Supplier Development Engineer

As a Supplier Development Engineer at Anduril Industries, your responsibilities will include managing product categories like PCB/PCBA, batteries, and avionics while coordinating closely with engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers. You'll oversee supplier production strategies, ensure quality protocols are met, and lead initiatives for capacity expansion and process improvements. Your expertise will help optimize designs for efficiency and cost-effectiveness throughout the product lifecycle.

To be a successful Supplier Development Engineer at Anduril Industries, you must have at least a bachelor's degree in electrical or mechanical engineering or a related technical field. Additionally, a minimum of 2 years of experience in supplier quality and industrialization is required. Technical expertise in areas like PCBA manufacturing and IPC standards is preferred, alongside strong communication and problem-solving skills.

While previous experience in defense, aerospace, automotive, or high-tech industries is preferred for the Supplier Development Engineer position at Anduril Industries, it is not strictly necessary. Candidates with relevant skills and a strong understanding of manufacturing processes will still be considered. What’s essential is your ability to adapt and learn, demonstrating a passion for tackling challenges in a fast-paced environment.

As a Supplier Development Engineer at Anduril Industries, you should be prepared for up to 50% travel. Your role will require you to work closely with suppliers at their facilities to implement production strategies and quality standards. It’s a fantastic opportunity to engage directly with the supply chain, ensuring that product excellence is maintained on-site.

Working as a Supplier Development Engineer at Anduril Industries comes with a comprehensive benefits package including platinum healthcare benefits, generous PTO plans, mental health resources, and a professional development stipend. You’ll also enjoy daily meals at many offices, healthy work-life balance options, and an innovative workplace culture that encourages personal and professional growth.

In answering this question, highlight specific examples from your past positions where you managed supplier relationships, implemented quality controls, or directly contributed to supplier performance improvements. Discuss any standards or methodologies you used to assess and improve supplier quality.

When faced with multiple priorities, outline your approach to evaluating the urgency and impact of tasks. Discuss tools or frameworks you use to organize your work, and emphasize the importance of communication with stakeholders to set realistic timelines and expectations.

Discuss specific strategies that have worked for you in the past, such as implementing performance metrics, conducting regular reviews, or involving suppliers in continuous improvement processes. Use examples to illustrate how these strategies led to measurable improvements.

Share your familiarity with methodologies like Lean, Six Sigma, or others. Provide examples of how you’ve applied these techniques in previous roles to enhance production efficiency or reduce waste, detailing the impact it had on supplier relationships.

Explain your conflict resolution approach, emphasizing the importance of open communication, understanding the supplier’s perspective, and working collaboratively toward a solution. You can cite real-life instances where your approach successfully resolved conflicts.

Talk about how you leverage data analysis to inform your decisions, assess supplier performance, and identify process improvement opportunities. Provide examples of how data-driven decisions led to successful outcomes in supplier development.

Discuss your commitment to continuous learning and professional development. Mention any industry publications, conferences, or networks you engage with to stay informed about technological advancements and best practices in supplier development.

Outline the methods you use to ensure that suppliers comply with mandatory standards and certifications. Highlight your experience in conducting audits or training sessions and promoting awareness of compliance needs among suppliers.

Delve into the significance of communication in your role, particularly in technical discussions with suppliers and cross-functional teams. Use examples to illustrate how your communication skills facilitated successful negotiations or clarified complex issues.

When answering, express your enthusiasm for Anduril’s mission and how your values align with the company's objectives. Highlight your interest in working within a cutting-edge environment and your desire to contribute positively to military technology capabilities.