Senior Manager, Procurement

About EpirusEpirus designs and builds cutting-edge, high-powered microwave (HPM) systems that are redefining the capabilities of directed energy technology. With a proven foothold in the defense industry and expansion into adjacent commercial markets, we are transitioning from early production into scalable, high-rate manufacturing.The Senior Manager, Procurement is a high-visibility, cross-functional leader responsible for defining and executing procurement strategy, strengthening supplier performance, and building scalable supply chain processes across both commercial and government programs. This role operates at the intersection of engineering, manufacturing, contracts, legal, program management, finance, and quality. The leader will be responsible for building procurement capabilities that can support rapid growth, increasing production complexity, and evolving regulatory requirements. The ideal candidate is a strategic operator who can translate company objectives into disciplined execution, confidently drive cross-functional alignment, and make sound trade-offs in high-pressure environments where demand signals, design maturity, and production readiness may be imperfect. This position requires exceptional business judgment, strong communication skills, and demonstrated experience operating in both defense and commercial supply chain environments.Job Summary:This role operates at the intersection of engineering, manufacturing, contracts, legal, program management, finance, and quality. The leader will be responsible for building procurement capabilities that can support rapid growth, increasing production complexity, and evolving regulatory requirements.The ideal candidate is a strategic operator who can translate company objectives into disciplined execution, confidently drive cross-functional alignment, and make sound trade-offs in high-pressure environments where demand signals, design maturity, and production readiness may be imperfect. This position requires exceptional business judgment, strong communication skills, and demonstrated experience operating in both defense and commercial supply chain environments.ResponsibilitiesCost OptimizationDevelop and execute enterprise supplier negotiation strategies across commercial and government supply basesLead multi-year cost reduction initiatives, value engineering efforts, and strategic sourcing agreementsEstablish cost control frameworks including should-cost modeling, competitive sourcing, and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysisEnsure suppliers meet cost, schedule, and performance expectations aligned to production and program requirementsDemand Fulfillment & Supply AssuranceOwn material availability strategy across production programs, ensuring alignment with engineering changes, demand signals, and production schedulesTranslate evolving or imperfect planning signals into executable procurement actions (RFQs, POs, capacity commitments)Proactively manage supplier responsiveness during demand volatility and scaling transitionsResolve supply disruptions, PO discrepancies, and invoice issues with urgency and accountabilityStrategic Sourcing & Supplier ManagementIndependently lead high-value supplier negotiations across commercial and government contracts, including pricing, lead time, capacity commitments, and long-term supply agreementsReview, draft, and negotiate complex commercial terms and conditions (T&Cs), ensuring appropriate balance of risk, liability, and performance expectationsInterpret and negotiate contract structures including IP ownership, warranty, indemnification, flow-down clauses, and FAR/DFARS requirementsPartner closely with Legal and Contracts to ensure procurement agreements are structurally sound, enforceable, and aligned with program risk postureDrive negotiation strategy across key suppliers to improve cost, reduce risk exposure, and secure priority capacity during scaling phasesCross-Functional Leadership & InfluenceServe as a primary procurement leader interfacing with Finance, Engineering, Planning, and Program ManagementDrive alignment across competing priorities, ensuring procurement decisions reflect total business impactConfidently challenge assumptions and advocate for supply chain realities using data-driven reasoning and sound judgmentEstablish clear decision frameworks and escalation paths to accelerate resolution of cross-functional trade-offsMaintain strong supplier relationships that support long-term reliability, scalability, and performanceVisibility, Reporting & SystemsDevelop procurement dashboards and KPIs covering supplier health, risk, cost performance, and delivery metricsCommunicate supply chain status, risks, and mitigation strategies to executive leadership and stakeholdersEnsure procurement operations align with company policies, audit readiness, and regulatory requirementsSupport ERP stabilization and optimization efforts during system maturation (Oracle Fusion Cloud SCM or equivalent)Leadership & Team DevelopmentLead, coach, and develop a growing procurement team (scaling from ~3 to 10 within 12 months)Establish clear operating rhythms, accountability structures, and performance expectationsBuild a culture of ownership, urgency, and disciplined executionSupport organizational scaling through workforce planning and capability developmentProcess Improvement & ComplianceDesign and standardize scalable procure-to-pay (P2P) processes that support both low-rate and high-rate productionDrive procurement system maturity, data integrity, and workflow consistencyLead readiness efforts for AS9100, CPSR, DCMA audits, and internal compliance reviewsImprove procurement tooling, automation, and reporting to increase transparency and efficiencyBasic QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field6+ years of progressive management experience leading procurement or supply chain teamsExperience operating in both commercial and regulated/government supply chain environmentsDemonstrated success managing complex supply bases supporting production or manufacturing operationsPreferred Skills and ExperienceExperience in defense, aerospace, electronics, or complex hardware manufacturing environmentsStrong understanding of FAR/DFARS, AS9100, CPSR readiness, and defense procurement frameworksExperience scaling supply chains from prototype/low-rate production into high-volume manufacturingAbility to interpret technical drawings and engineering specificationsProven success in supplier negotiations spanning both commercial and government contractsStrong vendor management experience with domestic and international suppliersDemonstrated ability to improve procurement KPIs (cost, delivery, cycle time, supplier performance)Experience implementing or optimizing ERP systems (preferably Oracle Fusion Cloud SCM or similar)Strong analytical, communication, and decision-making skills in fast-paced environmentsDeep experience leading end-to-end supplier negotiations, including both pricing and non-pricing commercial termsStrong background in reviewing and negotiating contract Terms & Conditions (T&Cs), ideally in defense, aerospace, or complex manufacturing environmentsFamiliarity with legal and contractual frameworks including FAR/DFARS, IP clauses, liability structures, and flow-down requirementsDemonstrated ability to balance commercial outcomes with legal and operational risk considerations in supplier agreementsITAR REQUIREMENTS: To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.   At Epirus, you’ll work with technical peers and great people—and get first crack at some of the defining technology challenges of our time. Here, “impossible” is just a challenge. As required by the Equal Pay Transparency Act, Epirus provides a reasonable range of minimum compensation for roles that may be hired. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and specific office location. For the state of California only, the range of starting pay for this role is: $174,700—$217,500 USD