Supply Chain Engineer SAFE

First Tactical • Tempe, AZ

12d

About The Position

The Supply Chain Engineer bridges design engineering, procurement, and external suppliers to ensure technical execution, quality compliance, and on-time delivery of critical aerospace hardware, raw materials, and subassemblies. The role leads supplier technical assessments, drives continuous improvement, negotiates cost and lead time, and mitigates manufacturing risks in support of active production and scaling programs.

SAFE, Inc. is an engineering and technology research company headquartered in Tempe, Arizona. It designs and delivers pilot seating safety solutions and components for aerospace and defense customers. As a federal contractor, SAFE maintains high standards of quality, compliance, and delivery.

The position is based in Tempe, Arizona, and involves domestic and international travel to supplier sites and manufacturing facilities, with travel stated as up to 25–30%.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related technical discipline.
• At least 3 years of direct engineering experience in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing processes, such as CNC machining, precision fabrication, composites, and special processes, and of document management systems.
• Hands-on experience using and optimizing ERP/MRP systems for demand planning and inventory control.
• Demonstrated expertise in Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA), variable data analysis, and statistical process control (SPC).
• Familiarity with aerospace compliance requirements, including classified information handling, CUI, DFARS, ITAR, and EAR.
• Willingness to travel up to 25–30% to supplier sites and manufacturing facilities.
• U.S. Citizen or U.S. Person, with the ability to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance; employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and, where applicable, export-control screening.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Logistics, or Business Administration.
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt).
• Active U.S. Government Secret clearance, or ability to obtain one; highly preferred for defense programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical sourcing, qualification, and onboarding of critical suppliers of precision aerospace components and structures.
• Partner with Design and Manufacturing Engineering to apply Design for Manufacturability (DfM) and Design for Supply Chain (DfSC) principles early in product development.
• Evaluate supplier capacity, technical capability, and lead times using structured KPIs; identify bottlenecks and implement return-to-green action plans.
• Negotiate cost and lead time using buying volume, long-term agreements, and other strategies to deliver overall value in material procurement.
• Manage supplier deviation requests, nonconformance routing, and root-cause investigations; support enforcement of AS9100 and ISO 9001 requirements.
• Travel domestically and internationally to conduct capability audits, oversee high-risk manufacturing processes, and resolve critical production issues.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level