Supply Chain Director

Blue Signal Search; Aberdeen (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Executive visibility

Opportunity for direct impact

Job summary

Blue Signal Search is looking for a Supply Chain Director based in North Carolina to lead the sourcing strategy for advanced unmanned systems. This role will have executive visibility and play a key part in shaping supplier partnerships and manufacturing readiness.

The ideal candidate has over 7 years of experience in supply chain management within the UAV sector. Responsibilities include improving supplier network and production continuity with extensive travel required to supplier locations.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in supply chain management or technical business development.
• Experience in strategic sourcing in a technical hardware environment is essential.
• Ability to travel extensively, estimated at 50 to 70 percent.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing strategy for unmanned systems.
• Build a global supplier network across multiple components.
• Improve supply continuity and reduce risk with alternate sources.

Skills

UAV or UAS manufacturing background

Understanding of flight controllers and motors

Supplier development experience

Ability to read engineering drawings

Experience in vendor negotiations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain or engineering

Job description

Our client is building a more resilient and scalable supply chain for advanced unmanned systems, and they are seeking a Supply Chain Director to help lead that next phase of growth. This is a high impact opportunity for a hands on leader who knows the drone ecosystem, understands hardware at the component level, and can build trusted supplier partnerships that support manufacturing at scale. The right person will play a visible role in shaping sourcing strategy, improving supply continuity, and strengthening the supplier network behind complex airborne platforms.

This Role Offers

• A chance to build and influence supply chain strategy in a growing technical manufacturing environment
• Executive visibility and close partnership with engineering, operations, and manufacturing leadership
• A greenfield opportunity to strengthen supplier relationships, sourcing strategy, and production readiness
• Broad ownership across supplier development, procurement, risk reduction, and manufacturing support
• Competitive compensation and the opportunity to make a direct impact on future production scale

Focus

• Lead sourcing strategy for a fast-growing manufacturer of unmanned systems and mission critical hardware
• Build and strengthen a global supplier network across propulsion, avionics, RF, PCB, power, and airframe components
• Partner with engineering and operations teams to translate technical requirements into qualified supply decisions
• Evaluate supplier capability through on-site visits, technical reviews, and commercial negotiations
• Reduce risk by developing alternate sources for critical components and improving supply continuity
• Improve inventory flow, production readiness, and delivery performance as manufacturing volume increases
• Own supplier performance, cost, quality, and lead time metrics across the external manufacturing base
• Travel extensively to supplier locations in North America, Europe, and Asia to develop relationships and solve issues quickly

Skill Set

• Background in UAV or UAS manufacturing is essential
• Strong understanding of flight controllers, ESCs, motors, PCBs, RF links, power systems, communications hardware, and flight software architecture
• Proven experience in supplier development, strategic sourcing, and vendor negotiations in a technical hardware environment
• Strong technical literacy with the ability to work directly with engineering teams and assess supplier capabilities
• Ability to read engineering drawings, CAD models, and technical specifications
• Seven or more years of experience in supply chain management, procurement, or technical business development within unmanned systems, aerospace hardware, or a similarly technical manufacturing setting is preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field is preferred, though equivalent industry experience will also be considered
• Willingness and ability to travel heavily, estimated at 50 to 70 percent or more, especially during early ramp up