Engineer: Supply Chain Development

gpac; Michigan; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401(k) Matching

Job summary

gpac is seeking a Supply Chain Development Engineer in Michigan to connect purchasing, engineering, and project management with the external manufacturing network. You will oversee supplier onboarding, assess capacity, and scale global sourcing options with a focus on identifying high-efficiency, cost-optimized international partners.

You will lead vendor development initiatives, optimize production lead times, and contribute to cost-saving manufacturing alternatives.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years in a production, quality, or manufacturing environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or Supply Chain Operations.
• Advanced 2D blueprint analysis, reading drafting layouts, BOM interpretation, and Excel data usage.
• Willingness to travel up to 40% domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Onboard suppliers and qualify partners for the Approved Vendor Registry.
• Design and implement vendor improvement plans to reduce lead times and costs.
• Interpret GD&T and BOM to identify cost-saving manufacturing alternatives.
• Coach external partners on processes and quality control methodologies.
• Assist procurement in evaluating quotes and negotiating production costs.

Skills

Supply chain

Manufacturing experience

Excel analytics

Negotiation

Global travel

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering

Tools

Visual Mfg

MS Excel

Job description

About the Role

Local industry leader is seeking a Supply Chain Development Engineer to connect internal purchasing, engineering, and project management teams to external manufacturing network. In this dynamic role, you will oversee supplier onboarding, assess manufacturer capacities, and scale global sourcing options‑including identifying high‑efficiency, cost‑optimized international partners.

What You Will Do

• Supplier Evolution & Onboarding: Spearhead development initiatives for existing vendors and rigorously evaluate the manufacturing capacity, quality frameworks, and scalability of prospective partners to qualify them for their Approved Vendor Registry.
• Performance Optimization: Design and deploy actionable vendor improvement strategies targeting measurable gains in production lead times, piece-price reduction, and first-time quality.
• Technical & Manufacturing Liaison: Interpret complex assembly drawings, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), and Bills of Material (BOM) to identify engineering redundancies and target cost‑saving manufacturing alternatives.
• Operational Coaching: Mentor external partners on finishing processes, standardized documentation, and quality control methodologies to ensure seamless compliance with company standards.
• Commercial Support: Partner with procurement to evaluate contract manufacturer quotes, critique production cost models, and support strategic contract negotiations.

What They’re Looking For

• Experience: 3 to 5 years of hands‑on experience in a production, quality, or manufacturing environment.
• Academic Foundation: Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Operations, or an equivalent technical discipline.
• Technical Requirements: Advanced 2D blueprint analysis, reading drafting layouts, interpreting complex BOMs, and leverage data using Microsoft Excel.
• Global Mobility: A passion for global industrial environments with the flexibility to travel up to 40% domestically and internationally.
• Negotiation & Strategy: A proven history of identifying manufacturing cost‑drivers and successfully collaborating with contract manufacturers to secure competitive pricing structures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Functional familiarity with Visual Mfg. or comparable ERP/MRP database environments.
• Foundational knowledge of formal Quality Management Systems (QMS), industrial auditing protocols, and continuous improvement frameworks.

Compliance & Employment Requirements

• Authorized to work in the United States without restriction.
• Valid Driver's License.
• Standard background and health screening required.
• Valid Passport

Employee Benefits

• Health & Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance options alongside life insurance and disability coverage.
• Retirement: A 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.