Engineer III, Make-Buy Optimization (MBO)
$112,059–$156,883 year
On-siteHuntsville, Alabama, United States or Renton, Washington, United States
Job Summary
Conduct detailed make-buy-where-when-how analyses for assigned program parts, assemblies, and manufacturing processes by evaluating internal fabrication capabilities against external supplier options. Build cost models and scenario analyses to support sourcing recommendations, identifying and resolving incomplete make/buy designations within the assigned program's bill of materials. Serve as the embedded MBWW representative for your assigned program, participating in design reviews and program milestone meetings while partnering with Design, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering teams to assess producibility and design-to-cost opportunities. Engage with engineering and program leadership as a technically credible peer, translating complex trade-offs into clear, data-backed recommendations and developing well-documented decision packages. Track and report on decision status, open items, and trends weekly, collaborating with Procurement, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing Operations, and Finance to validate assumptions.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering
- 3–5 years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, systems engineering, supply chain engineering, or a related technical discipline
- Working knowledge of aerospace manufacturing processes such as machining, fabrication, structures, composites, propulsion, or avionics integration
- Demonstrated ability to perform quantitative trade-off analyses involving cost, schedule, technical risk, and operational factors
- Comfortable engaging directly with engineers and program leaders — able to present technical recommendations and defend analytical conclusions
- Strong written and verbal communication skills — able to produce clear, concise decision packages for leadership consumption
- U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum
- Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical
Desired Qualifications
- Experience in a program-embedded supply chain, manufacturing engineering, or industrial engineering role
- Familiarity with launch vehicle or spacecraft development programs, including transition from development to production
- Experience with make-buy analysis, strategic sourcing, or supplier evaluation in an aerospace or defense environment
- Proficiency with data visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or Smartsheet
- Exposure to MRL/TRL frameworks, manufacturing readiness assessments, or rate maturity evaluations
- Familiarity with Integrated Product Teams and program milestone review processes (PDR, CDR, PRR)
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