Shield AI is looking for a highly skilled, motivated Supplier Development Engineer to lead the technical development, industrialization, and performance improvement of suppliers for critical mechanical commodities. These include precision-machined components, airframe structures, landing gear, composites and propulsion/engine hardware.
You'll be the main technical interface between suppliers and Shield AI's Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Program teams. You'll solve supplier problems that affect quality, on-time delivery, and scaling. You'll onboard suppliers to new designs and lead them through qualification and production ramp-up. This work is central to our mission of delivering affordable, autonomous mass at scale.
Supplier development and capability assessment
Lead technical development and performance improvement for precision machining, airframe structures, landing gear, composites and propulsion/engine hardware.
Assess supplier technical capabilities, manufacturing processes, capacity, quality systems, tooling, workforce, and readiness for prototype, development, qualification, and production programs.
Run capability assessments, manufacturing readiness reviews, process audits, capacity analyses, and onsite evaluations.
Work with Strategic Sourcing and Engineering to select suppliers that meet technical, quality, cost, schedule, and production-rate requirements.
Identify, develop, and qualify new suppliers in Europe to grow the regional supply base.
Industrialization and new product introduction
Lead industrialization: manufacturing planning, tooling readiness, process validation, capacity planning, qualification, and production ramp-up.
Support new product introductions, prototype builds, engineering changes, and rate increases, making sure suppliers meet all quality and delivery requirements during development.
Review drawings, specifications, GD&T, bills of material, special-process requirements, and statements of work with suppliers.
Qualification
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical10+ years in supplier developmentExperience in one or more ofStrong knowledge of CNC machiningExperience with process auditsKnowledge of PFMEASkilled with CAD (SolidWorksStrong analyticalActive UExperience with aircraftComplex machiningLanding gear manufacturing knowledge
Required
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Chemical, Materials, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
10+ years in supplier development, manufacturing/process/mechanical engineering, supplier quality, quality engineering, or supply chain in aerospace, defense, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
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/structural assemblies, metallic or composite structures, landing gear, engines/propulsion, engine mounts, complex mechanical assemblies, castings/forgings, or special-process/finished components.
Strong knowledge of CNC machining, structural fabrication, forming, welding, composites, casting, forging, heat treatment, plating, coating, finishing, and mechanical assembly.
Confident reading and interpreting complex drawings, GD&T, bills of material, material specifications, and manufacturing requirements.
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.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making skills.
Preferred
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 mechanical hardware.
Experience developing or managing suppliers in Europe.
Industrialization and production ramp-up of newly designed aerospace components and systems.
Complex machining, tight tolerances, special processes, and aerospace materials.
Metallic and composite airframe experience, including tooling, layup, curing, bonding, machining, drilling, trimming, assembly, and inspection.
