Senior Manager, Sourcing and Procurement

Proper Voltage • Carlsbad, CA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Sourcing and Procurement owns the commodity strategy and supplier ecosystem for Proper Voltage’s custom mechanical components. This means building and managing supplier relationships, negotiating commercial terms, developing new sources for hard-to-find custom fabricated parts, and ensuring the company can build on schedule and at target cost as it scales from NPI to thousands of units per month.
This person sits within the supply chain team, reporting to the Director of Supply Chain, and partners closely with Engineering on design-for-sourcing decisions, with Finance on cost modeling and spend visibility, and with the VP of Supply Chain on strategic sourcing direction and production readiness. The role is the commercial owner of the mechanical supplier book, from the first RFQ through long-term supplier development.
Our manufacturing model includes contract manufacturing in Mexico with a mixed US and Asia sourcing base. The BOM includes custom-fabricated mechanical components (precision CNC aluminum, sheet metal enclosures, thermal management assemblies, flexible copper busbars), PCBA, and sodium-ion cells sourced from a novel chemistry supply base. This role’s primary focus is the custom mechanical portfolio. Electrical commodities (PCBA, power boards) will be added to the team’s scope as the function scales.
This role starts as an individual contributor. You are not inheriting a team. You will own the mechanical sourcing and procurement function personally, with the expectation that we will hire and build a team around you as the company scales. This is a role that grows with you.

Requirements

• 8+ years in strategic sourcing, procurement, or commodity management with direct ownership of supplier relationships for custom-fabricated mechanical components.
• Proven experience sourcing metals, machined parts, thermal assemblies, sheet metal, or similar mechanical categories through production scale.
• Hands-on should-cost modeling experience: ability to build total cost of ownership from raw material inputs through landed cost, and use that analysis to drive sourcing decisions and negotiations.
• Track record of building supplier ecosystems from early-stage through production scale, not just managing inherited vendor books.
• Strong commercial instincts with the ability to identify cost reduction pathways and negotiate complex agreements.
• Ability to operate independently, set priorities without a defined playbook, and move fast from incomplete or fuzzy requirements. Demonstrated experience identifying and proactively mitigating supply risks, including single-source exposure, capacity constraints, and long lead time items.

Nice To Haves

• Asia sourcing experience with on-site supplier visits and direct commercial negotiations in China, Southeast Asia, or similar markets.
• Experience in battery, energy storage, or adjacent hardware categories (power electronics, EV, BESS, UPS).
• An existing network of trusted fabricators and mechanical component suppliers that can be activated quickly.
• Familiarity with Mexico cross-border manufacturing or IMMEX program structures.
• Multilingual capability: Mandarin, Spanish, or other languages relevant to the supplier base.
• Early-stage startup experience building sourcing functions from zero.
• Experience attracting, hiring, and building high-performing sourcing and procurement teams as a function scales.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end commodity strategy for custom mechanical components: precision CNC aluminum, sheet metal, thermal management assemblies, and flexible copper busbars.
• Build and qualify a production-ready supplier base for components currently on prototype pricing or single-source risk.
• Develop new supplier relationships in North America and Asia, including on-site factory visits, qualification audits, and performance frameworks.
• Drive should-cost modeling and total cost of ownership analysis across the mechanical BOM: raw material pricing, tooling, NRE, lead times, MOQs, and freight-inclusive landed cost.
• Lead all supplier negotiations for mechanical commodities: pricing, payment terms, lead times, tooling and NRE structure, warranties, and supply agreements.
• Issue and manage RFQs from technical package through quote normalization, scorecard, and selection recommendation.
• Build clean cost narratives and trade-offs to support decisions with engineering, finance, and leadership.
• Partner with Engineering during NPI to source custom mechanical components ahead of build events, manage long-lead items, and ensure material readiness for prototype and pilot builds.
• Translate evolving and sometimes incomplete design requirements into supplier actions. Move early on directional quotes and supplier engagement even when specs are still being finalized, and manage changes without disrupting supply commitments where possible.
• Monitor supply risk across the mechanical BOM: track single-source dependencies, supplier capacity constraints, long lead time items, and material availability. Qualify alternate suppliers proactively and raise flags early rather than reacting to shortages after they hit.
• Build the supplier operating rhythm: performance reviews, corrective action processes, and escalation paths.
• Partner closely with the VP of Supply Chain on strategic sourcing direction, and with the Director of Supply Chain on production readiness and build planning.

Benefits

• Competitive cash compensation plus equity, depending on level and location.
• Company Equity
• Health, dental, vision insurance
• Flexible PTO with a generous holiday policy
• Remote-friendly with monthly travel to Carlsbad, CA and periodic international supplier visits, including potentially to Mexico.

What This Job Offers

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