Guardian Bikes
Supplier Development & Technical Sourcing Engineer
Guardian Bikes, Seymour, Indiana, United States, 47274
We’re expanding domestic manufacturing for safety-critical mechanical components and sub-assemblies. You’ll lead technical sourcing, qualification, and ongoing supplier development to build a robust U.S. supply base that delivers cost, quality, capacity, and speed—while maintaining strict confidentiality over program details.
What you’ll do
Build and mature the supply base:
Identify, assess, and onboard U.S. suppliers across forging, machining, tube forming/bending, stamping, wire forming, die casting, injection molding, assembly, and finishing. Run the full technical sourcing cycle:
RFI/RFQ, drawing/spec packages, DFM/A reviews, should-cost modeling, and fact-based negotiations with clear make/buy and award recommendations. Industrialize parts & processes:
Plan and execute APQP/PPAP (or equivalent) including process flows, PFMEA, control plans, capability studies (Cp/Cpk), MSA/Gage R&R, and run-at-rate—covering die casting & injection molding along with metal-forming processes. Tooling & process readiness:
Drive tooling kickoffs and approvals (die casting dies, injection molds, trim dies, fixtures, gauges). Validate first articles, capability, cosmetic standards, and durability/functional tests. Supplier performance improvement:
Lead problem-solving (8D/A3), yield and scrap reduction, SPC deployment, and process control improvements; implement layered audits and scorecards. Commercial + ops alignment:
Partner with Supply Chain, Quality, and Engineering on cost, lead-time, inventory strategy (VMI/consignment where applicable), and risk mitigation/dual-sourcing plans. Processes & materials you’ll qualify (scope) Metal forming & fabrication:
Forging, machining, tube forming/bending, stamping, wire forming, welding, CNC, secondary ops. Casting & molding:
Aluminum/zinc die casting
(e.g., A380, Zamak), thermoplastic injection molding (e.g., ABS, PC, PA6/66, PP, POM), insert/over-molding. Finishing:
Powder coat, e-coat, anodize, plating, painting, surface prep. Metrology & testing:
Dimensional inspection, CMM/vision, leak/pressure, torque/fatigue, corrosion and adhesion testing. What you’ll bring 6–10+ years in supplier development, manufacturing engineering, or technical sourcing for discrete parts; hands-on APQP/PPAP ownership. Demonstrated experience qualifying die casting and/or injection molding processes and tooling (moldflow/castability reviews, gate/runner design basics, venting/thermal balance, cycle-time optimization). Strong print reading (GD&T), tolerance stack-ups, capability analysis, and problem-solving (8D, DMAIC). Comfort on factory floors and in conference rooms—able to influence operators, managers, and executives. Willingness to travel ~30–50% to suppliers;
on-site in Seymour, IN
is mandatory. Nice to have Should-cost experience for cast/molded and formed parts; basic mold/die maintenance knowledge. Experience with safety-critical components, high-mix/medium-volume environments. ERP/MES exposure; SPC tools; familiarity with ISO 9001/IATF 16949 practices. How you’ll succeed Validate robust processes up front, prevent surprises in launch, and continually raise supplier capability while hitting cost and lead-time targets. Translate engineering intent into manufacturable, controllable processes—including die casting and injection molding—that scale with Guardian’s growth.
Identify, assess, and onboard U.S. suppliers across forging, machining, tube forming/bending, stamping, wire forming, die casting, injection molding, assembly, and finishing. Run the full technical sourcing cycle:
RFI/RFQ, drawing/spec packages, DFM/A reviews, should-cost modeling, and fact-based negotiations with clear make/buy and award recommendations. Industrialize parts & processes:
Plan and execute APQP/PPAP (or equivalent) including process flows, PFMEA, control plans, capability studies (Cp/Cpk), MSA/Gage R&R, and run-at-rate—covering die casting & injection molding along with metal-forming processes. Tooling & process readiness:
Drive tooling kickoffs and approvals (die casting dies, injection molds, trim dies, fixtures, gauges). Validate first articles, capability, cosmetic standards, and durability/functional tests. Supplier performance improvement:
Lead problem-solving (8D/A3), yield and scrap reduction, SPC deployment, and process control improvements; implement layered audits and scorecards. Commercial + ops alignment:
Partner with Supply Chain, Quality, and Engineering on cost, lead-time, inventory strategy (VMI/consignment where applicable), and risk mitigation/dual-sourcing plans. Processes & materials you’ll qualify (scope) Metal forming & fabrication:
Forging, machining, tube forming/bending, stamping, wire forming, welding, CNC, secondary ops. Casting & molding:
Aluminum/zinc die casting
(e.g., A380, Zamak), thermoplastic injection molding (e.g., ABS, PC, PA6/66, PP, POM), insert/over-molding. Finishing:
Powder coat, e-coat, anodize, plating, painting, surface prep. Metrology & testing:
Dimensional inspection, CMM/vision, leak/pressure, torque/fatigue, corrosion and adhesion testing. What you’ll bring 6–10+ years in supplier development, manufacturing engineering, or technical sourcing for discrete parts; hands-on APQP/PPAP ownership. Demonstrated experience qualifying die casting and/or injection molding processes and tooling (moldflow/castability reviews, gate/runner design basics, venting/thermal balance, cycle-time optimization). Strong print reading (GD&T), tolerance stack-ups, capability analysis, and problem-solving (8D, DMAIC). Comfort on factory floors and in conference rooms—able to influence operators, managers, and executives. Willingness to travel ~30–50% to suppliers;
on-site in Seymour, IN
is mandatory. Nice to have Should-cost experience for cast/molded and formed parts; basic mold/die maintenance knowledge. Experience with safety-critical components, high-mix/medium-volume environments. ERP/MES exposure; SPC tools; familiarity with ISO 9001/IATF 16949 practices. How you’ll succeed Validate robust processes up front, prevent surprises in launch, and continually raise supplier capability while hitting cost and lead-time targets. Translate engineering intent into manufacturable, controllable processes—including die casting and injection molding—that scale with Guardian’s growth.