Aerospace Supplier Industrialization Leader

(Production Ramp-Up & Manufacturing Readiness)

Location: Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico (100% Onsite)
Duration: 7-Month Engagement (Potential Extension)
Industry: Aerospace / Aircraft Engines / Manufacturing

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Aerospace Supplier Industrialization Leader to serve as the onsite representative supporting a critical aerospace supplier in Guaymas, Mexico.

This role will focus on the industrialization, ramp-up, and stabilization of aerospace engine components as they transition from development and validation into serial production. The selected candidate will work directly with supplier leadership, manufacturing teams, and Safran stakeholders in France and North America to accelerate production readiness, remove barriers, mitigate risk, and drive successful program execution.

This is a highly visible leadership role requiring a strong manufacturing background, supplier management experience, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Key Responsibilities

Industrialization & Production Ramp-Up

• Lead onsite industrialization activities for aerospace engine components transitioning into production.
• Drive readiness for serial production and achievement of critical program milestones.
• Monitor and challenge production schedules to ensure industrialization objectives remain on track.
• Support First Article Inspection (FAI), process qualification activities, manufacturing validation, and rate readiness efforts.
• Identify and mitigate risks impacting industrial maturity and production readiness.

Production & Shop Floor Leadership

• Act as the primary onsite escalation point for manufacturing and industrialization issues.
• Monitor production flow, WIP (Work in Process), throughput, and operational performance.
• Identify bottlenecks, capacity constraints, and manufacturing inefficiencies.
• Drive corrective actions and recovery plans to maintain program commitments and production schedules.
• Support implementation of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.

Supplier Performance Management

• Partner directly with supplier leadership and operations teams to drive execution.
• Assess supplier readiness, capability, capacity, and overall industrial performance.
• Challenge timelines and drive accountability to ensure milestone achievement.
• Coordinate action plans and follow-up activities across manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and engineering functions.

Cross-Functional Program Leadership

• Serve as the primary interface between supplier teams and Safran stakeholders.
• Facilitate technical discussions and decision-making between operations, engineering, quality, and supply chain organizations.
• Ensure alignment between design requirements, manufacturing capability, and production objectives.
• Escalate critical risks and support timely resolution of technical and operational issues.

Reporting & Risk Management

• Provide regular reporting on industrialization progress, supplier performance, production readiness, and risk mitigation actions.
• Maintain visibility of milestone status, production output, delivery readiness, and recovery plans.
• Support weekly operational reviews and management updates.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, industrialization, supplier development, manufacturing operations, or production leadership.
• Proven experience supporting product industrialization, production ramp-up, NPI, manufacturing transfers, or production readiness programs.
• Strong background working directly with aerospace suppliers and manufacturing facilities.
• Experience driving production recovery plans, schedule execution, and operational performance improvements.
• Strong understanding of:
  • Aerospace manufacturing processes
  • Machining operations
  • Forgings
  • Welding and assembly processes
  • Special processes (heat treat, NDT, etc.)
• Experience with First Article Inspection (FAI), manufacturing qualification, and production readiness activities.
• Ability to influence supplier leadership and drive accountability without direct authority.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently in a highly visible onsite leadership role.

Preferred Qualifications

• Aerospace engine manufacturing experience.
• Supplier Development Engineer (SDE), Industrialization Manager, Operations Program Manager, Manufacturing Program Manager, or Supplier Performance leadership experience.
• Experience with APQP, QRQC, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Experience supporting global teams and international suppliers.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 and aerospace quality requirements.

Ideal Candidate Profile

We are looking for a manufacturing leader who can operate as an extension of the customer's team—someone capable of walking the production floor, understanding industrialization challenges, driving action plans, holding stakeholders accountable, and leading suppliers toward successful serial production readiness.

This is not a traditional project management role. Success in this position requires strong manufacturing expertise, supplier leadership experience, operational discipline, and the ability to accelerate production performance in a demanding aerospace environment.

For immediate consideration, please send resumes to Gus.Sanchez@TheStructuresCompany.com