Aerospace Strategic Sourcing Lead — Equity Eligible

Shield AI; Seattle, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI seeks an experienced procurement leader to drive supplier strategies for next-generation aerospace technology. You will lead critical sourcing initiatives, build strong supplier partnerships, and collaborate across teams to deliver hardware from development to production, accelerating innovation and strengthening the supply chain.

You will own supplier selection, qualification, onboarding, and performance management for complex and mission-critical components, while negotiating terms

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field with experience in regulated manufacturing.
• 7+ years in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supplier management in aerospace/defense.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic sourcing and procurement of mechanical commodities including airframe structures and gears.
• Develop commodity strategies for prototype through production across aerospace programs.
• Own supplier selection, onboarding and long-term management for critical components.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities across processes, capacity, quality systems and finances.
• Lead RFQ, proposals, negotiations, should-cost modeling and contract execution.
• Negotiate price, lead times, terms, IP provisions, and long-term agreements.
• Collaborate with Engineering to review drawings, GD&T, BOMs, and changes.
• Drive early supplier involvement to improve manufacturability and reduce risk.
• Understand cost drivers for aircraft structures, machining, engines and assemblies.
• Perform cost analysis using supplier cost breakdowns and market data.
• Manage supplier performance and lead recovery plans with executive reviews.
• Coordinate with multiple departments to resolve supply chain and technical issues.
• Support new product introduction and ramp-up with supplier readiness and tooling.
• Identify long-lead materials and obsolescence risks with mitigation plans.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Procurement

Supplier management

Aerospace industry

Negotiations

Cost analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

ERP/MRP systems

Excel

Supply chain

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Excel

Job description

Shield AI seeks an experienced procurement leader to drive supplier strategies for next-generation aerospace technology. You will lead critical sourcing initiatives, build strong supplier partnerships, and collaborate across teams to deliver hardware from development to production, accelerating innovation and strengthening the supply chain.

You will own supplier selection, qualification, onboarding, and performance management for complex and mission-critical components, while negotiating terms