Supplier Development Engineer - Mechanical

Shield; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI in Seattle is seeking a Supplier Development Engineer focused on machined parts to strengthen supplier performance across quality, delivery, and cost. You will lead audits, drive process improvements, and partner with engineering to qualify new suppliers during NPI.

The role requires deep experience in aerospace supplier ecosystems, CAD/CAM knowledge, and data-driven problem solving. Travel up to 50% is expected as part of on-site assessments and supplier visits.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in supply chain, manufacturing engineering, or process engineering.
• Proficient with CAD and reading drawings.
• Strong Excel and data analysis capabilities.
• Experience with PLM or ERP systems.
• Willingness to travel up to 50%.
• Experience with machining, welding, or forming processes.

Responsibilities

• Audit supplier processes to reduce cost, lead times, and improve quality.
• Conduct on-site audits to identify supplier quality issues.
• Assess and improve supplier capabilities aligned with engineering and operations.
• Provide technical guidance on part specifications and manufacturing processes.
• Monitor supplier performance metrics and implement corrective actions.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks to ensure uninterrupted production.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) by ensuring supplier readiness.

Skills

Travel up to 50%

Read drawings GD&T

Machining processes

Root cause analysis

Supplier experience

Excel data analysis

Tools

CAD software (SolidWorks/NX/CATIA)

PLM or ERP systems

Job description

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Job Description:

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Supplier Development Engineer to join Shield AI, focusing on machined parts. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in supplier development, quality engineering, production process improvement, and supply chain management within the aerospace industry. This role is critical in enhancing supplier performance by solving supplier challenges that impact quality/on-time delivery/scaling, supporting the onboarding of suppliers to new designs, and delivering on our mission to deliver affordable and autonomous mass at scale.

What you'll do:

• Process Improvement: Audit and embed into core supplier processes to understand improvement opportunities to cost, lead-times, and quality
• Quality Assurance: Conduct on-site audits to root cause supplier quality issues or performance challenges
• Supplier Development: Assess and improve supplier capabilities, ensuring alignment with engineering and operational priorities.
• Engineering Technical Support: Provide technical guidance to suppliers on part specifications, manufacturing processes and standards, and quality measures
• Supplier Performance Monitoring: Track and analyze supplier performance metrics, including delivery, quality, and cost. Implement corrective actions and continuous improvement plans as necessary.
• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate risks within the supply chain to ensure uninterrupted production and delivery of components
• New Product Introduction (NPI): Support the introduction of new products by ensuring suppliers meet all quality and delivery requirements during the development phase

Required qualifications:

• 7 plus years of supply chain, manufacturing engineering, process engineering,
• CAD (SolidWorks, NX, CATIA, etc.)
• Excel / data analysis
• PLM or ERP systems
• Travel up to 50%
• Can read drawings + GD&T confidently
• Understand machining/welding/forming processes
• Led root cause investigations (8D, 5 Whys)
• Worked with suppliers or production lines

Full-time regular employee offer package:

Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package:

Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

110000 - 170000 USD a year