Supplier Development Engineer

Bowmar LLC•Fort Wayne, IN

8h•$80,000 - $95,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Supplier Development Engineer (SDE) is responsible for ensuring the capability, quality, and performance of suppliers that provide materials, components, and services critical to Bowmar’s electromechanical assembly operations. This role focuses on developing and qualifying new suppliers, improving existing supplier performance, and ensuring compliance with aerospace and defense quality standards (AS9100, ISO 9001, etc.). The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in manufacturing and quality engineering, with experience in supplier management within the aerospace or defense industry.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering (or related field).
5+ years of experience in supplier development, quality engineering, or manufacturing engineering in the aerospace/defense industry.
Strong understanding of GD&T, engineering drawings, and manufacturing processes.
Working knowledge of quality systems (AS9100, ISO 9001) and industry standards (MIL, IPC, etc.).
Experience with PPAP, FAI, PFMEA, SPC, and root cause analysis tools.
Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems and supplier performance tracking tools.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent communication and supplier negotiation skills.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a small-company environment.
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Nice To Haves

Experience with electromechanical assemblies, precision machining, or electronics manufacturing preferred.

Responsibilities

Evaluate and qualify new suppliers through audits, capability assessments, and risk analysis.
Work cross-functionally with engineering, supply chain, and quality teams to establish supplier approval criteria.
Monitor supplier performance using KPIs (quality, delivery, cost, responsiveness).
Lead supplier improvement initiatives to address root causes of nonconformance or delivery issues.
Conduct on-site visits to drive process improvements and ensure alignment with company standards.
Partner with suppliers to develop manufacturing processes and ensure technical compliance to drawings, specifications, and industry standards.
Support new product introduction (NPI) by engaging suppliers early in the design phase for manufacturability and cost optimization.
Ensure suppliers adhere to AS9100/ISO 9001, ITAR, and customer-specific quality requirements.
Review and approve supplier PPAPs, FAI reports, process validations, and corrective actions.
Participate in MRB and support root cause and corrective action (RCCA) activities.
Promote and lead lean manufacturing principles within Bowmar and the supply base.
Identify opportunities to improve Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost through process optimization and supply chain improvements.