Senior Aerospace Sourcing Strategist

Shield AI; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Equity

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a seasoned sourcing leader to drive strategic procurement of critical aerospace hardware. You will partner with engineering and program teams to deliver complex components from development through production while managing supplier performance and cost risk.

Ideal candidates have 7+ years in regulated manufacturing, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to obtain a U.S. government security clearance. This is a full-time on-site role with equity and bonus components.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 7+ years in strategic sourcing or supply chain in aerospace/defense or regulated manufacturing.
• Experience leading complex sourcing and managing critical suppliers.
• Experience sourcing airframe structures, landing gear, engines, or related areas.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes (CNC, casting, forging, welding, etc.).
• Experience negotiating complex commercial agreements balancing cost, quality, and schedule.
• Experience with supplier qualification and development in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic sourcing and procurement of mechanical commodities including airframes and propulsion.
• Develop commodity strategies for prototype through production.
• Own supplier selection, onboarding, and long-term management.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities across manufacturing, capacity, quality, and finance.
• Lead RFQ, proposals, negotiations, cost modeling, and contract execution.
• Drive early supplier involvement to improve manufacturability and reduce risk.
• Collaborate with Engineering and cross-functional teams to resolve issues.
• Identify long-lead materials and mitigate supply risks.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Cost analysis

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Supply Chain/Engineering/Business

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a seasoned sourcing leader to drive strategic procurement of critical aerospace hardware. You will partner with engineering and program teams to deliver complex components from development through production while managing supplier performance and cost risk.

Ideal candidates have 7+ years in regulated manufacturing, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to obtain a U.S. government security clearance. This is a full-time on-site role with equity and bonus components.