Principal Supplier Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Our client is seeking an experienced Electrical/Mechanical Sourcing Engineer focused on Design for Manufacturing and Assembly as part of the Strategic Outsourcing Strategy. The focus will be to lead engagement with the internal customers to support the development of business opportunities, collaborate with Strategic Sourcing Managers to provide an effective, stable, and successful roadmap for Partnerships and Suppliers for Supply Chain.

This individual will be responsible for providing Key engineering input (technical producibility/DFX, evaluations, assessments, etc.) to support new product development with internal customers, building and acting as the critical conduit to set up the supply base and lead complex custom supplier development projects to mature the manufacturing readiness.

The Principle Sourcing Engineer will identify, build, manage and maintain capable supplier sources, and mentor more junior members of the team to grow the team network and knowledge.

They will drive the optimization of design for supplier manufacturability, design for supplier assembly, outsourcing design to cost & quality, and further support prototyping validation/readiness leading to a successful product roadmap for stable transition to production.

Responsibilities will also include the collaboration and integration of the outsourcing strategy with other roles within the Supply Chain and Operations Team and help grow appreciation and awareness of Sourcing Engineering value in the establishment of suppliers.

The Principal Sourcing Engineer will champion other upstream activities, such as Bill of Material (BOM) development, Plan for every Part initiative (PFEP), inclusion of emerging manufacturing technologies, Design for Manufacturing (DFM), cost validation & estimating, and support to configuration control with Engineering.

The Principal Sourcing Engineer will work closely with Design Engineering Team/IPT, Engineering Prototype and Test Teams, Manufacturing Engineering and Quality to complete initial prototype builds, analyze results, and propose refinement of engineering designs and be the main technical focal for supplier management.

 

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Sourcing Management and cross-functional stakeholders -Business Development, Programs, Engineering, and Manufacturing- to provide technical outsourcing recommendations that will support the maturation of business opportunities and program development goals.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships across a diverse, multi-functional organization, fostering a positive team dynamic while navigating high-intensity, time-critical project challenges.
• Provide outsourcing technical recommendations during design conceptual reviews.
• Align product technical requirements with suppliers and internal stakeholders to ensure seamless outsourcing execution.
• Identify supplier selection criteria and perform down-selection/trade studies with internal stakeholders.
• ·Collaborate with engineering and program teams to develop, review, and release high-quality technical packages and requirements in support of sourcing activities.
• Facilitate supplier Kick-off's, Cadence Meetings, Technical Interchange Meetings, Action Lists, Integrated Schedules, and status reporting using Standard work tools and processes.
• Support program by contributing technical guidance and peer reviews to evaluation documentation, maintaining capability development artifacts, and engaging in key design reviews (e.g., TIM, TRR, PDR, CDR).
• Collaborate with Supply Chain Buyers, Sub-Contracts, Estimating Team to develop outsourcing should-cost analysis.
• Engage preferred suppliers early in the design phase alongside internal teams to influence product and process development, ensuring recommendations balance performance, manufacturability, and cost targets.
• Lead supplier gap analysis derived from manufacturing and technical readiness reviews, developing and executing targeted improvement plans that mature the supply chain and product for a smooth Transition to Production (TTP).
• Validate product requirements for technical capability and manufacturability, own supplier-facing DFMEA and PFMEA activities, and drive risk-reduction measures that improve overall program cost, schedule, and quality metrics.
• Define key performance tracking metrics and develop standardized processes and tools for Product Readiness Reviews (PRR), enabling consistent assessment, analysis, and progress tracking.
• Work closely with IPT members, subcontractors, and procurement to align and optimize supplier manufacturing capabilities and strategic sourcing plans.
• Identify cost savings and cost avoidance information for sourcing improvement opportunities.
• Build, maintain and grow a database of potential supplier sources that meet performance criteria based on business mission objectives.
• Benchmark & work with key suppliers to establish effective yield metrics and performance indicators.
• Manage and support the outsourcing of product testing, tooling, fixturing, assembly, and validation activities to qualified external suppliers.
• Work with Supplier Development Engineers to ensure supplier quality flow-down, directives and requirements are communicated clearly and understood.

Qualifications

Job Experience / Qualifications:

• Wide bandwidth of experience and knowledge of mechanical and/or electrical design and awareness of lean manufacturing principles.
• Ability to drive the team on outsourcing technical solutions, special projects and process improvements
• Highly competent ability to analyze and understand technical drawings, (If Electrical - electrical schematics, wiring diagrams), Model Based Definition Files, preliminary bills of material, engineering sketches, CAD models, prototypes, specifications, and ad-hoc requirements.
• Keen ability to detect and analyze potential design issues, and to apply logical or scientific solutions to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.
• If Electrical, knowledge of J-STD-001 and IPC-610/620, and key industry standards that drive electrical design and manufacture.
• Written and oral communication skills and the ability to work in a collaborative, diverse team environment. Includes the ability to justify analytical results and effectively communicate recommendations to positively influence designs.
• Good Knowledge and application of Geometric Design & Tolerancing (GD&T)
• Knowledge of Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Assembly (DFA), and Cost (DFC).
• Knowledge of existing manufacturing technologies, and the ability to research emerging manufacturing technologies & ability to perform Capability Analysis of Suppliers.
• Ability to visualize and comprehend critical elements of a manufacturing environment, and to understand the interactions of various factors that affect mechanical/electrical engineering designs.
• Basic computer skills: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project, Visio.
• Manufacturing specific computer skills: ERP and MRP (e.g. Oracle); PLM (e.g. Matrix)
• Experience with CAD software (UG NX 10+ preferred) or electrical design tools (CHS, etc.).
• Preferred experience with product costing tools such as aPriori, SEER, or equivalent
• High level familiarization of Quality Management Systems and Requirements.
• Knowledge and appreciation of FAR requirements, outsourcing and Supply Chain procedures
• Desire to continually learn new skills, attend technical expositions, and develop a sourcing network
• Travel to supplier locations at least 30% of time.
• Must be a U.S. citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Education / Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree required. Masters degree or higher preferred. Preferred degrees are Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 9+ years' experience in design environment.
• 9+ years' experience in a manufacturing environment or hands-on role.
• Preferred 7-9+years' experience in Supply Chain.
• Preferred Six Sigma Black Belt certified.
• Preferred Green Belt certified.
• Preferred PMP certified.

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