Senior Supplier Development Engineer

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Overview

Spirit AeroSystems designs and builds aerostructures for both commercial and defense customers. With headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit operates sites in the U.S., U.K., France and Malaysia. The company's core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components for the world's premier aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems focuses on affordable, innovative composite and aluminum manufacturing solutions to support customers around the globe.

Role Purpose

This role combines the knowledge and skills set of Quality, Manufacturing Engineering and Supply Chain, to support the business unit and group procurement strategy in terms of supplier selection, development and growth of a robust global supply chain to meet existing and future business requirements.

Senior Supplier Development Engineer

This opportunity, based at our Prestwick site offers:

• 37 hour working week (half day Friday)
• Shift premiums up to 33%, where applicable
• Overtime at time and a half, where applicable
• 33 days holiday per year, rising with service
• Annual Bonus related to company performance
• Defined contribution pension scheme (default contributions; 4% employee and 8% employer)

• Virtual GP Service 365 days per year
• Employee Assistance Program
• A wide range of flexible benefits
• Death in service payment (default 4 times basic salary)
• Professional development and growth

• Free car parking
• And more!!

Responsibilities

• To assist with triage activities with distressed suppliers to the point of a robust recovery and supply on site supplier assistance.
• During times of offsite working in triage scenario, to be interface with both Spirit MFT based on site and customer in collating data required and supplying technical and supply chain solutions.
• To provide expertise in collation of engineering data packs and manufacturing methods for business unit and global sourcing strategies.
• Analysis of work statements - new & recurring to support identification of potential supply base solutions for both capacity and capability.
• Support technical assessment phase for RFP submissions from suppliers reviewing manufacturing plans and technical capability.
• Act as lead interface in supplier technical & risk assessment process prior to contract award and manage gap analysis as part of supplier development enablement plans taking full cognisance of political and economic conditions.
• Support capability and capacity insertion reviews with suppliers in conjunction with procurement to ensure that suppliers have both the capability and capacity to meet out current and future demands.
• Support supplier negotiations and workshops in terms of price challenge through value engineering reviews - e.g. manufacturing hours quoted versus should hours.
• To provide expertise in support of supplier requests for assistance either in development of manufacturing strategies or general work statement engineering queries and quality problems.
• Provide LAI, FAI and quality support in supply base as required both for business unit and group, providing expertise in flow down of quality requirements
• Support value engineering workshops with suppliers to identify continuous improvement and cost reduction initiatives.
• Provide support to supplier business readiness process.
• Support integration of global sourcing strategies.
• Support customer driven value engineering workshops to identify cost reduction and lean opportunities.
• To provide support to general engineering queries at business unit level (IPT's).
• To provide specialist support to business unit manufacturing & engineering strategies - e.g. NC Programming, Automation strategy.
• Lead supplier impact analysis on major engineering changes / re-design.
• Support the identification of training and development requirements of Supplier Development Engineering staff through the PDR process.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Preferably be qualified to HNC level in a related Quality /Manufacturing Engineering discipline or equivalent
• Or have 5 years relevant experience, within a Quality/Manufacturing Engineering or Supply Chain Management environment
• Should also possess knowledge of AS 9100 as well as regulatory authority approval, and certification requirements
• Good communication skills - ability to interface effectively with customers and suppliers
• Knowledge of engineering systems and the ability to deploy the Quality Toolset
• Knowledge of continuous improvement and lean tool sets
• Awareness of drawings and systems as applied within our major customers such as Boeing and Airbus is preferable at the senior level
• Project Management
• Analytical & numeracy skills
• Commercial, contractual and financial awareness
• Cultural awareness internal and external to Spirit
• Basic Relationship management Skills (good relationship management - internal and external)
• Understanding of developing manufacturing methodologies & technologies
• A good working knowledge of Microsoft Packages - Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access

Decision Making Authority

• Decisions that impact procurement strategy or business activities must be authorised by manager.
• Guidance is typically available from established policies or from related procedures.
• Decisions which affect their own job seldom requires approval. Decisions which impactsdepartment work load, external costs and supplier strategies will require approval.

Closing Date; Monday, 29th September 2025 at 12pm

External applicants should be aware that as part of our pre-employment checks, preferred candidates must complete:

1) Right to Work in the UK check

2) Employment Reference check

3) Disclosure Scotland check

4) Pre employment Medical

Spirit will facilitate these checks via our chosen service provider.

Spirit AeroSystems is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law.

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