Supplier Development Engineer

Overview

In this role you drive supplier development for aerospace components, partnering with Procurement, Project, Engineering and Quality to secure cost-competitive, capable suppliers. You’ll qualify suppliers, assess capabilities, and lead APQP/PPAP processes to meet quality standards and delivery. You’ll apply lean methods and audits to improve performance and support New Product Introduction and design changes. This role supports L3Harris’ mission-critical systems for fighters and other platforms from a Brighton facility.

Pay / Benefits

• Half day finish on Friday
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Private medical insurance with optional family cover
• Pension scheme with employer contribution up to 8%
• Life assurance 4x salary (flexible up to 10x)
• Group income protection

Responsibilities

• Interface with Procurement, Project, Engineering & Quality to prioritise supplier development by component
• Research external markets to identify potential suppliers
• Drive supplier selection through robust qualification processes
• Assess supplier capabilities to meet product, cost, quality, capacity and delivery requirements including AS 9100, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001
• Implement lean improvements, supplier scorecards, and supplier audits to ensure compliance and drive problem solving
• Collaborate with sourcing leaders on supplier/engineering changes, capacity studies and NPI/transfers
• Provide technical leadership in supplier development across technology, performance, quality, cost, logistics and delivery
• Lead APQP, PPAP, customer/supplier interactions, VA/VE support, and supplier cost improvements
• Conduct supplier validation audits and APQP support

Key requirements

• Significant procurement experience in an engineering/manufacturing biased environment
• ISO9001 and/or Defence Certification implied
• Willingness for occasional travel
• Strong knowledge of APQP, PPAP and FMEA
• Understanding of engineering drawings
• Right to work in the UK and eligibility for access to classified information (security checks)

• Stakeholder collaboration
• Problem solving and analytical mindset
• Relationship-building with suppliers
• APQP
• PPAP
• FMEA

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