Sourcing Engineer III

Textron•Wilmington, MA

About The Position

Textron Systems is seeking an experienced Electrical/Mechanical Sourcing Engineer focused on Design for Manufacturing and Assembly as part of its Strategic Outsourcing Strategy. The role works with internal customers and Strategic Sourcing Managers to develop business opportunities and establish an effective, stable roadmap for supply-chain partnerships and suppliers. It provides engineering input on technical producibility, DFX evaluations, and assessments to support new product development, while building the supply base and leading complex supplier-development projects to mature manufacturing readiness. The Sourcing Engineer identifies, builds, manages, and maintains capable supplier sources; mentors junior team members; and optimizes designs for supplier manufacturability, assembly, cost, and quality. The role also supports prototyping validation and readiness, helping establish a product roadmap for a stable transition to production. It integrates outsourcing strategy with Supply Chain and Operations, and supports upstream activities including BOM development, PFEP, emerging manufacturing technologies, DFM, cost validation and estimating, and configuration control. Working closely with Design Engineering, prototype and test teams, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, suppliers, subcontractors, and procurement, the engineer supports initial prototype builds, analyzes results, recommends design refinements, and serves as a technical focal point for supplier management. The position requires at least 30% travel to supplier locations and U.S. citizenship, with the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.
At least 9 years of experience in a design environment.
At least 9 years of experience in a manufacturing environment or hands-on role.
Broad experience and knowledge of mechanical and/or electrical design, with awareness of lean manufacturing principles.
Ability to lead teams on outsourcing technical solutions, special projects, and process improvements.
Ability to analyze technical drawings and, for electrical roles, electrical schematics and wiring diagrams; Model Based Definition files; preliminary bills of material; engineering sketches; CAD models; prototypes; specifications; and ad hoc requirements.
Ability to identify and analyze potential design issues and apply logical or scientific solutions to practical and intellectual problems.
For electrical roles, knowledge of J-STD-001, IPC-610/620, and relevant industry standards for electrical design and manufacture.
Written and oral communication skills, and ability to work collaboratively in a diverse team and communicate analytical results and recommendations to influence designs.
Knowledge and application of Geometric Design and Tolerancing (GD&T).
Knowledge of Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Cost (DFC).
Knowledge of current manufacturing technologies and ability to research emerging technologies and perform supplier capability analyses.
Ability to understand manufacturing environments and the factors affecting mechanical and electrical engineering designs.
Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project, and Visio.
Manufacturing-specific computer skills, including ERP and MRP systems such as Oracle and PLM systems such as Matrix.
Experience with CAD software such as UG NX 10+ or electrical design tools such as CHS.
Familiarity with Quality Management Systems and requirements.
Knowledge and appreciation of FAR requirements and outsourcing and Supply Chain procedures.
Willingness to continually learn new skills, attend technical expositions, and develop a sourcing network.
Ability to travel to supplier locations at least 30% of the time.
Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or higher; preferred fields include Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Manufacturing Engineering.
Seven to nine or more years of Supply Chain experience.
Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
Six Sigma Green Belt certification.
PMP certification.
Experience with product-costing tools such as aPriori, SEER, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with Sourcing Management and cross-functional stakeholders in Business Development, Programs, Engineering, and Manufacturing to provide technical outsourcing recommendations that support business opportunities and program development goals.
Build and maintain trusted relationships across a diverse, multifunctional organization and foster a positive team dynamic while addressing time-critical project challenges.
Provide technical outsourcing recommendations during design conceptual reviews.
Align product technical requirements with suppliers and internal stakeholders to support outsourcing execution.
Identify supplier selection criteria and conduct supplier down-selection and trade studies with internal stakeholders.
Collaborate with engineering and program teams to develop, review, and release technical packages and requirements for sourcing activities.
Facilitate supplier kickoffs, cadence meetings, technical interchange meetings, action lists, integrated schedules, and status reporting using standard work tools and processes.
Provide technical guidance and peer reviews for evaluation documentation, maintain capability-development artifacts, and participate in design reviews such as TIM, TRR, PDR, and CDR.
Collaborate with Supply Chain Buyers, Sub-Contracts, and the Estimating Team to develop outsourcing should-cost analyses.
Engage preferred suppliers early in design to influence product and process development and balance performance, manufacturability, and cost targets.
Lead supplier gap analyses based on manufacturing and technical readiness reviews, and develop and execute improvement plans to mature the supply chain and product for transition to production.
Validate product requirements for technical capability and manufacturability; own supplier-facing DFMEA and PFMEA activities; and drive risk-reduction measures to improve cost, schedule, and quality.
Define performance-tracking metrics and develop standardized processes and tools for Product Readiness Reviews.
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, maintain, and grow a database of potential suppliers that meet performance criteria and business mission objectives.
Benchmark and work with key suppliers to establish yield metrics and performance indicators.
Manage and support outsourcing of product testing, tooling, fixturing, assembly, and validation activities to qualified suppliers.
Work with Supplier Development Engineers to ensure supplier quality flow-downs, directives, and requirements are clearly communicated and understood.
Support BOM development, PFEP, emerging manufacturing technologies, DFM, cost validation and estimating, and configuration control.
Support initial prototype builds, analyze results, and propose engineering design refinements.