Sourcing VA/VE Engineer

Cantrell-Gainco Group

Gainesville, GA

Estimated pay: Est. $18–$27/hr (market estimate, not employer-stated)

**Position Summary**

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Cantrell-Gainco is seeking a hands-on Sourcing / Value Analysis and Value Engineering (VA/VE) Engineer to support strategic sourcing, supplier development, cost reduction, dual-sourcing, localization, and product resourcing initiatives. This role serves as the technical engineering partner to Strategic Sourcing, helping transition components and assemblies to new or alternate suppliers while ensuring fit, form, function, quality, safety, and performance requirements are maintained.

The engineer will work with physical parts, existing drawings, 3D models, suppliers, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain. The role is responsible for developing technical documentation, measuring and reverse engineering components, defining critical requirements, creating qualification and test plans, evaluating samples, and supporting validation before production release.

**Key Responsibilities**

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**Resourcing and Strategic Sourcing Support**

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• Partner with Strategic Sourcing to execute supplier resourcing, localization, dual-source, cost-reduction, and VA/VE projects.
• Provide complete technical information for suppliers to accurately quote and manufacture components and assemblies.
• Review existing documentation to determine whether drawings, models, specifications, tolerances, materials, finishes, and testing requirements are sufficient for competitive sourcing.
• Lead supplier technical reviews and resolve questions related to manufacturability, specifications, tolerances, materials, interfaces, and product function.
• Support RFQs, supplier selection, first article review, qualification, production trials, and implementation.

**Drawings, Models, and Technical Documentation**

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• Create, review, and revise 2D engineering drawings and 3D CAD models for sourcing and manufacturing purposes.
• Develop drawings and models from existing parts when historical documentation is incomplete or unavailable.
• Interpret and clearly document dimensions, tolerances, GD&T, materials, surface finishes, coatings, weld requirements, interfaces, and assembly requirements.
• Identify and document critical-to-quality and critical-to-function characteristics.
• Support engineering change documentation resulting from VA/VE activities or approved supplier recommendations.

**Part Measurement and Reverse Engineering**

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• Physically measure and evaluate production components and assemblies using calipers, micrometers, height gauges, pin gauges, thread gauges, and other dimensional inspection tools.
• Reverse engineer components as needed to support resourcing and supplier qualification.
• Compare physical components to drawings and models, document discrepancies, and coordinate resolution with Engineering and Quality.
• Determine which dimensions and features are functionally critical and which may allow manufacturing flexibility.
• Coordinate advanced inspection, including CMM inspection, when required.

**Validation and Test Planning**

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• Develop risk-based qualification and validation test plans for newly sourced, redesigned, or process-changed components.
• Define measurable acceptance criteria based on part function, application, interfaces, safety, and product requirements.
• Coordinate dimensional inspection, fit checks, functional testing, assembly trials, endurance testing, and production trials as appropriate.
• Review supplier samples, first article inspection reports, material certifications, and supporting documentation before recommending approval.
• Document test results, communicate technical concerns, and support corrective actions when samples or production parts do not meet requirements.

**VA/VE and Cost Reduction**

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• Evaluate designs for opportunities to improve cost, manufacturability, standardization, availability, serviceability, and supplier flexibility without reducing performance or reliability.
• Collaborate with suppliers on alternative materials, manufacturing processes, tolerances, finishes, purchased components, and design approaches.
• Apply Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFMA) principles to cost-reduction and resourcing opportunities.
• Challenge unnecessarily restrictive specifications where commercially available solutions can provide equivalent performance.
• Provide technical analysis for make/buy, alternate-process, and alternate-supplier decisions.

**Component and Manufacturing Experience**

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The ideal candidate will have experience with several of the following component types and processes:

• CNC-machined steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and engineered plastic components

• Turning, milling, drilling, threading, and related machining processes

• Forged and subsequ