Technical Inventory and Procurement Specialist

Technical Inventory and Procurement Specialist Austin, TX Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond. We operate at the cutting edge of embodied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better. Job Summary Our department is the heart of our testing and development—a high-energy environment where hardware and software converge. We are seeking a Technical Procurement & Inventory Specialist to lead our supply chain efforts and manage the physical lifecycle of our robotic assets. This is a senior-level hybrid role designed for a strategic thinker who can balance high-level vendor negotiations with the hands‑on organization of a technical lab. The role is a 50/50 split between Strategic Procurement and Advanced Inventory Management . As a senior member of the team, you will not only execute these tasks but also design the processes, select the tools, and mentor future junior‑to‑mid-level hires to ensure our operations scale with our technological ambitions. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Strategic Procurement & Sourcing End-to-End Purchasing: Lead the procurement of VR hardware, manipulation items, environmentals, and additional equipment. Vendor Strategy: Identify and vet global suppliers. Negotiate pricing, and delivery schedules to ensure cost-efficiency and reliability. BOM Management: Partner with Engineering leads to analyze complex Bills of Materials (BOMs), forecasting needs to prevent project bottlenecks. Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify supply chain vulnerabilities (e.g., product discontinuation) and develop alternative sourcing strategies. Budget Oversight: Manage departmental spending, providing reports to Finance and Operations on project-specific hardware costs. Advanced Inventory & Lifecycle Management Department Infrastructure: Design and maintain the physical layout and digital tracking systems for the department, ensuring 100% visibility of mission-critical assets. ERP Leadership: Serve as the power-user for our ERP/MRP systems, optimizing workflows for kitting, tracking, and auditing. Complex RMA Oversight: Manage the high-level Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) process for expensive or mission-critical failures, escalating issues with vendor engineering teams as needed. Process Standardization: Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for receiving, inspecting, and distributing hardware across the department. Auditing & Compliance: Lead regular high-stakes inventory audits and implement cycle-counting programs to maintain data integrity. Skills and Requirements Negotiation Skills: Proven track record of negotiating favorable terms with international vendors and managing high-value contracts. Technical Fluency: Ability to read technical drawings and understand hardware specifications to ensure correct part sourcing. Systems Mastery: Advanced proficiency in ERP/MRP software (e.g., NetSuite, Oracle, SAP) and data analysis tools (Excel/Google Sheets). Leadership: Experience designing workflows from scratch and a desire to mentor junior team members. Problem-Solving: A proactive mindset capable of resolving complex logistics or sourcing challenges independently. Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field. 3+ years of experience in technical procurement and inventory management, ideally in robotics, aerospace, or high-tech manufacturing. Experience in a high-growth startup or R&D environment is highly preferred. Professional certifications (e.g., CPSM, CPIM) are a significant plus. Physical Requirements Must be able to lift 25‑45 pounds at times. Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen. Mobility to move through a lab/workshop environment frequently. Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. #J-18808-Ljbffr Apptronik