Sourcing Engineer IV

Overview

Textron Systems is part of Textron, a $14 billion, multi-industry company employing 35,000 talented makers, thinkers, creators and doers worldwide. We make things that fly, hover, zoom and launch. We serve customers in aerospace and defense, specialized vehicles, turf care and fuel systems. This role is in Textron System’s Weapon Systems business area.

Role focus:
Electrical/Mechanical Sourcing Engineer with emphasis on Design for Manufacturing and Assembly, part of the Strategic Outsourcing Strategy. The role leads engagement with internal customers to support business opportunities and collaborates with Strategic Sourcing Managers to provide a roadmap for Partnerships and Suppliers for Supply Chain. Requires providing technical input (technical producibility/DFX, evaluations, assessments) to support new product development and leading complex supplier development projects to mature manufacturing readiness.

• Collaborate with Sourcing Management and cross-functional stakeholders (Business Development, Programs, Engineering, Manufacturing) to provide technical outsourcing recommendations for maturation of opportunities and program development goals.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships across a diverse, multi-functional organization and navigate 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 for sourcing activities.
• Facilitate supplier kick-offs, cadence meetings, technical interchange meetings, action lists, integrated schedules, and status reporting using standard tools and processes.
• Support programs by contributing technical guidance and peer reviews to evaluation documentation, maintaining capability development artifacts, and engaging in key design reviews (TIM, TRR, PDR, CDR).
• Collaborate with Supply Chain Buyers, Sub-Contracts, and Estimating to develop outsourcing should-cost analyses.
• Engage preferred suppliers early in the design phase to influence product and process development, balancing performance, manufacturability, and cost targets.
• Lead supplier gap analysis from manufacturing and technical readiness reviews and execute targeted improvement plans 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 improving program cost, schedule, and quality.
• Define key performance metrics and develop standardized processes and tools for Product Readiness Reviews (PRR).
• Work with IPT members, subcontractors, and procurement to align and optimize supplier manufacturing capabilities and strategic sourcing plans.
• Identify cost savings and cost avoidance opportunities for sourcing improvements.
• Build and maintain a database of potential supplier sources meeting performance criteria based on business objectives.
• Benchmark and collaborate with key suppliers to establish yield metrics and performance indicators.
• Manage and support outsourcing of product testing, tooling, fixturing, assembly, and validation to qualified external suppliers.
• Coordinate with Supplier Development Engineers to ensure clear communication of supplier quality flow-down, directives, and requirements.

Job Experience / Qualifications:

• Wide bandwidth of experience and knowledge of mechanical and/or electrical design with awareness of lean manufacturing principles.
• Ability to drive outsourcing technical solutions, special projects and process improvements.
• Ability to analyze and understand technical drawings (electrical schematics/wiring diagrams if Electrical), MBF files, BOMs, sketches, CAD models, prototypes, specifications, and ad-hoc requirements.
• Keen ability to detect design issues and apply pragmatic solutions.
• If Electrical, knowledge of J-STD-001 and IPC-610/620 and related industry standards.
• Strong written and oral communication skills; ability to justify analytical results and influence designs.
• Knowledge and application of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Knowledge of Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Assembly (DFA), and Cost (DFC).
• Knowledge of manufacturing technologies and ability to research emerging technologies and perform supplier capability analysis.
• Ability to visualize manufacturing environments and understand interactions affecting designs.
• Basic computer skills:
  Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project, Visio.
• Manufacturing-specific skills: ERP/MRP (e.g., Oracle); PLM (e.g., Matrix).
• Experience with CAD software (UG NX 10+ preferred) or electrical design tools; preferred experience with product costing tools (e.g.,…