 8D, 5-Why, fishbone and fault-tree analysis.
• Track supplier delivery, quality and cost metrics and put improvement plans in place.
• Identify and reduce supply chain risk, including developing alternate sources for sole-source and flight-critical parts.
• Identify, develop and qualify new suppliers in Europe.
• Mentor Supplier Development, Supplier Quality and Supply Chain team members.
• Lead cross-functional technical teams and improvement initiatives with limited oversight.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Chemical, Materials, Industrial Engineering or a related technical field.
• 10+ years in supplier development, manufacturing, process or mechanical engineering, supplier quality, quality engineering or supply chain in aerospace, defense or another highly regulated manufacturi
• A track record of developing suppliers or production lines and resolving complex manufacturing, quality, capacity or delivery problems.
• Experience in one or more of: precision machining, airframe or structural assemblies, metallic or composite structures, landing gear, engines or propulsion, engine mounts, complex mechanical assemblie
• Strong knowledge of CNC machining, structural fabrication, forming, welding, composites, casting, forging, heat treatment, plating, coating, finishing and mechanical assembly.
• Able to read and interpret complex drawings, GD&T, bills of material and material specifications.
• Hands-on experience leading structured root-cause and corrective-action investigations (8D, 5-Why, fishbone).
• Experience with process audits, capability assessments, capacity analyses and readiness reviews.
• Experience with FAI and AS9102 documentation, plus working knowledge of AS9100 and aerospace supplier qualification.
• Knowledge of PFMEA, control plans, process capability, statistical process control, measurement systems and inspection methods.
• Skilled with CAD (SolidWorks, NX, CATIA or similar), Excel and data analysis, and PLM or ERP systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including explaining technical risks and recovery plans to suppliers and senior leadership.

Nice to have

• Active U.S. government SECRET clearance at hire.
• Experience with aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems, advanced aerospace platforms or defense programs.
• Direct supplier development for airframe structures, landing gear, turbine engines, propulsion or other flight-critical hardware.
• Experience developing or managing suppliers in Europe.
• Industrialization and production ramp-up of newly designed aerospace components.
• Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, value-stream mapping and process capability analysis.
• Familiarity with NADCAP-controlled special processes, FAR, DFARS, ITAR, export compliance and government contracting.
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, Six Sigma Green or Black Belt, APICS/ASCM or a similar professional certification.

Benefits

• Full-time regular employees: bonus, benefits and equity, in addition to pay within the listed range.
• Temporary employees: a temporary benefits package, applicable after 60 days of employment.
• Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits.

Before you apply

• You must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.
• Offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.
• You must be able to travel up to 50%, domestic and international.

About the company

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company that builds intelligent systems, including Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation technologies. It has offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.