Source Approval Engineer (SAR/DLA)
Amca
Location
Los Angeles
Employment Type
Full time
Location Type
On-site
Department
Growth
Amca is building airplanes for the 21st century by rebuilding the industrial base that makes them possible.
We acquire and modernize legacy aerospace and defense manufacturers, integrating them into a single platform capable of designing, building, testing, and scaling flight-critical hardware with speed and precision.
A core part of this strategy is expanding competition within the defense aftermarket. Many critical components remain single-source, driving cost, limiting resilience, and slowing readiness. We are building the internal capability to qualify new sources at scale and bring high-reliability manufacturing back into a faster, more competitive environment.
Overview
Amca is seeking a Source Approval Engineer to lead the preparation and submission of Source Approval Request (SAR) packages to the Defense Logistics Agency.
This role owns the end-to-end approval process: assessing technical data, defining qualification strategies, coordinating testing, compiling documentation, and working directly with government engineers to secure approvals.
You are not supporting the business from the sidelines. You are enabling it. Every approval expands Amca’s addressable market and strengthens the supply chain behind mission-critical aircraft.
The right person understands what makes a SAR successful because they have done it before.
Responsibilities
Lead the development and submission of SAR packages to the Defense Logistics Agency
Evaluate technical data packages to determine approval pathways and risk
Define qualification strategies including test plans, inspection methods, and equivalency approaches
Partner with design, manufacturing, and quality teams to generate required technical documentation
Coordinate first article inspections, lab testing, and third-party validation as required
Serve as the primary interface with DLA engineers and contracting personnel throughout the approval cycle
Respond to technical feedback and deficiency requests with speed and precision
Build repeatable internal processes that allow Amca to pursue approvals across multiple product lines simultaneously
Advise leadership on approval probability, timeline, and investment required for target parts
Help shape Amca’s broader defense aftermarket strategy through insight into approval dynamics and competitive positioning
Qualifications
Direct experience preparing and submitting SAR packages to the Defense Logistics Agency
Demonstrated record of successful source approvals
Deep familiarity with DLA technical expectations, documentation standards, and review workflows
Strong ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and qualification requirements
Working knowledge of first article inspection, testing protocols, and aerospace quality systems
Comfortable operating across engineering, manufacturing, and regulatory environments
Highly organized with exceptional technical writing ability
-
Operates with urgency and ownership in environments where approval timelines directly impact revenue
Preferred:
Background in aerospace or defense manufacturing
Experience qualifying hydraulic, pneumatic, avionics, electromechanical, or power electronic components
Familiarity with FAA PMA, DER interaction, or other approval frameworks
Experience inside a manufacturer, approval consultancy, or government engineering organization
This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must be U.S. persons within the meaning of ITAR. ITAR defines a US person as: any individual who is granted U.S. citizenship; or. any individual who is granted U.S. permanent residence ("Green Card" holder); or. any individual who is granted status as a "protected person" under 8 U.S.C 1324b(a)(3).
The Advanced Manufacturing Company of America prohibits discrimination or harassment based on the following categories: race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.