Senior Manager, Supply Chain (Robot Production)

The Role

Every part that goes into our robot: who makes it, at what price, on what lead time, to what quality. You build the supplier base for production, develop domestic sources for the sub-systems that need them, and make sure the line never waits on a part. You start with a bill of materials, a design team and a few suppliers; you end with a qualified, dual-sourced supply chain that supports production with our manufacturing partner at a cost that comes down with volume.

What You'll Do

• Build the supplier base: source, qualify and manage suppliers for machined and cast structures, gears and actuators, motors, PCBAs, harnesses, shells, batteries and sensors; two sources for every critical sub-system.
• Develop domestic suppliers where the product and our customers require them, and manage the content requirements that come with selling into regulated markets.
• Own the commercial side: RFQs, should-cost and total-cost models, piece price and tooling negotiation, long-term agreements, payment and warranty terms; work with Legal on supplier agreements and with Finance on the cost roadmap.
• Sit in design reviews from the start: flag long-lead, single-source and high-risk parts before design freeze; bring supplier capability into the design.
• Own clear-to-build and the plan: every unit on the schedule has a complete kit before it starts; a rolling plan the line, the partner and the suppliers all see; capacity planning with suppliers ahead of demand; inventory accuracy and safety stock by part class.
• Own the BOM in production: cost roll-ups by phase, engineering change control with the design team and Manufacturing Engineering, cost-down from pilot to volume.
• Build the supplier quality loop with Manufacturing Engineering and Quality: first article and PPAP where it applies, incoming inspection, supplier scorecards and quarterly reviews, corrective action and recovery.
• Run logistics: inbound, between our facility and our partner's, import and export paperwork with Legal, spares and service parts.
• Stand up the systems as we grow: part numbering, BOM control, MRP, supplier portal; the weekly numbers (clear-to-build, on-time delivery, PPV, inventory) and the readout to leadership.

What We Are Looking for

• You have built a supplier base for a hardware product going into production, not managed one handed to you.
• Deep experience with machined and cast metal parts, gears or actuators, motors, PCBAs and harnesses, and the suppliers who make them; you read drawings and GD&T.
• You have developed new suppliers in new regions and qualified them to a standard.
• Strong commercial record: you have negotiated price, tooling and terms with suppliers and contract manufacturers and closed long-term agreements.
• You are fluent in BOMs, change control, should-cost and cost roll-ups, and comfortable with the people who design the product.
• 8 or more years in supply chain, sourcing or supplier development for complex hardware, with time in a mature organization so you know what the systems look like at scale, and experience leading people; engineering degree preferred.
• Bonus: robotics or automotive; contract manufacturer selection and transition; import and export compliance; APICS or CPSM.

Working Conditions

Office and production environments; travel to suppliers and partner sites, including international, up to 30%.

How We Work

We are always looking for people who are driven to work on hard problems and want to shape what the world will look like in ten years. A few of the values that guide us:

• Limitless ambition. We hold ourselves to the highest bar in everything we build.
• Relentless urgency. Iterate faster, learn faster. Time is the denominator.
• Type-2 Fun. Take the work seriously, not yourself. Embrace the grind and find joy in the struggle.
• Radical transparency. Candid communication builds trust, and direct feedback drives growth.
• Multiculturalism. We come from across the world. Be curious. Meet people on their terms.
• Team over ego. Help others, share context, and win as a team.
• A joyful journey. We take pride in the craft, enjoy the ride, and make space to laugh. Happiness is part of how we get there.