Senior Supplier Development and Manufacturing Readiness Engineer

Role overview Lead hands-on supplier improvement and manufacturing-readiness work for production programs in a regulated defense environment. You will assess actual production capacity, diagnose constraints, and help suppliers implement recovery plans that improve output while preserving quality, safety, and configuration requirements. The role is remote with frequent domestic travel to supplier and government sites.

Responsibilities - Evaluate production processes, equipment, labor, tooling, maintenance, material flow, inspection, and lower-tier dependencies. - Compare demonstrated capacity with required rates using production evidence, and analyze cycle time, downtime, scrap, rework, yield, work in process, and schedule performance. - Identify constraints and develop supplier recovery plans with root causes, owners, milestones, dependencies, and measurable completion criteria. - Support approved corrective actions and verify that improvements produce sustained results. - Assess readiness for product launches, production transfers, additional shifts, equipment changes, and rate increases. - Coordinate findings and recommendations with suppliers, contractors, government stakeholders, and engineering, procurement, and quality teams; prepare assessments, risk records, and briefings.

Requirements - Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline, or equivalent technical education and substantial hands-on manufacturing experience where permitted. - At least 10 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, supplier development or quality, industrialization, production launch, or manufacturing operations. - A track record of leading supplier recovery, a new-program launch, a production transfer, or an increase in production rate. - Significant experience diagnosing and resolving manufacturing problems on the production floor, and evaluating suppliers across multiple processes or commodities. - Working knowledge of structured quality and manufacturing methods such as APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, control plans, SPC, MSA, 8D, lean methods, and error proofing. - Strong production-data analysis, technical writing, communication, and coordination skills; ability to manage competing priorities and travel extensively. - U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret clearance.

Nice to have Automotive supplier, launch, or manufacturing experience; 15 or more years in the field; experience in aerospace, defense, missile, propulsion, or other regulated manufacturing; expertise in machining, metal forming, special processes, electronics, composites, or electromechanical assembly; or a relevant quality or lean certification.

Benefits and work setup Medical, dental, and vision coverage; retirement plan with employer match; paid leave and holidays; parental and military leave; life and disability coverage; health and flexible spending accounts; and education and professional development support. Remote work includes periodic work at supplier or government sites. Salary listed: $120,000–$150,000.