Material Planning & Supply Chain Operations

About the role

We are seeking a hands-on leader to own and scale material planning and supply chain operations in a fast-paced hardware environment. This role is for someone who can lead both strategically and operationally, building the planning foundation needed to support NPI, production ramp, and ongoing supply continuity.

This person will lead material planning across complex hardware products and serve as the central link between engineering, operations, and finance. The ideal candidate brings strong experience in silicon planning, supply planning, demand alignment, long-lead material readiness, and execution in constrained environments.


What you'll do

• Own material planning strategy and execution across prototype, NPI, ramp, and mass production stages.
• Lead planning for silicon and other long-lead components, including forecasts, allocation planning, supply commitments, and readiness for production builds.
• Build and manage material plans tied to demand forecasts, production schedules, inventory targets, and capacity constraints.
• Partner closely with engineering, operations, and finance to ensure BOM readiness, ECO alignment, and on-time material availability.
• Drive supply planning for critical components, with a strong focus on semiconductor-related parts and complex multi-tier supply chains.
• Establish planning processes for material availability, shortage management, escalation handling, and recovery plans.
• Work with suppliers, contract manufacturers, and internal stakeholders to balance cost, lead time, inventory, and continuity of supply.
• Monitor and communicate key planning signals, including upside/downside demand changes, supply risk, inventory exposure, and build readiness.
• Lead cross-functional resolution of material constraints affecting prototypes, qualification builds, production ramp, or customer deliveries.
• Improve planning systems, reporting, and operating cadence to support scale, predictability, and executive visibility.
• Prepare clear, data-driven updates for leadership on supply status, material risk, and planning recommendations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in material planning, supply planning, operations, or supply chain within complex hardware environments at high-technology companies is required.
• Strong experience with silicon planning / semiconductor supply planning, including long-lead materials, constrained supply, allocation, and ramp support.
• Proven track record leading material readiness for products that combine silicon, sensors, optics, electronics, and embedded systems.
• Background in semiconductors, electronics, robotics, autonomous systems, or other advanced hardware products.
• Hands-on experience with BOMs, MRP/material planning, inventory strategy, demand/supply balancing, and production scheduling.
• Strong understanding of supplier management, contract manufacturing, and global supply chain execution.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, sourcing, operations, manufacturing, finance, and quality teams.
• Strong analytical skills and high attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present supply status, risks, and tradeoffs to senior leadership.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving environment with ambiguity, high ownership, and changing priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with silicon vendors, semiconductor packaging/test flows, or supply chains involving custom silicon.
• Strong shortage management and recovery planning experience in constrained supply environments.
• Experience building planning processes and tools in a startup or high-growth company.
• Comfort switching between executive-level planning and hands-on day-to-day execution.

Benefits (subject to location and local regulations)

• Competitive salary and equity
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Flexible vacation and time-off policy
• Collaborative, fast-paced, and inclusive work environment
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies with a highly cross-functional team

About Lyte

Lyte builds perception systems for Physical AI operating in complex environments. The company combines custom silicon, integrated sensors, and software into a unified platform for robotics, mobility, and next-generation automation. Lyte is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with a global presence. For more information, visit

If you're excited about building impactful technology in a dynamic, hands-on environment, we'd love to hear from you!

The pay range for this role is:

130,000 - 230,000 USD per year (Bay Area, CA)