Senior Direct Procurement Manager, Compute

Groq • Worth, IL

80d • $127,500 - $208,700 • Hybrid

About The Position

Groq is hiring a Senior Direct Procurement Manager to own and scale procurement for compute hardware supporting its deployments. The role covers GPUs, LPXs and other AI accelerators and platforms, compute servers and nodes, CPUs, memory, and related components. The manager will develop sourcing strategies, secure supply allocation, improve supply resilience, and execute purchasing against the capacity plan, partnering with Engineering and Finance to create repeatable procurement frameworks. The role also coordinates with VARs and OEMs so compute procurement aligns with networking, storage, and site infrastructure needs.

The position is based in the Dallas, San Francisco, or New York City area. It may be performed remotely while Groq establishes a local office, with the expectation that it will transition to onsite work once the office opens.

This is currently an individual-contributor role with a path to building a team. The role requires both strategic category ownership and hands-on purchasing execution, including supplier negotiations, agreements, forecasting, procurement systems, inbound logistics, and spares and warranty processes. Compensation is listed by level: Sr./Lead (IC), $127,500–$172,500 total cash; Staff/Manager (IC), $154,300–$208,700 total cash. The ranges include potential bonus value, vary by location and qualifications, and apply to U.S.-based candidates. Groq also offers a Long-Term Incentive Program and employee benefits.

Requirements

• Deep experience in direct procurement, strategic sourcing, commodity management, or supply chain supporting technically complex compute hardware.
• Direct category experience sourcing GPUs or other AI accelerators and compute servers, with a strong understanding of the accelerator market, silicon vendors, and OEM/ODM supplier landscapes.
• Strong understanding of supplier management, lead times, allocation, multi-sourcing, and supply continuity for constrained components, including semiconductor supply chain dynamics.
• Track record negotiating large, multi-million-dollar supply and allocation agreements with silicon vendors, OEMs, or ODMs.
• Experience managing CapEx purchasing and executing against complex hardware deployment plans.
• Ability to translate engineering requirements, qualification cycles, and bills of materials into sourcing strategies and procurement actions.
• Ability to build scalable frameworks and long-term sourcing strategies while remaining highly engaged in day-to-day execution.
• Strong cross-functional partnership skills with Engineering, Operations, Finance, and other technical stakeholders.
• Commercial rigor and sound judgment around cost, supplier risk, lead time, and sourcing tradeoffs.
• High ownership and accountability, including ability to drive procurement work from ambiguous requirements through execution.
• Comfort operating in a fast-paced environment where deployment needs, supply conditions, and priorities can change quickly.
• Clear and concise communication skills and ability to influence technical and business stakeholders.
• Must be based in the Dallas, San Francisco, or New York City area.
• Must transition to onsite work once the local Groq office opens.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with a systems integrator or channel partner.
• Familiarity with networking, storage, and data center infrastructure.
• Experience at a hyperscaler, cloud or AI infrastructure company, semiconductor company, OEM/ODM, or another capital-intensive technical environment.

Responsibilities

• Own procurement for compute hardware, including GPUs, LPXs and other AI accelerators and platforms, compute servers and nodes, CPUs, memory, and related components and bills of materials.
• Lead commercial strategy and negotiate with accelerator vendors, OEMs, ODMs, and system integrators on pricing, allocation commitments, delivery schedules, and roadmap access.
• Partner with Legal to negotiate and execute MSAs, supply and allocation agreements, SOWs, purchase and warranty terms, NDAs, and amendments.
• Develop sourcing strategies for constrained compute components, including lead-time management, allocation planning, supplier diversification, and multi-sourcing across silicon vendors and system builders.
• Monitor the compute market, including pricing, lead times, product generations, and custom silicon, and translate market information into sourcing decisions that protect cost, schedule, and unit economics.
• Translate the capacity plan into a purchasing plan and maintain a recurring forecasting cadence with Finance and Engineering to convert site sequencing and capacity targets into purchase orders, lead-time commitments, and cash timing.
• Serve as the primary procurement business partner to Hardware and Systems Engineering, translating technical requirements, qualification cycles, and product roadmaps into sourcing and purchasing strategies; act as procurement counterpart to Data Center Strategy on compute requirements for new sites.
• Partner with Engineering to standardize compute configurations and establish repeatable deployment bills of materials.
• Own day-to-day procurement execution in Zip and NetSuite, including purchase requests, purchase order creation and management, approvals, order tracking, and accurate purchasing data and workflows.
• Own inbound logistics for the category, including freight, customs, import/export controls, tariff exposure, and delivery sequencing.
• Work with the Direct Procurement team to develop and implement a compute hardware spares strategy, defining spare levels with Engineering, establishing stocking locations and replenishment policies, and managing supplier RMA and warranty processes.
• Manage relationships with VARs and OEMs supporting procurement across compute and infrastructure categories, aligning orders with customer commitments, data center availability, and cash needs.
• Identify supply, cost, and lead-time risks and drive mitigation plans with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Build and improve the frameworks, processes, supplier strategies, and operating mechanisms needed to scale the category while remaining hands-on in day-to-day execution.

Benefits

• Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Program.
• Robust suite of employee benefits.
• Total cash compensation incorporates potential bonus value directly into base pay.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed