Sr. Operations Manager

Cerebras Systems builds the world's largest AI chip, 56 times larger than GPUs. This architecture allows Cerebras to deliver industry-leading training and inference speeds; over 10 times faster than GPU-based hyperscale cloud inference services. This order of magnitude increase in speed is transforming the user experience of AI applications, unlocking real-time iteration and increasing intelligence via additional agentic computation. Cerebras works with the leading model labs, global enterprises, and cutting-edge AI-native startups. OpenAI recently announced a multi-year partnership with Cerebras, to deploy 750 megawatts of scale, transforming key workloads with ultra high-speed inference.

About the role

The Sr. Operations Manager will lead warehouse operations, inventory control, 3PL execution, and reverse logistics inventory ownership in a fast-paced manufacturing and supply chain environment. This role connects physical material movement, warehouse readiness, partner execution, system transaction discipline, and audit-ready controls across internal warehouses, manufacturing sites, contract manufacturers, 3PLs, and partner-held inventory locations. The role strengthens inventory accuracy, cycle count governance, warehouse scalability, SOX readiness, RMA / reverse logistics execution, and exception management. Transportation, carrier management, and freight execution remain owned by Logistics; this role owns inventory movement control, transaction accuracy, system tracking, receipt confirmation, and cross-functional coordination through final receipt.

Responsibilities

• Inventory Control & Governance
  • Own the end-to-end inventory control operating model across internal warehouses, manufacturing locations, contract manufacturers, 3PLs, and partner-held inventory locations.
  • Set standards for ABC / risk-based counts, high-value inventory, exception approvals, and discrepancy closure.
  • Improve inventory practices to protect margin, reduce loss and write-offs, and strengthen perpetual accuracy.
  • Ensure physical inventory movements, ERP/WMS transactions, supporting documentation, approvals, and financial controls remain aligned.
  • Drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions for count variances, transfer discrepancies, receiving issues, RMA activity, MRB, scrap, unbuild activity, holds, aging inventory, and open exceptions.
• Warehouse Footprint & Scalability
  • Define the warehouse and inventory footprint strategy needed to support growth, inventory accuracy, and transaction discipline.
  • Evaluate internal warehouse, 3PL, partner, and contract manufacturer nodes against volume, material risk, storage needs, service levels, and controls.
  • Partner with cross-functional leaders to develop scalable warehouse processes, storage strategies, location controls, receiving protocols, inventory movement standards, and disposition workflows.
  • Identify capacity risks, process gaps, and control weaknesses that may impact inventory availability, margin, production continuity, or audit readiness.
• 3PL Partnership & Performance
  • Own 3PL operating relationships, governance cadence, performance management, issue escalation, and service-level expectations.
  • Set standards for receiving, storage, transfers, cycle counts, shipment handoffs, POD retention, exception reporting, and transaction timing.
  • Partner with 3PLs to improve inventory accuracy, reduce manual reconciliation, strengthen custody controls, and ensure audit-ready evidence retention.
  • Monitor partner performance through KPIs, scorecards, business reviews, and corrective action plans.
• RMA / Reverse Logistics Inventory
  • Own inventory control for RMA and reverse logistics movements to and from internal sites, manufacturing locations, contract manufacturers, 3PLs, and customer or field locations through final receipt and reconciliation.
  • Ensure RMA and reverse logistics movements are accurately tracked in ERP / WMS systems, including documentation, location status, custody changes, receipt confirmation, and exceptions.
  • Coordinate with Logistics, Warehouse, Manufacturing, Quality, Customer Support, Finance, 3PLs, and partner teams to ensure returned or transferred materials are received, inspected, dispositioned, and transacted accurately.
  • Logistics owns transportation execution, carrier selection, and freight management; this role owns inventory visibility, transaction accuracy, system reconciliation, and operational follow-through.
  • Drive closure of missing receipts, transaction gaps, aging RMA inventory, in-transit discrepancies, undocumented returns, and unresolved reverse logistics exceptions.
• Finance Partnership, SOX Readiness & Audit Controls
  • Partner with Finance and Accounting to ensure inventory activity supports accurate valuation, period-end close, audit evidence, and SOX readiness.
  • Define operational controls for inventory adjustments, cycle count variances, receipts, transfers, scrap, MRB, RMA, unbuild activity, and partner-held inventory.
  • Maintain audit-ready documentation for custody, receiving support, count execution, adjustment approvals, inventory movement evidence, and corrective actions.
  • Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end readiness by driving timely exception closure and reducing manual reconciliation burden.
  • Escalate control gaps, aging exceptions, missing evidence, or process noncompliance that may create financial exposure, audit risk, or inventory misstatement.
• Warehouse Operations & Process Execution
  • Lead warehouse operating standards for receiving, put-away, storage, inventory movements, staging, kitting support, shipment handoffs, and controlled disposition workflows.
  • Ensure warehouse processes are scalable, documented, consistently followed, and aligned with ERP / WMS controls.
  • Drive daily operating discipline for transaction timing, physical-to-system alignment, location accuracy, and exception follow-up.
  • Partner with Warehouse, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Finance, and Logistics teams to resolve operational blockers and improve material flow.
  • Identify and implement process improvements that reduce manual effort, improve inventory visibility, strengthen custody controls, and support manufacturing continuity.
• Systems, Reporting & Continuous Improvement
  • Partner with BIS / Systems and operational stakeholders to improve ERP / WMS workflows, reporting, dashboards, exception queues, access controls, and partner data feeds.
  • Use data to identify recurring defects, transaction lag, aging exceptions, partner performance issues, count variance trends, and inventory risk exposure.
  • Develop and monitor KPIs for inventory accuracy, cycle count completion, transaction SLA compliance, exception aging, receiving discipline, adjustment trends, and 3PL performance.
  • Lead corrective action planning and continuous improvement initiatives that address root causes rather than one-off cleanup.
  • Translate operational data into clear leadership updates, prioritization recommendations, and action plans.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in warehouse operations, inventory control, supply chain operations, manufacturing operations, 3PL management, logistics operations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading inventory control, warehouse execution, partner operations, cycle counts, discrepancy resolution, and operational process improvement.
• Strong understanding of inventory practices, including receiving, transfers, cycle counting, variance investigation, inventory adjustments, scrap, MRB, RMA / reverse logistics movements, unbuild / rebuild activity, storage controls, transaction accuracy, and physical inventory governance.
• Experience working across multiple inventory nodes such as internal warehouses, manufacturing sites, contract manufacturers, 3PLs, data centers, or external partner locations.
• Working knowledge of ERP, WMS, and operational reporting systems; NetSuite experience is strongly preferred.
• Ability to partner effectively with Finance and Accounting on inventory controls, audit evidence, SOX readiness, period-end close, and financial exposure related to inventory activity.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to convert operational data into root-cause insights, corrective actions, and leadership recommendations.
• Excellent communication, escalation, and cross-functional leadership skills, with the ability to influence internal teams and external partners without direct authority.

