Supplier Development & Technical Sourcing Engineer
Guardian Bikes
IT
Seymour, IN, USA
Posted on Sep 21, 2025
We’re expanding domestic manufacturing for safety-critical mechanical components and sub-assemblies. You’ll lead technical sourcing, qualification, and ongoing supplier development to build a robust U.S. supply base that delivers cost, quality, capacity, and speed—while maintaining strict confidentiality over program details.
What you’ll do
- Build and mature the supply base: Identify, assess, and onboard U.S. suppliers across forging, machining, tube forming/bending, stamping, wire forming, die casting, injection molding, assembly, and finishing.
- Run the full technical sourcing cycle: RFI/RFQ, drawing/spec packages, DFM/A reviews, should-cost modeling, and fact-based negotiations with clear make/buy and award recommendations.
- Industrialize parts & processes: Plan and execute APQP/PPAP (or equivalent) including process flows, PFMEA, control plans, capability studies (Cp/Cpk), MSA/Gage R&R, and run-at-rate—covering die casting & injection molding along with metal-forming processes.
- Tooling & process readiness: Drive tooling kickoffs and approvals (die casting dies, injection molds, trim dies, fixtures, gauges). Validate first articles, capability, cosmetic standards, and durability/functional tests.
- Supplier performance improvement: Lead problem-solving (8D/A3), yield and scrap reduction, SPC deployment, and process control improvements; implement layered audits and scorecards.
- Commercial + ops alignment: Partner with Supply Chain, Quality, and Engineering on cost, lead-time, inventory strategy (VMI/consignment where applicable), and risk mitigation/dual-sourcing plans.
Processes & materials you’ll qualify (scope)
- Metal forming & fabrication: Forging, machining, tube forming/bending, stamping, wire forming, welding, CNC, secondary ops.
- Casting & molding: Aluminum/zinc die casting (e.g., A380, Zamak), thermoplastic injection molding (e.g., ABS, PC, PA6/66, PP, POM), insert/over-molding.
- Finishing: Powder coat, e-coat, anodize, plating, painting, surface prep.
- Metrology & testing: Dimensional inspection, CMM/vision, leak/pressure, torque/fatigue, corrosion and adhesion testing.
What you’ll bring
- 6–10+ years in supplier development, manufacturing engineering, or technical sourcing for discrete parts; hands-on APQP/PPAP ownership.
- Demonstrated experience qualifying die casting and/or injection molding processes and tooling (moldflow/castability reviews, gate/runner design basics, venting/thermal balance, cycle-time optimization).
- Strong print reading (GD&T), tolerance stack-ups, capability analysis, and problem-solving (8D, DMAIC).
- Comfort on factory floors and in conference rooms—able to influence operators, managers, and executives.
- Willingness to travel ~30–50% to suppliers; on-site in Seymour, IN is mandatory.
Nice to have
- Should-cost experience for cast/molded and formed parts; basic mold/die maintenance knowledge.
- Experience with safety-critical components, high-mix/medium-volume environments.
- ERP/MES exposure; SPC tools; familiarity with ISO 9001/IATF 16949 practices.
How you’ll succeed
- Validate robust processes up front, prevent surprises in launch, and continually raise supplier capability while hitting cost and lead-time targets.
- Translate engineering intent into manufacturable, controllable processes—including die casting and injection molding—that scale with Guardian’s growth.