Strategic Sourcing Lead (Aerospace & Defense)

FRONTGRADE TECHNOLOGIES

$100K — $130K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Minimum six (6) years of experience in commodity strategies, strategic sourcing, or supply chain management for electronics manufacturing.
  • Experience in aerospace, defense, or other regulated industries.
  • Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a relevant field with sourcing experience.
  • Proven ownership of an electronic component commodity portfolio, including strategy and supplier agreements.
  • Success in developing preferred supplier networks and leading supplier consolidation initiatives.
  • Ability to balance cost, technology, risk, and quality in sourcing decisions while influencing design decisions.
  • Strong negotiation skills with a solid understanding of supplier cost structures.

Responsibilities

  • Own the commodity strategy for electronic component portfolios, ensuring supply continuity and commercial success.
  • Develop multi-year commodity roadmaps based on technology trends and market intelligence.
  • Optimize preferred supplier portfolios through segmentation and development strategies.
  • Lead all aspects of supplier management, from identification to ongoing evaluation and relations.
  • Establish strategic partnerships with key suppliers through negotiations and long-term agreements.
  • Drive value engineering initiatives that reduce costs and enhance total cost of ownership.
  • Collaborate across teams to influence sourcing decisions and initiate design-for-cost changes.

Benefits

  • Immediate Medical (FSA and HSA), Dental, and Vision coverage.
  • 401K Match with 100% immediate vesting.
  • 9X80 compressed work schedule available for qualifying roles.
  • Career opportunities and growth potential.
  • Tuition Reimbursement and Student Loan Repayment available.
  • Generous PTO policy with 11 paid Holidays per year.
  • 8 weeks of 100% Paid Family Leave.
Full Job Description
Job Description

The Strategic Sourcing Lead owns the long-term commodity strategy for assigned electronic components and electronic assemblies, including circuit card assemblies (CCAs), printed wiring boards (PWBs), and printed circuit boards (PCBs). Serving as the strategic owner of assigned commodity portfolios, this role develops and executes multi-year sourcing strategies, builds and optimizes preferred supplier portfolios, and drives competitive advantage through supplier selection, supplier development, commercial strategy, and total cost optimization. Working cross-functionally with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and executive leadership, the Strategic Sourcing Lead develops sourcing roadmaps that strengthen supply continuity, technology alignment, supplier performance, and long-term business value within a highly regulated aerospace and defense manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the strategic business owner for assigned electronic component commodity portfolios, with accountability for commodity strategy, preferred supplier portfolio development, commercial strategy, supplier performance, and long-term supply continuity.
  • Develop commodity roadmaps informed by technology trends, supplier capabilities, market intelligence, geopolitical risks, and business growth objectives.
  • Build and optimize a preferred supplier portfolio through supplier segmentation, supplier rationalization, supplier development, and long-term partnership strategies.
  • Lead supplier identification, evaluation, selection, qualification, onboarding, and ongoing strategic supplier management.
  • Develop strategic supplier partnerships through executive engagement, commercial negotiations, long-term supply agreements (LTAs), pricing frameworks, capacity agreements, supplier business reviews, and joint technology planning.
  • Lead value engineering, should-cost, and commercial initiatives that achieve measurable cost reduction, deflation, and total cost of ownership improvements.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Operations, Planning, and Program Management to influence sourcing decisions and design-for-cost initiatives.
  • Monitor supplier markets, technology trends, capacity constraints, and geopolitical developments to proactively evolve commodity strategies.
  • Develop sourcing strategies that support long product lifecycles, component obsolescence mitigation, and supply continuity for aerospace and defense programs.
  • Track supplier performance through KPIs and drive continuous improvement, risk mitigation, and sourcing process standardization.


Qualifications

  • Minimum six (6) years of experience developing commodity strategies, strategic sourcing, category management, supplier development, or strategic supply chain management supporting electronics manufacturing.
  • Experience in aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated industries
  • Bachelor's Degree: Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related degrees considered with demonstrated technical sourcing experience
  • Demonstrated ownership of an electronic component commodity portfolio, including development of commodity strategies, preferred supplier networks, and long-term commercial agreements across one or more manufacturing sites.
  • Demonstrated success developing preferred supplier portfolios and supplier segmentation strategies, leading supplier rationalization and consolidation initiatives.
  • Experience balancing cost, technology, risk, capacity, and quality in sourcing decisions, influencing engineering design decisions through supplier and commodity strategy.
  • Proven ability to operate independently and deliver results with limited oversight
  • Ability to engage credibly with engineering teams on cost drivers, manufacturability, and design tradeoffs
  • Strong understanding of supplier cost structures, negotiation strategies, and long-term agreements


Other benefits include:
  • Immediate Medical (FSA and HSA), Dental, and Vision
  • 401K Match with 100% immediate vesting
  • 9X80 compressed work schedule for qualifying roles
  • Career Opportunity and Growth
  • Tuition Reimbursement/Student Loan Repayment
  • Generous PTO and 11 paid Holidays per year (9 designated holidays and 2 floating holidays)
  • 8 weeks of 100% Paid Family Leave

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