Senior Sourcing Specialist (R5489)

Job Description

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  Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. 

We're looking for a Senior Sourcing Specialist to help bring innovative products to life by leading strategic sourcing initiatives and building high-performing supplier partnerships. Working across cross-functional teams, you'll help ensure critical materials and components are available to support development, production, and long-term success.

• Own sourcing and procurement for mechanical commodities, including machined parts, sheet metal, welded assemblies, composites, fasteners, castings, forgings, and fabricated components supporting aerospace and defense programs.

• Identify, qualify, onboard, and manage suppliers that meet cost, quality, delivery, capacity, and technical requirements across prototype, development, and production builds.

• Lead RFQs, quotation evaluation, cost analysis, pricing and lead-time negotiations, purchase order execution, and long-term supplier agreements.

• Partner with Engineering to assess drawings, specifications, GD&T, manufacturability, and engineering changes, ensuring suppliers can deliver compliant hardware.

• Drive supplier performance across delivery, quality, responsiveness, and capacity; lead corrective actions and continuous-improvement efforts as needed.

• Support NPI and production readiness by managing material availability, supplier capacity, long-lead risks, FAI/PPAP activities, AS9100 compliance, and mitigation plans.

• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Supplier Quality, Planning, and Program Management to resolve supply issues, expedite critical hardware, maintain accurate ERP data, and identify cost, lead-time, and supplier-consolidation opportunities.

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field; equivalent education and relevant experience considered.

• 5+ years of strategic sourcing, purchasing, or supply chain experience supporting mechanical commodities in aerospace, defense, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.

• Experience sourcing mechanical commodities, including precision-machined components, sheet-metal fabrications, welded and structural assemblies, castings, forgings, fasteners, hardware, composites, and tubes and fittings.

• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, bills of material, manufacturing specifications, and related technical documentation; working knowledge of CNC machining, welding, fabrication, finishing, heat treatment, plating, and assembly.

• Demonstrated ability to negotiate pricing, lead times, and commercial terms while balancing cost, quality, delivery, supplier qualification, AS9100, and First Article Inspection requirements.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills; proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel to manage multiple suppliers and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience supporting defense or aerospace programs.
• Familiarity with DFARS, FAR, ITAR, and export compliance requirements.
• Experience managing suppliers through engineering changes, new product introductions, and production ramp-ups.
• Knowledge of cost drivers for machining, fabrication, welding, composites, and structural manufacturing.
• APICS/ASCM, CPSM, or CPSD certification is a plus.
• Experience supporting both prototype and production environments with aggressive schedule requirements.

#LC

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.

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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. 

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.