Job Details

Senior Supply Chain Manager

Location: San Leandro, CA

About the Company

Our client is a Series A startup building robots that build solar farms. This is a fast-moving company, which means constant opportunities for learning and growth. You'll have a large impact on the direction of the company, and will be compensated accordingly. The company is MIT-founded and backed by top generalist and climate tech investors, including Energy Impact Partners, Founders Fund, Lux Capital, and Y Combinator (S21). If you are excited to work on interesting problems with direct climate impact, you're going to fit right in with this team.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive end-to-end supply chain strategy for hardware/robotic systems, balancing cost, quality, delivery, and risk across custom and off-the-shelf component inputs
• Build, maintain, and continuously improve the company's Bill of Materials; implement should-cost/clean-sheet models; drive PPV tracking and BOM roll-ups that tie to finance
• Preempt supply chain bottlenecks by proactively planning for future system builds
• •Identify and mitigate risk across the supply base (single-source, geopolitical, commodity volatility); create continuity plans and buffer strategies aligned to program schedules
• •Develop and execute category strategies, multi-source/dual-source critical parts, and negotiate capacity reservations, LTAs, and commercial terms
• •Drive down cost and lead time via creative sourcing, contract structure, and negotiation
• Help build a high-performing team covering procurement, vendor management, expediting/execution, receiving, and accounts payable
• •Stand up scalable supplier management: scorecards, reviews, corrective actions, and supplier development to improve OTD and cost
• •Continuously improve accounts payable processes: vendor onboarding, COIs/W-9s, credit/terms, POs, receiving
• •Coordinate closely with finance to manage equipment lease processes without slowing procurement
• Partner tightly with Design, Manufacturing, and Field Ops to flow R&D ? production: integrate DFM/DFA and ECOs; ensure part readiness and ramp capacity
• Establish the operating system for materials: demand planning, MRP, and inventory policies (cycle counts, location control, kitting), and logistics strategy

Required Qualifications

• Operate effectively in the fast-paced environment of a rapidly growing startup, with technical aptitude and excellent written and verbal communication
• Feel energized by a mission to accelerate the clean energy transition through automation
• Bring 5+ years in hardware/industrial/manufacturing supply chain roles, including 2+ years leading teams with measurable cost, delivery, and quality outcomes
• Are a strategic supply chain leader who is equally comfortable building the long-term architecture and diving into the BOM to find dollar-level savings
• Have deep experience with BOM costing across mechanical and electrical categories (fabrications, machining, harnesses, purchased assemblies)
• Are a sharp negotiator who can structure LTAs, capacity reservations, and pricing mechanisms that survive scale-up and market swings
• Build clear processes and simple, scalable systems, owning data quality and driving disciplined S&OP/MRP execution
• Are fluent with ERP/MRP and source-to-pay concepts (items, AVL, lead times, safety stock, three-way match, receiving) and comfortable partnering with Finance on reconciliations and cash forecasting
• Translate engineering changes into material plans and supplier actions; you understand ECOs, DFM/DFA, and the realities of prototype ? production ramp
• Are based in or can relocate to the SF Bay Area

Preferred Qualifications

• Have scaled a supply chain function from one to n production for complex mechanical systems
• Have experience with complex industrial robotics/automation assemblies, and/or very large-scale components
• Have worked with MES/PLM/AP systems (e.g., ION, Silkline) and understand how to keep item and revision data in sync across engineering and ERP
• Have experience managing and helping build a team
• Have implemented VMI/consignment and/or kanban; understand import/export logistics and incoterms
• Are comfortable modeling in Excel (costed BOMs, PPV, sensitivity) and presenting insights to executives and the board

Compensation

Base pay is one element of the Total Rewards package which will also include comprehensive benefits and equity. The annual base salary range for this position is from $130,000 - 180,000. The actual base pay offered will be determined on factors such as years of relevant experience, skills, education, etc.

Equal Opportunity Employer - From the Company

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Berkner Group has been retained to execute this search. If you were contacted by Berkner Group, please reply to the person who contacted you. If you are applying to a job posting, please email your resume and a brief introduction to ...@berknergroup.com. Please include your name and the title for this position ([Your name] - Sr. Supply Chain Manager - 7X4VW9W5) in the subject line of your email. We look forward to hearing from you!