DescriptionJob Title: Director, Supply Chain and Manufacturing OperationsJob Location: San Jose, CA (This position requires a full-time, on-site presence in our San Jose, CA office) Job ID: AI2556 Job Description SiMa.ai is seeking a
Director, Supply Chain & Manufacturing Operations to own end-to-end hardware supply, from demand and supply planning and sourcing through all EMS/ODM manufacturing engagement, fulfillment, and sustaining operations, and to build and lead the team. This role will sit in Operations, partner closely with Engineering, HW, Product, and Finance, and will be accountable for delivering product on time, at target cost, and at the right quality while managing risk (LTs, NCNR, export, multi-year buys). Ideal for someone who has scaled an early-stage semiconductor / system company and isn't afraid to work at both strategy and spreadsheet level.
Key Responsibilities:
Areas of focus and key responsibilities (include, but not limited to): What You'll Do- Team Leadership
- Build and lead the supply chain and manufacturing operations team (planning, sourcing, materials and inventory control); set KPIs (on-time delivery, inventory accuracy, turns, cost) and operating cadence.
- Own Sales & Operations Planning / Demand-Supply Alignment
- Consolidate customer, program, and internal build plans into a single view of demand.
- Run monthly/quarterly supply reviews; drive scenario planning for upside, push-outs, and constrained parts.
- Translate design/NPI ramps into material and capacity plans.
- Sourcing, Material & Supplier Management
- Manage end-to-end material lifecycle for MLSoC, SoM/board-level products, and accessories (heatsinks, cables, enclosures, eval kits).
- Lead strategic sourcing and manage foundry/OSAT/packaging/PCB/PCBA/ODM/CM partners (RFQs, should-cost, dual-sourcing, supplier selection with Quality); negotiate pricing, terms, supply agreements, and NCNR protections.
- Drive supplier scorecards, QBRs, and continuous improvement.
- Contract Manufacturing / EMS & ODM Execution
- Lead all engagement with EMS/ODM partners for product manufacturing: selection, manufacturing agreements, NPI transfer, capacity, and business reviews.
- Own day-to-day interfaces with CMs/EMS/ODMs: MPS, WIP visibility, upside asks, expedites, DOAs/RMAs.
- Own manufacturing work orders and all inventory transactions in the ERP system: receipts, transfers, component consumption, production completions, returns, and shipments; control all materials and inventory across CM and SiMa.ai locations.
- Ensure accurate BOMs, AVL, and rev control flow from Engineering to manufacturing.
- Drive yields, rework strategies, and RMA/FA loops back into design and test.
- Risk, Readiness & Compliance
- Build and maintain a rolling 6-18 month supply strategy to support customer evaluations, pilots, and production.
- Proactively mitigate supply constraints with fabs, OSATs, and other suppliers (LTA parts, PMICs, memories, etc.).
- Ensure export control, trade compliance, and country-of-origin/customer-specific requirements.
- Cost & Operations Analytics
- Track and report COGS, PPV, MOQ/MLQ exposure, inventory turns, and material liability.
- Recommend multi-quarter buys, buffer strategies, and SERV/insurance-aligned NCNR structures to de-risk demand variability.
- Partner with Finance and Sales on PO cadence, accruals, and revenue-enable dates; support month-end inventory reconciliation, with Accounting owning costing, valuation, and review of inventory adjustments.
- ERP, Process & Tools
- Own and scale SiMa.ai's ERP/MRP platform (requirements, system selection, and implementation as the business grows), covering MRP, purchasing, inventory, work orders, and RMA, with integration to PLM and Finance; own process design, data migration, and user adoption.
- Define and document scalable processes for NPI → volume → sustaining.
- Drive ISO/QMS-oriented discipline in Operations, in partnership with Quality.
- Travel up to 20%, including EMS/ODM sites in Asia
Required Background: - Bachelor's in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or related field with 10-15+ years in hardware supply chain / operations roles, ideally in semiconductor, edge/embedded, or high-mix electronics; 5+ years building and managing teams.
- Proven experience running CM/EMS/ODM production and closing the loop between Engineering, Ops, and the factory.
- Strong fluency in BOMs, AVL, ECOs, lead times, NCNR, LTAs, multi-quarter material strategies, and inventory control (work orders, cycle counts, consigned inventory at CMs).
- Demonstrated success in demand/supply planning in a low-volume, high-mix, rapidly changing environment.
- Comfortable negotiating with suppliers on price, terms, liability, and upside flexibility; experience leading RFQs, cost modeling, and supplier selection.
- Hands-on experience implementing and scaling ERP/MRP systems at a hardware company (e.g., NetSuite, Fishbowl)
- Data-first mindset; advanced Excel/Sheets; bonus for SQL/analytics.
- Excellent cross-functional communication; able to translate operations constraints to Execs, Sales, and Engineering.
- Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills
- Fluent in English
Personal Attributes - Can-do attitude with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
- Strong team player who collaborates effectively across functions.
- Curious, creative, and resourceful problem solver.
- Execution- and results-oriented.
- Self-driven and proactive.
- Thinks strategically and takes a broader business perspective.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Highly accountable with a strong commitment to delivering results.
The annual salary for this position ranges from $196,435 - $304,470. The actual annual salary offered will depend on several factors, including - among others - job-related skills, experience, technical expertise, qualifications, work location, and business needs. The annual salary range for this position is subject to change and may be adjusted in the future.
In addition to base salary, this role is also eligible for private company equity, and a comprehensive package of employee benefits. Please note that the salary ranges listed for U.S. roles reflect base salary only and do not include equity or other forms of compensation.
