Senior Supplier Development Engineer

Description

About Barber-Nichols:

Barber-Nichols (BN) is a premier provider of custom turbomachinery solutions serving the Defense, Aerospace, Cryogenics, and Energy industries. Our team consists of industry leaders who collaborate closely with equally accomplished customers to deliver technologies that advance their markets and establish enduring partnerships. At BN, we foster a results-driven environment that values professional growth, rewards achievement, and supports innovation. From designing the blower for NASA’s Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan to engineering critical components for the U.S. Navy’s MK-48 program, BN’s portfolio spans some of the most exciting and impactful projects in the world. For those seeking to contribute to impactful projects alongside a highly skilled team, BN offers an exceptional place to build your career.

Position Summary:

The Senior Supplier Development Engineer performs strategic sourcing/supplier-related analysis, assesses supplier capabilities throughout program lifecycle, and works closely with procurement to evaluate and approve/disqualify suppliers through data analysis and auditing.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

1. Establish a supply base that meets the needs of the business by working cross-functionally across Operations, Engineering, Program Management, and other departments at Barber-Nichols as needed.

• Develop, implement, and maintain a supplier onboarding plan, based on supplier type, that include customer & program-specific quality requirements, as well as internal standards.
• Visit current and potential suppliers to build relationships, assess capabilities, and assist in driving sustainable solutions to quality issues.
• Report out to company leadership, across all functions, the current status of the supply base (e.g. supply chain risks, supplier performance, status of supplier for internal use, etc.)

2. Direct management and/or assist in Procurement through Strategic Sourcing initiatives such as supplier selection (RFQ through PO placement), “right-part, right-shop”, supplier consolidation, growing strategic partners, and disqualifying suppliers over time through data-analysis & risk assessments.

• Drive changes in supply base through data analysis and supplier interviews.
• Driving continuous product / process improvements using statistical / analytical improvement tools such as Six Sigma and lean methodologies.
• Supports the First Article Verification and Source Inspection (as needed).
• Participating in supplier design, process change, qualification test, and procedure reviews.
• Leading supplier assessments/visits, audits, and reviews.
• Establish process, guidelines, and drive outsourcing vs. insourcing discussions across the org.

3. Accountable, in partnership with Supplier Quality, to plan, monitor, and assess supplier performance to ensure continual ability to meet company needs and expectations which are measured by defect rates, countermeasure closure per plan, Corrective and Preventive Action closed per plan, source inspection and on-site audits performed per plan.

• Perform required supplier risk assessments and audits to ensure compliance to purchase order requirements and the supplier’s quality management system. Communicate supplier-specific, job-specific, and part-specific risks and risk mitigation recommendations to the source selection authority, program manager, and procurement.
• Identify supplier risks and development initiatives to drive improved quality and delivery standards at the supplier.
• Issue, monitor, evaluate, and implement Supplier Corrective Actions as required and report the results to Procurement, Quality, Program Management and Engineering as required.

4. Accountable to continuously improve internal procedures, processes, and methods.

• Execute upon areas for improvement in processes and product relating to safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Act as a leader of continuous improvement teams to help drive company-wide improvements.
• Own supplier scorecards and/or dashboards at the frequency required for each metric.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, an individual must possess the knowledge, training, experience and abilities required.

Education and Training

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Supply Chain Management or other Engineering discipline or combination of education and experience.

Experience

• 7-10 years’ experience in Procurement, Sourcing, Quality Assurance or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 5+ years’ experience with recognized quality systems (ISO9001, AS9100, QS, TS).
• Proficiency in auditing (internal or external)

Other

• Must be willing to work overtime as required.
• Travel up to 50% of working time.

Desired Job Qualification:

• Understanding of supplier onboarding requirements/processes within a highly controlled/regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience in a complex metal manufacturing environment – aerospace environment preferable.
• Strong project management skills to drive expedient solutions cross-functionally, both internally and externally.
• Lean Six Sigma experience preferred.
• Root cause analysis and CAPA training/experience.
• Relationship management/development skills.

Skills:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must have proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, project management, enterprise resource planning, database, and specialized engineering application software.
• Ability and willingness to abide by set policies and/or safety programs established by BNI, our clients, and/or regulatory agencies which govern our performance and behavior in the normal course of our work while on BNI or the client’s property or job site.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• High attention to detail.
• Ability to successfully plan and implement objectives within established timelines and work schedules.
• Ability to analyze problems and develop effective solutions at both strategic and functional levels.
• Demonstrate behavior consistent with company values.
• Ability to work independently, with minimal direction as a highly motivated self-starter and within a team-oriented culture.

Physical and Mental Demands

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is primarily required to sit, stand, walk, stoop, and bend. Required to speak and communicate clearly with others. Will need to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Corrected vision to 20/20 or adequate and ability to identify and distinguish colors.

Mental Demands: While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is required to read, write, analyze data and reports, exercise judgment, develop plans, procedures and goals, present information to others and work under pressure.

Work Environment: While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is exposed to high level of manufacturing and equipment noise. Duties are performed indoors in a manufacturing environment with temperature changes. Exposure to hazardous materials, fumes or airborne particles and moving mechanical parts with vibration.

ITAR Requirements: To conform to U.S. Government commercial space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), applicants for employment at Barber-Nichols must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawfully admitted for permanent residence into the U.S. (i.e., current green card holder), or lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. § 1157-1158. Security clearance is not required for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Barber-Nichols is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by law.

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this role is $120,000 - $140,000. This range represent the anticipated minimum and maximum base + bonus for this position based upon a good faith and reasonable estimate. The final compensation for this position will be set based on the applicant’s qualifications (education, training and/or experience related to this role), and therefore, may fall outside the range shown, depending on the circumstances.

To view our benefits provided please visit Careers | Barber-Nichols.