Supply Chain Manager

Why Now

We're moving from tens of units a year to hundreds, with more scale to follow. Over the next 18 months, that means:

• Building a vendor network that can scale with us — fabrication, brazing, coatings, electronics.
• Replacing ad hoc purchasing with real procurement processes and controls.
• Tightening inventory accuracy and reducing shortages as order volume grows.
• Hitting delivery and cost targets as the design and vendor base both mature.
• Reducing supply risk on critical components before it becomes a production problem.

What You'll Do

• Manage the vendor network:
• Source, qualify, and manage vendors across fabrication, brazing, coatings, and electronics.
• Negotiate pricing and contracts, track performance, and build vendor relationships that hold up under pressure, not just on paper.
• Own inventory management and controls:
• Set and maintain inventory policies — stocking levels, reorder points, cycle counts — that keep production supplied without tying up cash in excess parts.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies before they become shortages.
• Run procurement operations:
• Manage purchase orders end to end: issuing, tracking, and reconciling against invoices and receipts.
• Build a procurement process that's fast enough for a startup and disciplined enough to scale.
• Reduce supply chain risk:
• Diversify the vendor base for critical components so one supplier problem doesn't stop the line.
• Build contingency plans for long-lead-time or single-source parts.
• Drive vendor quality and accountability:
• Set quality and delivery standards with vendors, track performance against them, and run regular vendor reviews.
• Escalate and resolve issues before they hit production.
• Partner across the business:
• Work closely with manufacturing to align supply with production schedules.
• Work closely with R&D on sourcing for new components.
• Work closely with finance on cost tracking and forecasting.

What You Bring

• Must-haves:
• BS in Supply Chain Management or Engineering with relevant experience 3+ years in supply chain, procurement, or vendor management, ideally in a manufacturing environment.
• A proven track record sourcing, qualifying, and managing vendors — from initial sourcing through ongoing relationship management.
• Hands-on experience with inventory management and controls (stocking levels, cycle counts, reconciliation).
• Comfort managing purchase orders, invoices, and procurement processes in a fast-moving environment.
• Strong negotiation skills and a track record of managing cost without sacrificing quality or delivery.
• Comfort making calls with incomplete information.
• Nice-to-haves:
• Startup experience (20–200 people).
• Experience in advanced batteries, aerospace, optics, photonics, semiconductor, or other precision or specialty manufacturing.
• Knowledge of any of the following: brazing, welding, high temperature materials, advanced ceramics, optomechanical systems, optical coatings, vacuum systems, semiconductors, microfabrication, and semiconductor packaging.
• Familiarity with supplier quality management and performance metrics.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary, commensurate with experience.
• Equity.
• Health, dental, vision.
• PTO.