---
title: 'Supplier Development Manager (SDM) at Loft Orbital Solutions'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/supplier-development-manager-sdm-loft-orbital-solutions-abu-dhabi-6t82gyhn0a20'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-27'
---

# Supplier Development Manager (SDM) at Loft Orbital Solutions

- **Company:** Loft Orbital Solutions
- **Location:** Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-21
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-27
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/loftorbital/6cdfed65-9a73-4008-84a1-19ea4429df4b

## Job description

## Role overview

Build local suppliers’ capability to manufacture flight hardware for Orbitworks. This new role combines manufacturing engineering, supplier quality and hands-on process development, with an initial focus on machined components, wire harness assemblies and structural honeycomb panel rework or modifications. The SDM will assess suppliers on site, close manufacturing process gaps and establish repeatable qualification and development methods. The role starts as an individual contributor, working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, Contracts and D2M, with potential to build a broader supplier development function over time.

What you will do:

- Assess supplier manufacturing readiness through on-site process audits, capability reviews and risk assessments.
- Work with suppliers to improve travelers, work instructions, inspection plans and process controls, including torque control, crimp validation and bonding where applicable.
- Validate machining capability, including CNC programming discipline, tooling, GD&T interpretation, surface finish, material traceability and first article inspection.
- Strengthen wire harness production through crimp and pull-test validation, routing and shielding controls, workmanship standards and manufacturing records.
- Oversee honeycomb panel rework and modifications, ensuring bonding validation, environmental controls, configuration integrity and alignment with nondestructive inspection requirements.
- Implement AS9100-aligned practices, AS9102 first article inspection, APQP and PPAP where applicable.
- Lead containment, root cause analysis and corrective action for supplier quality escapes.
- Develop supplier development roadmaps, qualification criteria and performance dashboards covering quality, delivery, FAI results, escapes and process capability.
- Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality and Supply Chain to resolve technical issues and align supplier readiness with flight requirements.

Must have Qualifications:

- Flight-hardware manufacturing experience with a clear understanding of aerospace process control, documentation and traceability requirements.
- Deep machining knowledge covering CNC processes, GD&T, materials, tooling, surface finish and inspection.
- Wire harness manufacturing expertise, including crimp validation, pull testing, routing, shielding and workmanship controls.
- Proven supplier development experience with measurable improvements in capability, quality or manufacturing readiness.
- Working knowledge of AS9100-based quality systems, AS9102 first article inspection and manufacturing process validation.
- Experience leading root cause analysis, containment and corrective action using methods such as 8D or RCCA.
- Hands-on shop-floor expertise, the ability to work independently and strong communication skills to align suppliers with internal technical stakeholders.

Nice to Have:

- Honeycomb or composite structures, bonding, nondestructive inspection and controlled structural rework experience.
- IPC/WHMA-A-620 certification or knowledge of certification requirements; NADCAP special process exposure.
- Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), Lean or Six Sigma Black Belt experience.
- Experience building a supplier development function, integrating ERP/MRP systems or working with international suppliers.

Orbitworks' mission is to make space simple for organizations that want to deploy physical and virtual missions to space. Building on Loft Orbital's heritage, Orbitworks will be the first commercial firm in the United Arab Emirates to mass-manufacture satellites. Orbitworks aims to manufacture tens of satellites annually and operates out of a 50,000-square-foot facility in Abu Dhabi.

## About Loft Orbital Solutions

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Loft Orbital is a space infrastructure company that provides simple, fast, and reliable ways for customers to deploy and operate physical payloads and software missions in low Earth orbit.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C – $170M round announced, total funding $326.9M)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, United States (with additional offices in Golden, Colorado and Toulouse, France)
- **Founded**: 2017
- **Founders**: Not listed in provided sources

## Core Business
- **Primary Industry**: Defense and Space Manufacturing
- **Target Customers**: B2B – commercial space startups, established aerospace and defense primes, cloud and AI companies, and government agencies worldwide (including U..S, France, Canada)
- **Mission/Purpose**: “Space Made Simple” – enabling customers to focus on their mission while Loft handles end-to-end space infrastructure

## Products & Services
- **Physical Payload Missions**: Loft integrates, tests, launches, and operates customer hardware payloads on its standardized satellite platforms (e.g.., optical, hyperspectral, RF sensors).
- **Virtual / Software-Only Missions**: Customers can deploy software directly to Loft’s on-orbit satellites to process and analyze data in near-real time (e..g., AI edge processing via partners like SkyServe, SSCI).
- **YAM (Yet Another Mission)** satellites: A fleet of multi-mission satellite buses available for rapid deployment; Loft maintains an inventory of pre-assembled platforms.
- **Hub & Cockpit**: Proprietary hardware and software abstraction layers that simplify payload integration and satellite operations.
- **Loft Federal**: A FOCI-mitigated division focused on US national security space missions (only US citizens).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (total funding $326..9M – LinkedIn)
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding $326..9M (8 rounds incl. $170M Series C); Annual Revenue estimated $27..8M (LinkedIn)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Lead seed investor Uncork Capital; partners include Honeywell (Canadian Space Agency mission), Wyvern (Dragonette constellation), Esper, Helsing, SmartSat CRC, EarthDaily ($150M constellation), SkyServe, SSCI, Airbus OneWeb Satellites (15 bus order).
- **Growth Signals**: 270 employees (+14.9% YoY), 41k+ LinkedIn followers (+41.4% YoY), 14 satellites launched, 60+ customers, 15+ AI missions on-orbit, selected as prime contractor for France’s first space-based radar imaging program.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Standardized Satellite Platform**: Uses a commodity satellite bus with custom hardware/software layers, eliminating non-recurring engineering and enabling “turnkey” plug-and-play.
- **Speed to Orbit**: Maintains an inventory of pre-assembled buses and pre-booked launches, drastically reducing lead times compared to traditional aerospace.
- **Flight Heritage**: Over 600 copies of the bus in orbit today, providing proven reliability
- **Misson Agnosticism**: Can fly any payload that fits within standard platform constraints; supports both physical and virtual missions.

## Strategic Focus
- **Expand AI Edge Computing**: Deploying onboard AI processing (e..g., STORM from SkyServe, POET experiment for SDA) to enable near-real-time decision making.
- **National Security Growth**: Loft Federal continues to win US government contracts.
- **Constellation Scale-Up**: Partnering with EarthDaily for $150M satellite constellation; ordering 15 additional buses from Airbus OneWeb.
- **International Partnerships**: Strengthening ties with France (prime contractor for radar imaging) and Canada (SmartSat CRC, Honeywell).

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Collaborative, respectful, professional environment described as “non-negotiable.” Rated 4..5/5 on LinkedIn (35 reviews) with Culture 4.5, Compensation 4.1, Work-Life 3.6, Career 4.2.
- **Wor Environment**: Distributed team with core hubs in San Francisco, Golden (CO), and Toulouse. Supports remote collaboration but roles may require on-site presence (per job listings). Recruiting process involves intro call, technical screening, challenge, and hiring panel.
- **Notable Perks**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge space infrastructure with a fast-growing company; involvement in both commercial and government missions; international team.

## Sources
1. [loftorbital..com](https://loftorbital.com/)
2. [loftorbital.com/about/](https://loftorbital.com/about/)
3. [loftorbital.com/careers/](https://loftorbital.com/careers/)
4. [jobs.lever.co/loftorbital](https://jobs.lever.co/loftorbital/)
5. [linkedin.com/company/loft-orbital](https://www.linkedin.com/company/loft-orbital)

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