Senior Supplier Industrialization Engineer, Composite Structures

The Senior Supplier Industrialization Engineer, Composite Structures is a high-profile, cross functional position that plays an integral role in enabling development and production flow of Anduril’s critical supply base. You will work in close coordination with internal engineering, quality, supply chain and manufacturing departments as well as directly with suppliers to execute effective, creative and smart supply chain strategies to achieve production goals.

We're looking for a talented Senior Supplier Industrialization Engineer to own Anduril’s composites supply base, expediting the qualification and implementation of composite structures and components, such as airframe skins, wings and control surfaces, fairings, radomes and motor cases, with our suppliers. You will optimize these designs for quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness from early development through the entire product lifecycle.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Own and manage the composites commodity and its subcategories, including carbon and glass fiber reinforced structures, prepreg and wet layup parts, cored/sandwich panels and bonded assemblies, to execute supplier production (NPI to full production) strategies across Anduril’s business lines
• Be a force multiplier for the Supply Chain team and overall commodity strategy, demonstrating a strong sense of ownership, proactivity, technical excellence, creativity, self-direction, and courage
• Vet Suppliers' production capabilities, factory layout, facilities and workforce for inclusion in the Approved Supplier List, including cure equipment (autoclaves, ovens, presses), layup room environmental controls, material storage and out-time tracking, and NDI capability
• Support Supplier Quality Engineers (SQE) in ensuring Suppliers' understanding and adherence to the criteria for part quality set by SQE
• Own bringing up new production tooling & lines at Supplier sites, including layup tools and molds, trim and drill fixtures, bond jigs and automated layup cells, to ensure materials, processes & tools are capable of meeting product performance, quality (criteria set by SQE) and demand requirements
• Own capacity expansion readiness and production ramp-up at Supplier, including cure capacity, rate tooling and skilled layup labor
• Establish and drive process performance and controls (SPC) reviews at Supplier, covering cure cycle records, porosity and NDI results, witness coupon and mechanical test data, and dimensional results
• Partner with Anduril design engineering on design for manufacturability of composite parts, including ply layup and orientation, tooling approach, tolerancing and process selection
• Identify and drive product and process improvements, factory layout optimization at Supplier sites to lower part cost, reduce supply risk, eliminate potential defects, and improve cycle time over the product lifecycle, such as moving from hand layup to automated or out-of-autoclave processes where it makes sense
• Support SQE with root cause task force at Anduril by working in tandem with the Supply Chain team and Suppliers on composite defects such as porosity, voids, delamination and bond-line failures, and be responsible for closing the loop of root cause corrective/preventative actions at Supplier

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, engineering, or related technical field
• 6+ years of experience in supplier quality and industrialization within a manufacturing environment
• Hands-on experience with composites manufacturing processes, such as prepreg hand layup, autoclave and out-of-autoclave cure, RTM or resin infusion, compression molding, filament winding, or automated fiber placement (AFP/ATL)
• Working knowledge of composite quality and inspection methods, including NDI (ultrasonic/C-scan), cure monitoring and common composite defect modes
• Proficiency with engineering drawings, CAD and GD&T
• Ability to travel at least 50% of the time
• Ability to relocate, if not already local to be onsite in Costa Mesa, CA

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or materials engineering, or related technical field
• Experience with aerospace or defense composite structures and related standards, such as NADCAP (composites and NDT), AS9100 and material and process specifications
• Experience working with composite material suppliers (fiber, resin and prepreg) on material qualification or equivalency
• Experience scaling composite production from prototype to rate
• Previous experience in defense, aerospace, automotive, high tech, or another related industry
• Strong understanding of quality systems, standards, and certifications
• Familiarity with developing high-tech products in a high-mix, low-volume environment
• Exposure to working in a fast-pace, start-up environment
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. TS clearance