{"id":3004668,"url":"https://alion.io/job/loft-orbital-supplier-development-manager-sdm","title":"Supplier Development Manager (SDM)","company":{"id":4539,"name":"Loft Orbital","domain":"loftorbital.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/loft-orbital-solutions","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Lever","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":87,"open_postings":9,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.333,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":86,"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"}},"role":"Management","role_family":"Management","seniority":"lead","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates"],"countries":["AE"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"AS9100","optional":false},{"name":"GD&T","optional":false},{"name":"Honeycomb","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-21T12:48:55Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-21","last_verified_at":"2026-10-22T16:29:50Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":1,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":1},"description":"Role overview\nBuild 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.\nThe 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.\nWhat you will do:\nAssess supplier manufacturing readiness through on-site process audits, capability reviews and risk assessments.\nWork with suppliers to improve travelers, work instructions, inspection plans and process controls, including torque control, crimp validation and bonding where applicable.\nValidate machining capability, including CNC programming discipline, tooling, GD&T interpretation, surface finish, material traceability and first article inspection.\nStrengthen wire harness production through crimp and pull-test validation, routing and shielding controls, workmanship standards and manufacturing records.\nOversee honeycomb panel rework and modifications, ensuring bonding validation, environmental controls, configuration integrity and alignment with nondestructive inspection requirements.\nImplement AS9100-aligned practices, AS9102 first article inspection, APQP and PPAP where applicable.\nLead containment, root cause analysis and corrective action for supplier quality escapes.\nDevelop supplier development roadmaps, qualification criteria and performance dashboards covering quality, delivery, FAI results, escapes and process capability.\nPartner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality and Supply Chain to resolve technical issues and align supplier readiness with flight requirements.\nMust have Qualifications:\nFlight-hardware manufacturing experience with a clear understanding of aerospace process control, documentation and traceability requirements.\nDeep machining knowledge covering CNC processes, GD&T, materials, tooling, surface finish and inspection.\nWire harness manufacturing expertise, including crimp validation, pull testing, routing, shielding and workmanship controls.\nProven supplier development experience with measurable improvements in capability, quality or manufacturing readiness.\nWorking knowledge of AS9100-based quality systems, AS9102 first article inspection and manufacturing process validation.\nExperience leading root cause analysis, containment and corrective action using methods such as 8D or RCCA.\nHands-on shop-floor expertise, the ability to work independently and strong communication skills to align suppliers with internal technical stakeholders.\nNice to Have:\nHoneycomb or composite structures, bonding, nondestructive inspection and controlled structural rework experience.\nIPC/WHMA-A-620 certification or knowledge of certification requirements; NADCAP special process exposure.\nAdvanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), Lean or Six Sigma Black Belt experience.\nExperience building a supplier development function, integrating ERP/MRP systems or working with international suppliers.","description_format":"text","description_chars":3366,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Satellite Manufacturing","Space Services"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-21T13:18:45Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":90,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.903,"p_room":1,"age_days":0,"expected_fill_days":86,"reasons":["conf:0","velocity","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/loft-orbital-supplier-development-manager-sdm","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/loft-orbital-supplier-development-manager-sdm.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-22T17:41:52Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":42,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-23T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":4539},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=4539"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Floft-orbital-supplier-development-manager-sdm"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Floft-orbital-supplier-development-manager-sdm"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Floft-orbital-supplier-development-manager-sdm"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/loft-orbital-supplier-development-manager-sdm\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Floft-orbital-supplier-development-manager-sdm"}]}