Materials Program Manager

Path Robotics•Columbus, OH

About The Position

Path Robotics is seeking a highly analytical and detail-oriented Materials Program Manager to drive material planning, inventory readiness, and supply chain execution as the company scales its robotic systems. The role owns demand forecasting, Bill of Materials (BOM) management, material procurement planning, and inventory optimization to ensure materials are available when and where needed. The manager works closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Finance, and Fleet Operations to improve material visibility, reduce shortages, and support production and customer deployments. The position develops material forecasts and MRP inputs; maintains standardized and production work order BOMs in the ERP/MRP system; manages BOM changes, configurations, cost and tariff roll-ups; and plans purchasing and inventory levels. It also supports fleet spare-parts and consumables planning, develops material-readiness and procurement reporting, maintains system data accuracy, and uses supply-chain and inventory analysis to identify risks and process improvements. The role may support work performed under U.S. Government contracts and requires compliance with applicable federal regulations, including FAR and DFARS where applicable. It may involve access to export-controlled information subject to ITAR and/or EAR, and handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Candidates must be able to comply with applicable U.S. export control regulations, which may include meeting the definition of a “U.S. Person” where required. Employment may be contingent upon a background check consistent with applicable requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Engineering, Business, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
5+ years of experience in materials planning, supply chain, inventory management, or manufacturing operations.
Strong understanding of MRP, demand forecasting, BOM management, and inventory planning.
Advanced Excel skills, including the ability to analyze, organize, and present complex data sets.
Experience working with ERP/MRP systems.
Ability to translate complex supply-chain data into actionable insights and business recommendations.
Strong problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail and data accuracy.
Ability to manage competing priorities and collaborate effectively across Engineering, Manufacturing, Finance, and Supply Chain teams.
Comfort operating independently and driving results in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
Ability to comply with applicable U.S. export-control regulations, which may include meeting the definition of a “U.S. Person” where required.
Successful completion of a background check may be required, consistent with applicable requirements.

Nice To Haves

NetSuite experience.
Experience in robotics, advanced manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, or industrial automation.
Familiarity with data visualization tools such as Tableau or Power BI.
Experience managing complex, configurable BOMs and engineering change processes.
Knowledge of international logistics, customs clearance, and tariff management.
Experience developing inventory optimization strategies and material-readiness reporting.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain material demand forecasts across production builds, fleet consumption, data collection initiatives, and other business needs.
Translate demand forecasts into accurate MRP inputs to support purchasing and production readiness.
Align long-term demand forecasts with suppliers to improve material availability and capacity planning.
Own and maintain standardized and production work order BOMs within the ERP/MRP system.
Partner with Engineering and cross-functional teams to manage design changes, customer-specific configurations, component substitutions, and material requirements.
Maintain accurate BOM cost and tariff roll-ups to support financial planning and procurement decisions.
Track BOM changes and discrepancies throughout the product lifecycle, from initial release through work order closure.
Generate material purchasing requirements, coordinate financial reviews, and track purchase order approvals.
Identify material shortages, analyze root causes, and partner with Supply Chain and Engineering to drive resolution.
Develop and manage safety stock and buffer inventory strategies to support production continuity.
Monitor inventory levels, excess and obsolete materials, and scrap to optimize inventory health.
Forecast fleet spare parts and consumables, track consumption, and ensure timely material availability.
Develop and improve material-readiness dashboards, clear-to-build (CTB) reports, shortage trackers, and procurement reporting.
Maintain ERP/MRP data accuracy across forecasts, BOMs, inventory, safety stock, work orders, and sales orders.
Analyze material availability, inventory trends, and supply-chain performance to identify risks and improvement opportunities.
Partner with cross-functional teams to improve planning processes, reporting tools, and operational efficiency.
Comply with applicable federal contracting, export-control, CUI, and company data-protection and confidentiality requirements relevant to the role.