Supplier Manufacturing Engineer, OPM

CMI Group Aerospace & Defense•Phoenix, AZ

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Supplier Manufacturing Engineer serves as the primary technical liaison between the company and its outsourced machining suppliers. This role is responsible for evaluating supplier manufacturing capabilities, supporting supplier development initiatives, resolving production and quality issues, and ensuring suppliers can consistently meet customer, quality, delivery, and capacity requirements. The Supplier Manufacturing Engineer serves as the technical subject matter expert supporting Supplier Development and Supplier Account Management activities. This role is responsible for validating supplier manufacturing capability and driving technical improvements that support quality, delivery, and capacity objectives. The ideal candidate possesses extensive CNC machining experience and a strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing processes, including multi-axis milling, CNC turning, Swiss machining, programming methodologies, tooling, inspection requirements, and production planning. This position requires regular travel to supplier facilities to perform audits, validate manufacturing readiness, support first article inspections, and drive continuous improvement activities.

Requirements

Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship or Valid Permanent Resident status is required.
Minimum 7 years of CNC machining experience in an aerospace manufacturing environment.
Experience with CNC lathes, multi-axis mills, and Swiss screw machines.
Experience developing or modifying CNC programs.
Strong understanding of CNC machining processes, tooling, fixturing, and programming principles.
Ability to interpret complex engineering drawings, GD&T, and aerospace specifications.
Working knowledge of AS9100, AS9102, and aerospace quality systems.
Familiarity with SPC, Root Cause Analysis, FMEA, Control Plans, and Lean Manufacturing principles.
Understanding of capacity planning, production flow, and manufacturing metrics.
Proficiency with ERP and manufacturing systems.
Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities.
Excellent communication and supplier relationship management skills.
Ability to influence and drive improvements across external organizations.
Strong organizational and project management skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Must be able to work 40+ hours per week in a fast paced, high-demand, quality environment.
Sufficient verbal and written communication skills.
Good problem solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field preferred.
Equivalent combination of technical education and extensive CNC machining experience will be considered.
Experience supporting aerospace suppliers or contract manufacturers preferred.
Experience conducting supplier audits and manufacturing assessments preferred.

Responsibilities

Support Supplier Development Managers during supplier selection, qualification, and capability assessments.
Conduct supplier assessments, capability reviews, and capacity evaluations.
Provide technical guidance to suppliers regarding machining processes, tooling strategies, fixturing, programming methods, and process optimization.
Support Supplier Account Managers in resolving technical, quality, capacity, and manufacturing performance issues.
Identify manufacturing risks and develop mitigation plans to support customer commitments.
Provide technical recommendations during supplier business reviews and recovery planning activities.
Review engineering drawings, specifications, and customer requirements to ensure supplier manufacturing readiness.
Assess manufacturability of components and recommend process improvements to improve quality, delivery, and cost.
Support development and validation of machining processes for complex aerospace components.
Evaluate CNC programs, setup methods, tooling selections, and machining strategies.
Assist suppliers in troubleshooting production bottlenecks, yield issues, scrap, and rework concerns.
Participate in supplier audits and ongoing performance reviews.
Support AS9100 and customer-specific quality requirements.
Review and approve First Article Inspection (FAI) packages in accordance with AS9102 requirements.
Conduct onsite FAI buy-offs and process validation activities as required.
Lead root cause investigations and corrective action activities related to supplier quality issues.
Monitor supplier quality metrics and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
Work closely with Purchasing, Quality, Operations, and Program Management teams to ensure supplier performance aligns with production schedules.
Monitor supplier capacity and identify potential constraints affecting delivery commitments.
Participate in supplier recovery plans and operational improvement initiatives led by Supplier Account Management.
Validate manufacturing readiness for new business awards and production transfers.