Supply Chain Director

Supply Chain Manager (Procurement) | Advanced Manufacturing Startup | Greater Los Angeles Our client is a well-funded, venture-backed deep tech company building next-generation manufacturing technology for industrial applications. The company operates a vertically integrated facility combining R&D, technology development, and production under one roof, and is entering a rapid scaling phase. This is the company's first dedicated supply chain hire. You will own procurement end to end, stand up the supplier base, and build the systems and processes that keep engineering moving. The role is genuinely hands-on (quoting, negotiating, expediting) while also strategic: identifying the vendor relationships that matter long term, mapping risk exposure, and designing how the supply chain function scales. What You’ll Run day-to-day purchasing across all active programs: get quotes, award business, issue POs, and make sure parts, materials, and services land on time Stand up the vendor network yourself, from finding and vetting new shops to negotiating pricing and terms and deciding which relationships to invest in long term Sit inside the product development loop, advising engineers on sourcing feasibility, cost tradeoffs, and whether to build in-house or buy Shape category-level sourcing strategy for precision-machined parts, metals and raw stock, electronic assemblies, and outsourced fabrication Pressure-test the supply base for weak points (sole-source parts, extended lead times, overseas exposure) and put backup plans in place Bring analytical rigor to spend: model what parts should cost, benchmark suppliers against each other, and hold vendors to commitments on price, quality, and deliveries Help define the metrics that matter and keep leadership informed on supply chain Team up with finance and legal on vendor contracts and payment structures Write the playbook for the function, and grow into building and managing a team What You Bring Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, finance, supply chain, or operations 5+ years in procurement, strategic sourcing, or supply chain within a manufacturing-intensive environment (aerospace, defense, automotive, robotics, hardware, or similar) Hands-on technical procurement experience: machined parts, raw materials, electronics, or complex assemblies Strong negotiation track record across both small job shops and large suppliers Experience operating within ERP/MRP systems and using data to drive sourcing decisions Nice to Haves Ability to read engineering drawings, GD&T, and BOMs; credible in technical conversations with engineers and vendors. Exposure to advanced materials or novel production process Familiarity with aerospace/defense supply chains, ITAR, and AS9100 Should-cost and TCO modeling experience Strong analytical toolkit (Excel; SQL or BI tools a plus) Comfortable with ambiguity and a high volume of concurrent sourcing efforts Details Compensation up to approximately $180K base plus meaningful equity, commensurate with experience Full benefits: 100% employer-paid medical/dental/vision, 401(k), generous parental leave, daily catered meals #J-18808-Ljbffr