Qualifications

• Experience in hardware, semiconductor, electronics, data center infrastructure, contract manufacturing, or other complex technical manufacturing environments.
• Experience managing 3PL operating relationships, partner scorecards, business reviews, service-level expectations, and corrective action plans.
• Experience with SOX controls, audit readiness, segregation of duties, inventory valuation, or financial control environments.
• Experience implementing or improving ERP / WMS processes, dashboards, inventory reporting, or systematic controls; NetSuite experience is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Business, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience will be considered.
• APICS CPIM, CSCP, Lean Six Sigma, PMP, or related certification is a plus.

Key Competencies

• Operational ownership and follow-through
• Strong inventory control judgment and risk prioritization
• Analytical problem-solving and root-cause discipline
• Ability to operate in ambiguity and build scalable processes
• Cross-functional collaboration and professional conflict resolution
• Clear written and verbal communication
• Partner management and escalation discipline
• High attention to detail, documentation, and audit evidence
• Continuous improvement mindset

Success Measures

• Improved inventory record accuracy across internal, contract manufacturer, partner, and 3PL locations.
• Reduced cycle count variance aging, inventory adjustments, write-offs, and recurring discrepancy drivers.
• Improved transaction SLA adherence for receiving, transfers, inventory movements, RMA / reverse logistics, scrap, MRB, and unbuild activity.
• Improved visibility, receipt confirmation, and system transaction accuracy for materials moving to and from sites through RMA and reverse logistics workflows.
• Audit-ready documentation for inventory custody, adjustments, approvals, count execution, and corrective actions.
• Improved 3PL performance visibility through scorecards, recurring reviews, and timely corrective action closure.
• Reduced manual reconciliation burden for Finance, Operations, and Systems teams.

Pay

The base salary range for this position is $204,000 to $299,000 annually. Actual compensation may include bonus and equity, and will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, and qualifications.

Benefits

• Build a breakthrough AI platform beyond the constraints of the GPU.
• Publish and open source cutting-edge AI research.
• Work on one of the fastest AI supercomputers in the world.
• Enjoy job stability with