Supplier Development Engineer

Morson Human Resources Limited; Prestwick; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Spirit Aerosystems in Prestwick is seeking a Supplier Development Engineer to assess, develop and improve supplier capability, capacity, quality and operational performance for aerospace products. Occasional UK travel will be required to support current programmes and future growth.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive supplier readiness and mitigate risks. Key responsibilities include supplier assessment, onboarding and qualification, KPI monitoring, and leading improvement

Qualifications

• Experience in supplier assessment, auditing and development.
• Knowledge of aerospace standards including AS9100, NADCAP, APQP/PPAP.
• Experience in Lean, Six Sigma and continuous improvement methods.

Responsibilities

• Assess supplier capacity and capability to meet manufacturing performance and readiness.
• Identify risks to capacity, capability, quality, delivery and business continuity.
• Develop and implement supplier improvement plans to close performance gaps.
• Support supplier qualification, onboarding and approvals for new products/programes (programmes).
• Lead and monitor supplier performance via KPIs, corrective actions and development plans.
• Support RFQ/RFP activities with capability and capacity assessments.
• Contribute to NPI, industrialisation, and production transfer readiness.

Skills

Supplier capability

Capacity assessment

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Root Cause Analysis

QMS knowledge

Risk assessment

Production planning

Auditing & supplier mgmt

Data analysis & KPIs

Project management

Technical drawing interpretation

Stakeholder communication

Commercial awareness

MS Office proficiency

Education

HND in Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Engineering, or Supply Chain

Job description

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Supplier Development Engineer to join the team with our prestigious client Spirit Aerosystems at their site in Prestwick, there is travel involved with this role mostly around the UK

Job Purpose

The Supplier Development Engineer (SDE) is responsible for assessing, developing and improving supplier capability, capacity,
quality and operational performance to support the delivery of aerospace products that meet customer, regulatory, quality,
cost and delivery requirements.
Working closely with suppliers and cross-functional teams, the SDE drives supplier performance improvement, identifies and
mitigates supply chain risks and ensures supplier readiness to support both current programmes and future business growth.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Assessment & Development

• Conduct supplier capacity and capability assessments to evaluate manufacturing performance, scalability, and readiness
• Assess supplier compliance with aerospace standards, including AS9100, NADCAP, customer, and regulatory requirements
• Identify risks relating to capacity, capability, quality, delivery, and business continuity
• Develop and implement supplier improvement plans to address performance gaps and drive operational excellence
• Support supplier qualification, on-boarding, and approval activities for new products and programmes
• Participate in supplier recovery activities where performance falls below expectations.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead and support Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Value Engineering, and Root Cause Analysis initiatives
• Monitor supplier performance through KPIs, corrective actions, and development plans to ensure sustainable improvement

Supply Chain & Programme Support

• Support sourcing decisions through objective capability and capacity assessments
• Review supplier manufacturing plans and technical proposals during RFQ/RFP activities
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI), industrialisation, production transfers, and business readiness reviews
• Contribute to global sourcing and supply chain resilience strategies

Stakeholder Management & Reporting

• Collaborate with Procurement, Quality, Engineering, Operations, and Programme teams to support supplier performance and readiness
• Prepare assessment reports, risk summaries, and improvement recommendations
• Present findings and progress updates to internal stakeholders and supplier leadership teams

Key Performance Indicators

• Supplier On-Time Delivery (OTD)
• Supplier Quality Performance (PPM)
• Capacity Risk Reduction
• Supplier Development Plan Completion
• Corrective Action Closure Effectiveness
• Supplier Audit Scores
• Programme Readiness
• Supply Chain Continuity

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• HND (or equivalent) in Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline or
• Minimum five years relevant experience in a manufacturing, quality, or supply chain environment

Experience

• Aerospace, Defence, Manufacturing, or Advanced Engineering industry experience
• Proven experience in supplier assessment, auditing, and development
• Understanding of aerospace manufacturing processes and supply chain management
• Experience leading supplier improvement and recovery initiatives
• Knowledge of AS9100, NADCAP, APQP, PPAP, and related aerospace quality standards

Skills & Competencies

• Supplier Capability & Capacity Assessment
• Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement
• Six Sigma and Root Cause Analysis
• Quality Management Systems (QMS)
• Risk Assessment & Mitigation
• Production Planning & Manufacturing Systems
• Supplier Auditing & Relationship Management
• Data Analysis & KPI Reporting
• Project Management
• Technical Drawing Interpretation
• Stakeholder Management & Communication
• Commercial & Financial Awareness
• Advanced Microsoft Office Skills

Personal Attributes

• Analytical and solution-focused
• Strong communicator and relationship builder
• Able to influence and drive change
• Self-motivated and organised
• Collaborative and results-oriented
• Willing to travel domestically and internationally