Senior Manager, Supplier Quality (R6220)

Shield AI•Seattle, WA

25d•$150,000 - $230,000

About The Position

Shield AI is seeking an experienced aerospace quality leader to lead its Supplier Quality team across the global aerospace and defense supplier base. The team reduces supply-chain risk through supplier assessments and internal risk reviews, and drives supplier qualification and development. This role oversees supplier qualification, development, performance management, and quality assurance, while setting priorities, managing team capacity and resources, and developing quality leaders. The role also oversees supplier audits, nonconformance resolution, root-cause investigations, and hands-on hardware dispositions. The Senior Manager evaluates supplier capability, quality performance, organizational risk, and resource needs to ensure purchased hardware and materials meet Shield AI’s engineering, customer, regulatory, and quality requirements. The role partners with Supply Chain, Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, and Program teams to resolve supplier-quality issues, improve supplier capability, and reduce quality and delivery risk. Travel to Shield AI manufacturing locations and supplier sites may be required domestically and internationally, up to approximately 20% of the time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or another related technical discipline.
At least 7 years of relevant experience, including 2–5 years of leadership or people-management experience with direct responsibility for Quality Engineering and/or Supplier Quality Engineering personnel.
Strong working knowledge of AS9100 and/or ISO 9001 quality-management systems and aerospace and defense supplier-quality requirements.
Proficiency in root-cause analysis and structured problem-solving methods, including 8D, 5 Whys, and fishbone analysis.
Experience with supplier qualification, supplier development, PPAP, and First Article Inspection processes, including AS9102 requirements.
Understanding of ITAR, EAR, DFARS, and other requirements applicable to aerospace and defense suppliers.
People-leadership capability, including coaching, performance management, organizational development, and building high-performing technical teams.
Strong cross-functional collaboration, executive communication, and supplier relationship-management skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.
Experience using ERP/MRP systems.
Ability to travel to company manufacturing locations and supplier sites domestically and, as needed, internationally, up to approximately 20% of the time.

Nice To Haves

ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Manager (CQM), or equivalent quality certification.
Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
Experience leading supplier-quality functions in a high-growth aerospace, defense, autonomy, robotics, or advanced-manufacturing environment.
Experience supporting production and qualification of complex electromechanical, electronic, precision-machined, composite, or avionics hardware.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead the supplier quality team responsible for supplier qualification, surveillance, performance management, and corrective-action activities across Shield AI’s global aerospace and defense supply base.
Set supplier-quality priorities, allocate resources, and translate functional objectives into staffing, workload, and execution plans aligned with product, program, and organizational needs.
Develop Supplier Quality leaders and engineering personnel through coaching, performance management, succession planning, workforce development, and technical mentorship.
Oversee supplier qualification, risk assessments, periodic performance reviews, supplier audits, source inspections, and approved-supplier status for complex aerospace hardware, commodities, and manufacturing processes.
Ensure supplier requirements are flowed down effectively and suppliers comply with applicable quality-management-system, engineering, customer, contractual, regulatory, and statutory requirements.
Escalate significant supplier-quality risks and direct SCARs, supplier recovery efforts, and capability-improvement plans that could affect product quality, delivery, mission readiness, or program execution.
Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain, and Program teams on supplier producibility, design for manufacturability, process capability, technical execution, and quality risks.
Advance supplier-quality processes, business systems, data analytics, and continuous-improvement practices to strengthen supplier capability, product quality, delivery performance, and supply-base resilience.
Conduct travel to Shield AI manufacturing locations and supplier sites, domestically and as needed internationally, up to approximately 20% of the time.