Supplier Development Engineer - Castings​/Forgings

Supplier Development Engineer
- Castings/Forgings

Leads supplier capability improvement and quality performance for aerospace castings and forgings across the supply base. Owns supplier development strategy from NPI/industrialization through sustained production, ensuring robust manufacturing and inspection controls that consistently meet aerospace requirements. Drives APQP/PPAP planning, process capability and yield improvement, effective containment/corrective action, and compliance to customer, regulatory, and industry standards (e.g., AS9100, AS9102, AS9145, AS13100, and NADCAP/PRI special process certifications where applicable).

Key Responsibilities

• Perform capability assessments for potential new suppliers
• Drive APQP/PPAP planning aligned to aerospace standards (AS9145), ensuring robust launch readiness and controlled transition to rate production.
• Establish and verify controls for critical casting/forging manufacturing processes
• Implement and coach suppliers on core quality tools: PFMEA, Control Plans, Process Flow, MSA, SPC, capability studies, mistake-proofing, 8D/5-Why/Ishikawa, DOE, etc.
• Partner with Procurement / Supplier Quality peers to develop supplier technical capability, including sub-tier management, special process oversight, and
• Own supplier quality performance for assigned suppliers, ensuring ongoing compliance to drawings, specifications, key characteristics, and contractual quality clauses.
• Monitor, analyze, and improve supplier KPIs (PPM, escapes, COPQ, OTD, responsiveness), and lead structured performance reviews and escalation as needed.
• Lead supplier-caused issue response including containment, root cause, and corrective action using SCAR/CAPA/8D methodologies; ensure timely closure and verified effectiveness.
• Manage and coordinate MRB support, deviation/waiver requests, and disposition alignment with Engineering, Quality, and Customers—ensuring risk is assessed and documented.
• Drive systemic prevention: replicate learnings across similar part families/processes, update PFMEAs/control plans, strengthen process parameters, and improve detection controls.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Materials/Metallurgy, Manufacturing, or related) required.
• 10+ years experience in supplier quality, manufacturing quality, materials/process engineering, or supplier development supporting castings and/or forgings; aerospace experience required.
• Demonstrated leadership of supplier development and industrialization efforts, including APQP/AS9145-aligned planning, capability validation, and launch execution.
• Strong working knowledge of aerospace quality requirements and documentation, including AS9100, AS9102 (FAI), and familiarity with AS9145 and AS13100 expectations.
• Proven ability to lead complex problem solving and corrective action (SCAR/CAPA/8D) with measurable, sustained results.
• Strong technical ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, specifications, and special process requirements; comfortable defining risk-based inspection and control strategies.
• Ability to influence cross-functionally and externally (suppliers) at multiple organizational levels; strong written and verbal communication.

Preferred Qualifications

• MS in Materials/Metallurgy or equivalent experience in metallurgical evaluation, heat treat, microstructure interpretation, and mechanical testing.
• Experience working with/around NADCAP/PRI special process environments (heat treat, NDT, coatings/plating, welding as applicable) and supplier oversight of sub-tier special processors.
• Formal auditor training/certification (AS9100 internal/lead auditor) and demonstrated audit execution experience.
• Experience deploying SPC/capability programs at suppliers (sampling strategy, control chart selection, reaction plans, Cp/Cpk improvement).
• Experience with QMS/ERP tools (e.g., SAP, Teamcenter, TipQA, ETQ, Plex, etc.).

Work Conditions / Travel

• Combination of office, manufacturing floor, and supplier site engagement.
• Travel to supplier facilities for development events, audits, investigations, and launch readiness activities (domestic/international depending on supply base).

We offer a comprehensive and…