Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, engineering, business, or related field, or equivalent experience
5+ years of supply chain, procurement, or sourcing experience in aerospace, defense, or complex hardware
Experience sourcing custom and technical parts such as machined components, electronics, or composites
Working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and ITAR requirements
Strong negotiation and supplier relationship management skills
Comfortable working closely with engineers and understanding technical requirements
U.S. Person status required (ITAR) and ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance
Responsibilities
Identify, evaluate, and qualify suppliers for various components
Build key supplier relationships and negotiate pricing and terms
Establish secondary sources for critical parts
Flag long-lead and hard-to-source items early with engineering
Track supply risks and maintain mitigation plans
Support make-vs-buy decisions with relevant data
Develop sourcing plans and cost models for production transition
Partner with engineering on cost-reducing design choices
Ensure compliance with FAR, DFARS, and ITAR regulations
Define supplier quality and inspection requirements
Benefits
Build the supply chain function from scratch
Direct impact on build speed and production capacity
Work alongside founders and engineering leads
Opportunity for growth into broader operations leadership
Early equity in a rapidly growing seed-stage company
Engage in a mission with direct national security impact
Full Job Description
Supply Chain Manager - Build the supplier base behind a next-generation interceptor
El Segundo, California | On-site
Opportunity Summary
This role builds the supply chain from the ground up, from sourcing prototype parts today to supporting production of the first interceptor product. You will identify and qualify suppliers, secure long-lead and hard-to-find components, negotiate terms, and ensure purchasing meets defense requirements. You will report to the head of business operations and work closely with every engineering lead and the program manager.
Interceptors rely on specialized inputs such as energetic materials, high-performance alloys and composites, precision electronics, and sensors, many with long lead times and few qualified sources. Your work will directly determine how fast the team can build and how many units it can deliver.
Job Duties
Identify, evaluate, and qualify suppliers for machined parts, composites, electronics, sensors, energetics, and motor components
Build key supplier relationships and negotiate pricing, lead times, and terms
Establish secondary sources for critical and single-source parts
Flag long-lead and hard-to-source items early with engineering and secure them ahead of need
Track supply risks such as shortages, sole sources, and supplier issues, and maintain mitigation plans
Support make-vs-buy decisions with cost, lead time, and supplier data
Develop sourcing plans and cost models for the move from prototypes to low-rate production
Partner with engineering on design choices that reduce cost and improve availability
Ensure purchasing complies with FAR and DFARS flowdowns, specialty metals rules, counterfeit-parts prevention, and ITAR
Define supplier quality, inspection, and documentation requirements with engineering
Stand up scalable purchasing, inventory, and supplier management processes and tools
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, engineering, business, or a related field, or equivalent experience
5+ years of supply chain, procurement, or sourcing experience in aerospace, defense, or complex hardware
Experience sourcing custom and technical parts such as machined components, electronics, or composites
Working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and ITAR requirements
Strong negotiation and supplier relationship management skills
Comfortable working closely with engineers and understanding technical requirements
U.S. Person status required (ITAR) and ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance
Preferred Experience
Missile, rocket, or munitions supply chains, including energetic materials
Scaling hardware from prototype to production
Supplier quality systems such as AS9100
ERP or purchasing system implementation
Managing a small team
Prior early-stage startup experience
Why Join Us
Build the supply chain function from scratch
Direct impact on build speed and production capacity
Work alongside the founders, engineering leads, and program management
Room to grow into a broader operations leadership role
Early equity in a seed-stage company with a rapidly growing team
