Location:
Roseville, MI | Discipline:
Quality | Posting Date:
10/06/2025 |
Aerospace Supplier Development Engineer
Since 2008 RCO Aerospace has been a leading OEM of innovative aerospace seating, providing premium products to the world's most reputable airlines and aircraft manufacturers. With a team of 80 dedicated employees and a robust network of over 70 trusted suppliers, our focus is on precision, quality, and continuous improvement. As demand for our products increases, we are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Supplier Development Engineer to join our team.
The Supplier Development Engineer will be responsible for strategically developing and managing a portfolio of over 70 critical suppliers—both internal and external—to increase capacity and improve overall performance. You will interface heavily with Corporate Quality & Purchasing and be the primary technical liaison, driving improvement projects, assessing capabilities, and mitigating risks to ensure a seamless and robust supply chain. This is a hands-on role that will require a strong sense of ownership and a proactive approach to problem-solving. You will be critical to our expansion, ensuring that our supply base can meet our growing production needs while maintaining our high standards for quality and delivery.
Duties:
Key Responsibilities:
- Supplier Capacity Management: Evaluate, monitor, and develop the manufacturing capacity of suppliers to support increased production rates.
- Performance Improvement: Drive continuous improvement initiatives at supplier sites to enhance quality, delivery, and cost performance. Use tools such as Lean principles, Six Sigma, and 8D root cause analysis to resolve chronic issues.
- New Product Introduction (NPI): Lead the supplier-related aspects of NPI, ensuring suppliers are prepared for new program launches. This includes Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) and first-article inspections.
- Risk Mitigation: Identify and proactively mitigate supply chain risks that could disrupt production. Develop and implement robust mitigation plans in collaboration with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
- Auditing: Conduct on-site and remote audits of supplier processes and quality management systems (AS9100) to ensure compliance and identify opportunities for development.
- Collaboration: Act as the technical liaison between suppliers and internal teams, including Purchasing, Quality, Manufacturing, and Design Engineering, to ensure alignment and effective communication.
- Data Analysis: Analyze supplier performance metrics (e.g., On-Time Delivery, quality) to pinpoint systemic issues and drive data-based improvement plans.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering; Mechanical, Manufacturing.
- 5+ years of relevant experience in supplier development, quality engineering, or manufacturing engineering within the aerospace or a similarly regulated industry.
- Expertise in aerospace quality standards (e.g., AS9100, NADCAP) and quality tools such as APQP, PPAP, FMEA, and SPC.
- Proven experience driving continuous improvement projects using Lean manufacturing techniques.
- Experience with composite design, manufacturing, and assembly techniques.
- Certification such as Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret technical drawings (GD&T) and data.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams from stakeholders on the floor up to executive leadership.
