Staff Supplier Development Engineer Structures and Welding
Shield AI is a U.S. defense-technology company developing mission-autonomy software and autonomous aircraft for military and allied operations.
Funding history
Investors
About Shield AI
Founded in 2015, Shield AI builds Hivemind autonomy software and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft for operations in contested, GPS- and communications-denied environments. Its current site also presents Aechelon synthetic-reality simulation and Vision Systems detection and tracking products.
Skills
Candidate Availability
Required and preferred rules are kept separate and reflect the wording in the original posting.
About the Role
You will lead supplier development for welded assemblies, metallic structures, sheet metal, and structural hardware. You will evaluate welding and fabrication readiness, industrialize production, resolve quality and capacity issues, lead onsite recovery efforts, manage first-article activities, and strengthen supplier manufacturing processes and compliance.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Welding Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field
- 7 or more years of relevant experience in aerospace, defense, or regulated manufacturing
- Supplier development and complex manufacturing, quality, capacity, or delivery issue-resolution experience
- Experience with structural, welded, sheet-metal, machined, tooling, or aerospace-special-process areas
- Knowledge of GTAW/TIG, GMAW/MIG, resistance, laser, or electron-beam welding
- Knowledge of sheet metal fabrication and forming
- Experience evaluating welding procedures, qualifications, materials, controls, and inspection
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, weld symbols, bills of material, and specifications
- Experience with supplier audits, capability assessments, capacity analyses, and readiness reviews
- Experience with AS9102 First Article Inspection documentation
- Knowledge of AS9100 quality systems
- Experience with 8D, 5-Why, and fishbone root-cause analysis
- Knowledge of PFMEA, control plans, process capability, statistical process control, and inspection
- Ability to lead cross-functional supplier improvement initiatives
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance
Responsibilities
- Lead supplier technical development and performance improvement for welded and structural assemblies
- Assess welding, sheet metal, fabrication, machining, assembly, tooling, inspection, and special-process capabilities
- Conduct supplier assessments, readiness reviews, audits, capacity analyses, and onsite evaluations
- Evaluate and select suppliers with sourcing and engineering partners
- Lead industrialization, tooling readiness, process validation, qualification, and production ramp-up
- Review drawings, GD&T, weld symbols, bills of material, and requirements
- Evaluate welding capabilities, procedures, qualifications, controls, and inspection methods
- Assess sheet metal forming and tooling strategies
- Drive design-for-manufacturability and design-for-assembly improvements
- Resolve weld, forming, distortion, tooling, material, and assembly issues
- Develop readiness, capacity recovery, and corrective-action plans
- Review and approve manufacturing and qualification documentation
- Coordinate AS9102 First Article Inspection activities
- Evaluate production capacity and support production-rate increases
- Lead supplier recovery efforts and risk communication
- Implement lean manufacturing and production-flow improvements
- Ensure compliance with AS9100, AS9102, and applicable requirements
- Mentor supplier development, quality, manufacturing, and supply chain personnel
- Travel to supplier facilities
Benefits
- Bonus
- Benefits
- Equity
- Temporary benefits package after 60 days of employment