Supplier Development & Performance Lead (Aerospace Manufacturing & Machining Operations)

Quest Global; United States; On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Job summary

Quest Global in Circle Pines, MN is seeking an experienced Supplier Development & Performance Lead to drive turnaround and continuous improvement at aerospace suppliers, mainly machine shops. You will lead assessments, implement corrective actions, and partner with leadership to meet quality, delivery, and cost goals.

You will apply Lean, Six Sigma and ERP/MRP expertise to stabilize operations, develop baselines, and deliver measurable improvements across supplier networks while ensuring

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field, equivalent experience considered.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, machining operations, supplier quality, supplier development, or operational leadership.
• Proven track record of improving supplier performance in aerospace or highly regulated manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of CNC machining, precision manufacturing, and aerospace supply chain requirements.
• Experience leading operational turnarounds and recovery initiatives.
• Deep knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational assessments to identify constraints, inefficiencies, and performance gaps.
• Develop and execute turnaround plans for underperforming suppliers with measurable milestones.
• Establish baselines and roadmaps; analyze production flow, capacity, staffing and scheduling effectiveness.
• Lead root-cause investigations and corrective action implementation to improve quality and delivery.
• Drive Lean, Six Sigma and continuous improvement initiatives across supplier networks.
• Partner with customer leadership and supplier teams to ensure accountability and timely updates.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Change management

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Production planning

Job description

Job Requirements

Who We Are:

Quest Global delivers world-class end-to-end engineering solutions by leveraging our deep industry knowledge and digital expertise. By bringing together technologies and industries, alongside the contributions of diverse individuals and their areas of expertise, we are able to solve problems better, faster. This multi-dimensional approach enables us to solve the most critical and large-scale challenges across the aerospace & defense, automotive, energy, hi-tech, healthcare, medical devices, rail and semiconductor industries.

We are looking for humble geniuses, who believe that engineering has the potential to make the impossible possible; innovators, who are not only inspired by technology and innovation, but also perpetually driven to design, develop, and test as a trusted partner for Fortune 500 customers. As a team of remarkably diverse engineers, we recognize that what we are really engineering is a brighter future for us all. If you want to contribute to meaningful work and be part of an organization that truly believes when you win, we all win, and when you fail, we all learn, then we’re eager to hear from you.

The achievers and courageous challenge-crushers we seek, have the following characteristics and skills:

What You Will Do:

We are seeking an experienced Supplier Development & Performance Lead to manage the turnaround and continuous improvement initiatives at aerospace manufacturing suppliers, with a primary focus on machine shops and precision machining operations. This role serves as a hands-on operational leader responsible for rapidly assessing supplier performance, identifying operational gaps, implementing corrective actions, and driving measurable improvements in quality, delivery, productivity, workforce capability, and customer satisfaction.

The successful candidate will work directly at supplier facilities, partnering with ownership, leadership teams, supervisors, customers and production personnel to stabilize operations and establish sustainable processes that meet aerospace industry requirements.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a hands-on operations and manufacturing leader who is equally comfortable on the shop floor as in stakeholder meetings. They possess the technical expertise to evaluate machining operations, the leadership skills to influence supplier management teams, and the operational discipline to drive measurable improvements in quality, delivery, cost, and workforce performance. They thrive in challenging situations and have a proven history of stabilizing and transforming underperforming aerospace suppliers.

What You Will Do:

Operational Assessment & Recovery

• - Conduct comprehensive supplier operational assessments to identify constraints, inefficiencies, and performance gaps.
• - Develop and execute turnaround plans for underperforming suppliers.
• - Establish performance baselines and improvement roadmaps with measurable milestones.
• - Analyze production flow, machine utilization, capacity, staffing, and scheduling effectiveness.
• - Lead root cause investigations and corrective action implementation.

Delivery Performance Improvement

• - Improve on-time delivery performance through production planning, scheduling, and capacity management.
• - Identify bottlenecks impacting throughput and customer commitments.
• - Develop recovery plans for late orders and backlog reduction.
• - Implement sales, inventory, and operations planning (SIOP) disciplines where appropriate.
• - Monitor key production metrics and drive accountability.

Quality & Aerospace Compliance

• - Assess compliance with aerospace quality standards including AS9100 and customer requirements.
• - Improve process control and manufacturing discipline.
• - Support corrective and preventive actions related to quality escapes and customer complaints.
• - Reduce scrap, rework, and nonconformance rates.
• - Collaborate with quality teams during audits and customer reviews

Workforce Development & Training

• - Evaluate workforce capabilities and organizational effectiveness.
• - Develop and deliver training programs for supervisors, planners, machinists, inspectors, and operational personnel.
• - Coach site leadership on performance management and continuous improvement practices.
• - Establish standardized work instructions and process documentation.
• - Promote a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.

Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

• - Lead Lean, Six Sigma, and operational excellence initiatives.
• - Facilitate Kaizen events and value stream mapping exercises.
• - Implement visual management systems and performance dashboards.
• - Improve shop floor organization through 5S and workplace standardization.
• - Drive cost reduction and productivity improvement initiatives.

Stakeholder Management

• - Serve as the primary liaison between customer leadership and supplier management teams.
• - Present findings, recovery plans, risk assessments, and progress updates to executive leadership.
• - Build collaborative relationships while maintaining accountability for results.
• - Escalate critical risks impacting quality, delivery, or customer commitments.

What You Will Bring:

• - Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• - Minimum 10 years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, machining operations, supplier quality, supplier development, or operational leadership.
• - Proven track record of improving supplier performance in aerospace or highly regulated manufacturing environments.
• - Strong understanding of CNC machining, precision manufacturing, special processes, and aerospace supply chain requirements.
• - Experience leading operational turnarounds and recovery initiatives.
• - Deep knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• - Strong project management and change management capabilities.
• - Excellent communication, facilitation, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• - AS9100 experience.
• - Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• - Aerospace OEM or Tier 1 supplier experience.
• - Supplier Development or Supplier Quality Engineering background.
• - Experience with ERP/MRP systems and production planning processes.

Pay Range: $130,000 - $160,000 annual salary

Compensation decisions are made based on factors including experience, skills, education, and other job-related factors, in accordance with our internal pay structure. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plan.

Work Requirements: This role is considered an on-site position located in Circle Pines, MN.

• - You must be able to commute to and from the location with your own transportation arrangements to meet the required working hours.
• - Shop floor environment, which may include but not limited to extensive walking, and ability to lift up to 40 lbs.

Travel requirements: This position is primarily onsite in Circles Pines, MN but short-term travel to other locations may be required.

Citizenship Requirement: Due to the nature of the work, U.S. citizenship is required.

Benefits :

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Vision insurance
• Short/Long Term Disability