Supplier Development Engineer

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Supplier Development Engineer to join the team with our prestigious client Spirit Aerosystems at their site in Prestwick, there is travel involved with this role mostly around the UK

The Supplier Development Engineer (SDE) is responsible for assessing, developing and improving supplier capability, capacity,
quality and operational performance to support the delivery of aerospace products that meet customer, regulatory, quality,
cost and delivery requirements.
Working closely with suppliers and cross-functional teams, the SDE drives supplier performance improvement, identifies and
mitigates supply chain risks and ensures supplier readiness to support both current programmes and future business growth.

• Conduct supplier capacity and capability assessments to evaluate manufacturing performance, scalability, and readiness
• Assess supplier compliance with aerospace standards, including AS9100, NADCAP, customer, and regulatory requirements
• Identify risks relating to capacity, capability, quality, delivery, and business continuity
• Develop and implement supplier improvement plans to address performance gaps and drive operational excellence
• Support supplier qualification, on-boarding, and approval activities for new products and programmes
• Participate in supplier recovery activities where performance falls below expectations.

• Lead and support Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Value Engineering, and Root Cause Analysis initiatives
• Monitor supplier performance through KPIs, corrective actions, and development plans to ensure sustainable improvement

• Support sourcing decisions through objective capability and capacity assessments
• Review supplier manufacturing plans and technical proposals during RFQ/RFP activities
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI), industrialisation, production transfers, and business readiness reviews
• Contribute to global sourcing and supply chain resilience strategies

• Collaborate with Procurement, Quality, Engineering, Operations, and Programme teams to support supplier performance and readiness
• Prepare assessment reports, risk summaries, and improvement recommendations
• Present findings and progress updates to internal stakeholders and supplier leadership teams

• Supplier On-Time Delivery (OTD)
• Supplier Quality Performance (PPM)
• Capacity Risk Reduction
• Supplier Development Plan Completion
• Corrective Action Closure Effectiveness
• Supplier Audit Scores
• Programme Readiness
• Supply Chain Continuity

• HND (or equivalent) in Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline or
• Minimum five years relevant experience in a manufacturing, quality, or supply chain environment

• Aerospace, Defence, Manufacturing, or Advanced Engineering industry experience
• Proven experience in supplier assessment, auditing, and development
• Understanding of aerospace manufacturing processes and supply chain management
• Experience leading supplier improvement and recovery initiatives
• Knowledge of AS9100, NADCAP, APQP, PPAP, and related aerospace quality standards

• Supplier Capability & Capacity Assessment
• Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement
• Six Sigma and Root Cause Analysis
• Quality Management Systems (QMS)
• Risk Assessment & Mitigation
• Production Planning & Manufacturing Systems
• Supplier Auditing & Relationship Management
• Data Analysis & KPI Reporting
• Project Management
• Technical Drawing Interpretation
• Stakeholder Management & Communication
• Commercial & Financial Awareness
• Advanced Microsoft Office Skills

• Analytical and solution-focused
• Strong communicator and relationship builder
• Able to influence and drive change
• Self-motivated and organised
• Collaborative and results-oriented
• Willing to travel domestically and internationally