Product Sourcing Engineer, Warfighter Systems | Hybrid Opportunity | Fastwater Staffing
HIKINEXHIKINEX is seeking a Product Sourcing Engineer, Warfighter Systems, to support hardware product development, supplier selection, and production scaling. The role develops sourcing strategies, manages supplier and component procurement, supports production readiness, and optimizes product costs across the lifecycle.
Responsibilities
• Select suppliers for specific products using approved supplier
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• Partner with strategic suppliers to accelerate product development and improve manufacturing readiness
• Define product concepts and requirements with suppliers early in the development process
• Conduct feature trade-off analyses and develop comparison tables to support engineering and sourcing decisions
• Collaborate with suppliers on joint design development through clearly defined statements of work
• Drive the development and consolidation of manufacturing Bills of Materials (BOMs) in collaboration with Quality and Manufacturing teams
• Support production ramp-up internally and across the supplier network
• Manage component procurement throughout NPI, ensuring components are available on time and meet program requirements
• Manage capital expenditure (CAPEX) throughout the NPI process
• Ensure required vendor component qualifications are completed before production
• Complete BOM risk assessments and identify alternative sourcing options to mitigate supply risks
• Lead cost engineering activities to align bottom-up cost models with product cost targets
• Develop should-cost and clean-sheet cost models to evaluate component and product costs
• Optimize total cost of ownership (TCO) throughout the product lifecycle
• Identify cost-reduction opportunities through component commonality, supplier rationalization, and reduced product complexity
• Address cost-related challenges involving tariffs, import/export expenses, and supplier price increases
• Conduct value-stream mapping to improve supply network lead times, flexibility, and efficiency
• Evaluate sourcing strategies for high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments
• Work with suppliers to improve technology, manufacturing processes, and supply-chain performance
• Assess sourcing risks and develop mitigation strategies to support production scalability
• Coordinate with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Program Management throughout product development
• Navigate contractual requirements and assess program impacts across multiple stakeholders
• Develop and track budgets related to sourcing, procurement, and product development
• Communicate sourcing strategies, cost assessments, risks, and program status to relevant stakeholders
Skills
• 5+ years of relevant professional experience in engineering, sourcing, supplier development, procurement, or cost engineering
• Experience in the design and development of electronic and/or mechanical hardware products
• Experience in advanced sourcing roles, such as Sourcing Engineer, Commodity Manager, Sourcing Manager, Supplier Development Engineer, Procurement Engineer, Cost Engineer, or Supply Chain Engineer
• Experience engaging suppliers early in product development, before engineering requirements are fully established
• Knowledge of value engineering, procurement engineering, or total cost of ownership at the component and product levels
• Familiarity with high-tech product development in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments
• Strong understanding of contracting processes and program management stages
• Ability to manage complex contractual requirements and coordinate program impacts across multiple stakeholders
• Excellent stakeholder management, collaboration, and communication skills
• Strong financial management skills, including budget development and tracking
• U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or another related technical discipline
• Proven track recor