Sourcing Engineer in Manitowoc, Wisconsin at Burger Boat Company
Explore Related Opportunities
Job Description
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Sourcing Engineer – Metals is a senior-level individual contributor responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for aluminum, steel, and fabricated ship structure components supporting new construction, repair, and refit programs. The role is accountable for supplier identification, technical and commercial evaluation, supplier selection, qualification, and ongoing supplier performance management. Working in close partnership with Engineering, Production, Quality, and Supply Chain, this position ensures supply continuity, supplier capability, cost competitiveness, delivery performance, and alignment with technical and business requirements.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies for aluminum, steel, and fabricated ship structure components in support of new construction, repair, and refit programs.
- Identify, assess, and qualify suppliers based on technical capability, manufacturing capacity, quality systems, financial stability, lead time, and overall fit for shipbuilding applications.
- Lead supplier selection activities, including RFQs, technical and commercial evaluations, benchmarking, and recommendation of sourcing decisions that achieve the best total cost of ownership.
- Partner with Engineering, Quality, and Production to understand specifications, fabrication requirements, marine compliance (ABS/Lloyd’s/etc), weldments, assemblies, and structural applications for aluminum and steel.
- Support early supplier involvement by aligning supplier capabilities with design intent, manufacturability, quality expectations, compliance requirements and project schedules.
- Establish and manage supplier performance expectations using measurable indicators such as quality, compliance, delivery, responsiveness, cost competitiveness, and corrective action effectiveness.
- Conduct regular supplier reviews and work with suppliers and internal stakeholders to drive continuous improvement, risk reduction, and recovery actions when performance issues arise.
- Monitor market conditions, material availability, pricing trends, and capacity constraints for aluminum, steel, and related fabrication services to inform sourcing strategy and planning.
- Maintain sourcing documentation, supplier records, qualifications, and commercial information in accordance with company processes and procurement standards to ensure compliance with applicable trade regulations such as: country of origin, ABS/Lloyds certification, import/export restrictions.
- Serve as the primary technical sourcing point of contact for assigned suppliers and commodities, coordinating effectively across internal teams to support successful project execution.
EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Metallurgy, or a related technical discipline required; equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience may be considered.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Five or more years of experience in sourcing, supplier development, procurement engineering, or supplier quality within manufacturing, fabrication, marine, or heavy industrial environments preferred.
- Demonstrated knowledge of aluminum and steel materials, including plate, shapes, weldments, fabricated assemblies, and structural applications.
- Experience evaluating supplier capabilities for fabricated metal components, assemblies, and ship structure-related work preferred.
- Working knowledge of metal fabrication processes, including cutting, forming, machining, welding, and finishing.
- Experience with ERP systems (Syteline preferred) and Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel for analysis, supplier evaluation, and reporting.
- Demonstrated capability in cost analysis, RFQ development, commercial evaluation, and supplier risk assessment.
KEY COMPETENCIES:
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with the ability to influence decisions and build alignment across Engineering, Production, Quality, and Supply Chain.
- Sound judgment, analytical problem-solving, and the ability to make well-supported sourcing recommendations aligned with company policies and business objectives.
- Technical credibility in supplier capability assessment, materials knowledge, and fabricated metal applications.
- Clear and professional verbal and written communication skills with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and external partners.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs):
- On-time completion of supplier evaluations, qualification activities, and sourcing recommendations to meet program and business timelines.
- Supplier on-time delivery performance for assigned commodities or suppliers.
- Supplier quality performance, including nonconformance rates, corrective action responsiveness, and repeat issue reduction.
- Year-over-year cost improvement, cost avoidance, or value creation achieved through sourcing strategy, supplier negotiation support, and market-informed decision making.
- Reduction of supply risk through dual sourcing, supplier development, capacity assessment, and continuity planning.
- Timeliness and accuracy of RFQ packages, supplier documentation, evaluation records, and sourcing-related reporting.
- Effective cross-functional support measured by responsiveness, issue resolution, and successful alignment of supplier capability with technical and production requirements.
Annual performance goals and KPI targets will be established in alignment with business objectives, program needs, and company performance management practices.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
This position primarily operates in an office environment and requires the ability to sit for extended periods while working on a computer and reviewing technical information. The employee must occasionally stand, walk, and move throughout the facility to collaborate with cross-functional teams and support sourcing and supplier-related activities. Periodic visits to production areas and supplier facilities are required, which may involve navigating active shipyard environments, including stairs, uneven surfaces, and confined or industrial spaces, while wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE). Occasional light lifting (e.g., samples, documents, or materials up to approximately 25 pounds) may be required. The role may also involve extended periods of standing and walking during supplier visits or on-site evaluations.
GENERAL STATEMENT:
This description is a general statement of required major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continuous basis. It does not exclude other duties as assigned.
1st Shift Schedule Similar to Monday - Thursday, 6:00am - 3:30pm, and Friday, 6:00am - 10:00am