{"id":206990,"url":"https://alion.io/job/shield-ai-associate-sourcing-specialist-r5490","title":"Associate Sourcing Specialist (R5490)","company":{"id":50,"name":"Shield AI","domain":"shield.ai","url":"https://alion.io/company/shield-ai","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Lever","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":51,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.804,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":90,"computed_at":"2026-09-24T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"Operations","role_family":"Operations","seniority":"junior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Dallas, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":69000,"max":100000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":100000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Microsoft Excel","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-04T05:26:33Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-04","last_verified_at":"2026-09-24T23:51:56Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":51,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":51},"description":"Job Description:\nPlay a key role in bringing innovative products to life by building strong supplier partnerships and supporting critical supply chain initiatives. In this role, you'll collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, and operations to ensure the resources needed for development and production are in place, helping deliver high-quality products in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.\nWhat you'll do:\nSource and procure mechanical commodities including machined parts, sheet metal, welded assemblies, structural components, fasteners, hardware, castings, forgings, and other fabricated components supporting aerospace and defense programs.\nSolicit supplier quotations, evaluate pricing and lead times, negotiate routine commercial terms, and execute purchase orders to meet program requirements.\nManage supplier relationships to ensure on-time delivery, quality, and responsiveness while escalating performance issues as needed.\nPartner with Engineering to review drawings, specifications, bills of material (BOMs), and engineering changes to ensure suppliers understand manufacturing requirements.\nSupport new product introduction (NPI) activities by coordinating supplier quotes, prototype builds, and material readiness.\nWork closely with Planning, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supplier Quality to resolve supply chain issues, expedite critical hardware, and support production schedules.\nTrack supplier commitments, monitor delivery performance, and proactively communicate risks affecting production or program milestones.\nSupport supplier qualification activities, First Article Inspection (FAI), and quality requirements in coordination with Supplier Quality and Engineering.\nMaintain accurate supplier data, pricing, lead times, and purchasing documentation within the ERP system.\nIdentify opportunities for cost savings, lead time improvements, and process efficiencies while supporting continuous improvement initiatives.\nRequired qualifications:\nBachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.\n3+ years of experience in purchasing, sourcing, or supply chain management supporting manufacturing or aerospace/defense environments.\nExperience sourcing one or more mechanical commodity groups such as:\nPrecision machined components\nSheet metal fabrications\nWelded assemblies\nStructural components\nFasteners and hardware\nCastings and forgings\nComposites\nAbility to read and interpret engineering drawings, bills of material (BOMs), and manufacturing specifications.\nExperience obtaining supplier quotations, negotiating pricing and lead times, and managing purchase orders.\nBasic understanding of manufacturing processes including CNC machining, welding, fabrication, finishing, and assembly.\nFamiliarity with aerospace quality systems such as AS9100 and First Article Inspection (FAI) processes is preferred.\nStrong organizational and analytical skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.\nEffective communication and collaboration skills with cross-functional teams including Engineering, Manufacturing, Planning, and Quality.\nExperience using ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel for purchasing and supplier management.\nPreferred qualifications:\nExperience supporting aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing industries.\nFamiliarity with FAR, DFARS, ITAR, and export compliance requirements.\nExperience supporting prototype, development, and production programs.\nExposure to supplier performance management and continuous improvement activities.\nAPICS/ASCM or CPSM certification is a plus.","description_format":"text","description_chars":3663,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":3,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Military Drones","Defense Manufacturing","Defense AI","Drone AI"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-05T07:55:32Z"}],"liveness":{"score":40,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.558,"p_room":0.72,"age_days":51,"expected_fill_days":90,"reasons":["conf:2","stale_co","velocity","win:mid","crowd:junior,brand"],"computed_at":"2026-09-24T05:45:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":100000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/shield-ai-associate-sourcing-specialist-r5490","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/shield-ai-associate-sourcing-specialist-r5490.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-09-25T00:51:53Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":772,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":4228,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-09-26T00:00:00Z"}}}