Loft OrbitalSupplier Development Manager (SDM)
Loft Orbital is hiring a Supplier Development Manager (SDM) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Level rates it ; you can apply on Loft Orbital.
Level's read on this job
- Little AI ●○○○ is how Level rates this role: aI is not part of the work.
- The posting mentions manufacturing engineering, supplier quality and cnc among its tools and skills.
- Level classes it as a senior role.
- Loft Orbital has 76 other open roles on Level.
AI in this role
Supplier Development Manager to build local manufacturing capability and quality standards for aerospace flight hardware.
Role overview
Build local suppliers’ capability to manufacture flight hardware for Orbitworks. This new role combines manufacturing engineering, supplier quality and hands-on process development, with an initial focus on machined components, wire harness assemblies and structural honeycomb panel rework or modifications.
The SDM will assess suppliers on site, close manufacturing process gaps and establish repeatable qualification and development methods. The role starts as an individual contributor, working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, Contracts and D2M, with potential to build a broader supplier development function over time.
What you will do:
- Assess supplier manufacturing readiness through on-site process audits, capability reviews and risk assessments.
- Work with suppliers to improve travelers, work instructions, inspection plans and process controls, including torque control, crimp validation and bonding where applicable.
- Validate machining capability, including CNC programming discipline, tooling, GD&T interpretation, surface finish, material traceability and first article inspection.
- Strengthen wire harness production through crimp and pull-test validation, routing and shielding controls, workmanship standards and manufacturing records.
- Oversee honeycomb panel rework and modifications, ensuring bonding validation, environmental controls, configuration integrity and alignment with nondestructive inspection requirements.
- Implement AS9100-aligned practices, AS9102 first article inspection, APQP and PPAP where applicable.
- Lead containment, root cause analysis and corrective action for supplier quality escapes.
- Develop supplier development roadmaps, qualification criteria and performance dashboards covering quality, delivery, FAI results, escapes and process capability.
- Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality and Supply Chain to resolve technical issues and align supplier readiness with flight requirements.
Must have Qualifications:
- Flight-hardware manufacturing experience with a clear understanding of aerospace process control, documentation and traceability requirements.
- Deep machining knowledge covering CNC processes, GD&T, materials, tooling, surface finish and inspection.
- Wire harness manufacturing expertise, including crimp validation, pull testing, routing, shielding and workmanship controls.
- Proven supplier development experience with measurable improvements in capability, quality or manufacturing readiness.
- Working knowledge of AS9100-based quality systems, AS9102 first article inspection and manufacturing process validation.
- Experience leading root cause analysis, containment and corrective action using methods such as 8D or RCCA.
- Hands-on shop-floor expertise, the ability to work independently and strong communication skills to align suppliers with internal technical stakeholders.
Nice to Have:
- Honeycomb or composite structures, bonding, nondestructive inspection and controlled structural rework experience.
- IPC/WHMA-A-620 certification or knowledge of certification requirements; NADCAP special process exposure.
- Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), Lean or Six Sigma Black Belt experience.
- Experience building a supplier development function, integrating ERP/MRP systems or working with international suppliers.
How we rate this
Supplier Development Manager (SDM) at Loft Orbital rates 0 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Little AI. AI is not part of the work.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Questions you could be asked
- Tell me about a project where manufacturing engineering was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where supplier quality was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where cnc was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where machining was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where wire harness was part of your work. What did you do?
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Manufacturing Engineering, Supplier Quality, Cnc, Machining, and Wire Harness. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
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