Sr. Supplier Development Engineer (Mechanical)

Job description

**Who we are** Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America’s drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands-on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment. As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy. We’re hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership, and get capability into the hands of warfighters in months, not years. **What you will be doing** As a Supplier Development Engineer focused on mechanical commodities, you will ensure that Neros’ external suppliers can build complex mechanical hardware to the quality, speed, and scale required for high-performance unmanned systems. You will work directly with design engineering, manufacturing, sourcing, and suppliers to translate requirements into capable manufacturing processes, prevent quality escapes, and solve supplier issues quickly when production is at risk. - Own supplier quality and manufacturing readiness for mechanical commodities including CNC machined parts, carbon fiber/composite structures, injection molded components, additive manufactured parts, sheet metal, castings, coatings, finishes, and mechanical assemblies. - Review drawings, GD&T, material specifications, cosmetic requirements, inspection plans, process flows, FAIs, CMM reports, control plans, PFMEAs, and other quality documentation to validate supplier capability. - Partner with engineering and suppliers during NPI to identify DFM risks, tolerance stack-up concerns, process capability gaps, inspection strategy gaps, and production ramp risks before they impact builds. - Lead supplier qualification, FAI/AS9102, PPAP-style readiness, run-at-rate, process capability, MSA/GR&R, and ongoing supplier performance activities. - Drive containment, root-cause analysis, 8D/SCAR closure, corrective actions, and supplier improvement plans for dimensional, material, cosmetic, process, and reliability issues. - Work with sourcing and manufacturing teams to build a supplier base that can move fast, scale production, and meet high reliability standards in a demanding hardware environment. **You should have the following** - 5+ years of experience in supplier quality, manufacturing engineering, quality engineering, process engineering, or a related role supporting mechanical hardware production - Hands-on experience with mechanical commodities such as CNC machining, precision machining, carbon fiber/composites, injection molding, additive manufacturing, sheet metal, castings, coatings, finishes, or mechanical assemblies - Strong ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, material specifications, inspection plans, CMM reports, and manufacturing process documentation - Experience conducting supplier audits, process reviews, FAIs, capability assessments, and production readiness reviews in fast-paced NPI and production environments - Familiarity with supplier quality tools and methods such as AS9102 FAI, PPAP/APQP concepts, PFMEA, control plans, SPC, Cpk/Ppk, MSA/GR&R, 8D, SCARs, root-cause analysis, and corrective-action management - Ability to diagnose mechanical part defects, dimensional escapes, surface finish/cosmetic issues, material nonconformances, process variation, and supplier control weaknesses - Proven track record of taking ownership, moving quickly under production pressure, communicating clearly across engineering and supplier teams, and driving measurable quality improvements - Willingness to work hands-on with parts, suppliers, inspection data, manufacturing processes, and cross-functional teams rather than managing quality only through documentation - May require up to 50% travel **Nice to have** - Experience in aerospace, defense, robotics, drones, automotive, medical device, or other high-reliability hardware environments - Experience with AS9100 suppliers, ITAR/EAR-controlled supply chains, high-mix manufacturing, or production ramps from prototype to rate production - Familiarity with composite manufacturing methods such as layup, cure, trim, bonding, NDI/NDT, and inspection of carbon fiber structures - Familiarity with precision machining, tight-tolerance mechanical assemblies, anodize/plating/coating processes, or supplier development in domestic and international supply bases - Experience working directly with contract manufacturers, machine shops, composite suppliers, molders, additive manufacturing suppliers, and sub-tier suppliers **US Salary Range** $154,000 – $215,500 USD The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Neros' total compensation package. We’re an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.