Category Manager- HPC Infrastructure

About the role

We are seeking a Category Manager – HPC Infrastructure to define and execute the global sourcing, procurement, and supply chain strategy for end-to-end high-performance computing (HPC) and AI data center infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive the global category management strategy for HPC Infrastructure, spanning:
  • GPU and accelerator platforms (latest-generation GPUs, DPUs, AI accelerators)
  • Compute systems and server platforms optimized for HPC and AI workloads
  • Rack-scale and integrated systems (pre-configured racks, liquid-cooled and high-density designs)
  • High-speed networking (InfiniBand, Ethernet, optical interconnects, switches, NICs, cables)
  • Storage infrastructure (high-performance parallel file systems, NVMe, object and tiered storage)
• Lead technology road mapping and market intelligence, staying ahead of industry trends and ensuring early access to next-generation and “latest and greatest” infrastructure technologies
• Manage and optimize annual category spend of $500M–$1B+, ensuring cost efficiency, scalability, and continuity of supply while enabling aggressive growth
• Make critical decisions regarding entering contracts, negotiating pricing/terms, signing agreements and committing capital
• Procurement Sourcing & Commercial Execution
• Lead the full source-to-contract lifecycle, including:
• Category market intelligence, supplier landscape analysis, and technology roadmaps
• Supplier segmentation, dual/multi-source strategies, and ecosystem partnerships
• RFP/RFQ execution, commercial structuring, and complex negotiations
• Contract development, execution, and ongoing lifecycle management
• Develop and maintain should-cost models, TCO analyses, and competitive benchmarks across compute, networking, storage, and rack-level solutions to assess pricing, commercial terms, and supply strategies versus industry peers
• Support rapid-scale deployments by aligning procurement strategies with cluster-level and rack-scale build requirements, including factory integration, testing, and logistics
• Stakeholder & Supplier Management
• Partner closely with engineering, infrastructure, architecture, data center design, finance, legal, and operations teams to align sourcing strategies with technical roadmaps, capacity planning, and deployment timelines
• Identify, assess, and mitigate supply, capacity, geopolitical, and technology risks, including vendor concentration, roadmap dependencies, allocation constraints, and macroeconomic impacts
• Secure capacity commitments, allocation agreements, and strategic supply assurances with key suppliers
• Drive supplier performance management, including delivery assurance, quality, capacity, innovation alignment, and roadmap transparency
• Influence suppliers to co-invest in next-generation infrastructure, advanced cooling, and performance-optimized designs
• Operate effectively in highly complex, multi-entity and global environments, coordinating across regions, business units, and legal entities
• Provide executive-level insights on market conditions, supply risks, and technology inflection points

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, with a strong preference for Supply Chain Management, Operations, Engineering, Business, or a related field
• 8-10 years of experience in category management, strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain management
• Proven experience managing large-scale infrastructure spend ($500M–$1B+)
• Deep understanding of HPC and AI data center infrastructure, including GPUs/accelerators, compute platforms, high-speed networking, storage systems, and rack-scale designs
• Strong background in supply chain strategy for long lead-time, high-demand hardware
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, high-stakes commercial negotiations and execute enterprise-level contracts
• Experience operating in fast-paced, high-growth, and dynamic environments
• Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and executive-level influence

Qualifications

• Category management or supply chain certifications (e.g., CPSM, CSCP, CPM, CIPS, or equivalent)
• Experience supporting hyperscale, AI, cloud, or HPC infrastructure deployments
• Familiarity with latest-generation GPU ecosystems, interconnect technologies, and advanced cooling architectures
• Proven success working within matrixed, multi-entity, or global organizations
• Strong analytical capabilities, including cost modeling, benchmarking, market intelligence, and capacity forecasting

Benefits & Perks

• Company-Paid Lunch Stipend: Lunch is provided via GrubHub
• Company-Paid Benefits: 100% Employer-Paid Medical in our High Deductible Health Plan, Dental and Vision benefits for employees and their families, 16 weeks of Paid Parental Leave, Employee Assistance Program, Life insurance, Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability
• 401(k): Company will match 100% of your contributions up to 6%
• Optional Employee-Paid Benefits: Medical insurance in our PPO plan and a variety of other benefits such as Health Savings Accounts (with Company Contribution!), Flexible Spending Accounts, Supplemental Life Insurance, Wellhub and more
• Time Off: 25 days of Paid Time Off plus 12 company holidays
• EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER NORTHMARK STRATEGIES LLC IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. THE COMPANY'S POLICY IS NOT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY APPLICANT OR EMPLOYEE BASED ON RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, GENDER, AGE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, MARITAL STATUS, MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY, AND GENETIC INFORMATION, OR ANY OTHER BASIS PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. THE FIRM ALSO PROHIBITS HARASSMENT OF APPLICANTS OR EMPLOYEES BASED ON ANY OF THESE PROTECTED CATEGORIES.