Senior Strategic Sourcing Manager – Engineering Software, IP & R&D Services

Western Digital • San Jose, CA

18h

About The Position

The Senior Strategic Sourcing Manager – Engineering Software, IP & R&D Services will perform sourcing and contract-related activities for R&D and Engineering teams at Western Digital. This role requires extensive knowledge and experience in software/IP licensing (specifically engineering EDA SW for ASIC/FPGA development) and Engineering Development Services. The manager will support business owners in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, ensuring competitive advantage through strategic sourcing support. Key responsibilities include driving improvements in cost, quality, deliverables, and cycle-time, as well as leading process improvements, assisting with projects, and providing market feedback to management. The ideal candidate will have superior negotiation skills and a proven ability to achieve results in a dynamic environment, demonstrating self-motivation, teamwork, and strong problem-solving abilities.

Requirements

• MS/MA degree or equivalent with 8 or more years of related experience.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in the Software/IP licensing (engineering EDA SW preference for ASIC/FPGA development) and Engineering Development Services.
• Superior negotiation skills.
• Proven ability to achieve results in a fast moving, dynamic environment.
• Self-motivated and self-directed.
• Demonstrated ability to work well with people.
• Proven desire to work as a team member, both on the same team and outside of the team.
• Ability to troubleshoot and analyze complex problems.
• Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills.
• Focal point for all the relevant Engineering and R&D organizations in USA.

Responsibilities

• Perform Sourcing and contracts related activities for R&D and Engineering teams.
• Ensure that business owners are supported in a fast-paced, tight deadlines environment.
• Provide excellent strategic sourcing support to business partners to ensure a competitive advantage.
• Drive improvements in key metrics such as cost, quality, deliverables and cycle-time.
• Drive process-improvements, assist with projects and provide feedback to management on market conditions, supplier relationships, and quality and customer service issues.
• Manage supplier relationships, including supplier selection and qualification process, Quarterly business reviews and scorecards, supplier corrective actions, cost reduction programs.
• Perform should cost analysis for major services and spend areas and implement cost reduction initiatives.
• Lead and support implementation of best-in-class practices and continuous improvement of systems and processes.
• Ensure timely and cost effective acquisition of products (EDA SW, IP Licensing), services and equipment (HW Emulation, Prototyping) while driving contract compliance.
• Develop strong collaborative relationships with internal clients to strategically manage spend and the supply base for assigned categories.
• Completing day-to-day activities that include specification clarification, source/supplier identification, proposal analysis, review & clarification, contract knowledge, supplier performance management, supplier/customer conflict resolution.
• Provide feedback to management on market conditions, vendor relationships, supply and equipment standardization, quality issues.
• Assist with projects and perform other related duties that may become necessary as directed by management.
• Review and analyze purchase requisitions and coordinate purchasing activities with relevant departments within Procurement and cross functionally to process purchase requisitions, purchase change orders and requests for quotes to suppliers.
• Negotiate, manage, coordinate, and support Engineering sourcing activities for services, SW licensing and HW including preparing RFx, managing the process and analyzing competitive bids.
• Analyze spend data, internal requirements, and external supply markets to develop strategic sourcing strategies and plans aligned with the business goals.
• Prepare, redline and negotiate commercial contracts - services agreements, licenses, statements of work and amendments.
• Act as procurement subject matter expert in Engineering SW/HW and Services with the business to identify, develop and deploy best practice procurement, category management and supplier management.
• Develop strong partnerships with procurement operations, accounts payable, and legal teams.
• Manage, coordinate and support special projects as needed.

Benefits

• paid vacation time
• paid sick leave
• medical/dental/vision insurance
• life, accident and disability insurance
• tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts
• employee assistance program
• other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity
• tuition reimbursement
• transit
• the Applause Program
• employee stock purchase plan
• the WD Savings 401(k) Plan
• eligible for overtime pay
• eligible for shift differential pay
• eligible for bonuses under either WD’s Short Term Incentive Plan (“STI Plan”) or the Sales Incentive Plan (“SIP”)
• eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents
• RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior