Sourcing Manager, ODM/OEM Systems

Lambda•San Jose, CA

10d•$203,000 - $271,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Lambda is seeking an experienced Sourcing Manager to manage the ODM/OEM landscape for Lambda's data center hardware. This role is part of the team focused on managing system-level ODM/OEM Finished Good Racks & Networking that power Lambda's rapidly growing AI cloud footprint. The Sourcing Manager will own the end-to-end commercial and sourcing relationship with ODM and OEM partners, including selecting partners, running RFQ/RFP events, negotiating agreements and pricing, driving cost transparency, and securing manufacturing capacity. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of hardware manufacturing, be comfortable evaluating ODM capabilities, debating BOM costs, negotiating NRE and tooling, and holding partners accountable. This role involves close collaboration with Engineering, Finance, Legal, and Supply Chain Planning, Global Commodity Managers, and Operations.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, ODM/OEM Management, or Supply Chain roles, with direct experience sourcing finished goods at the system or rack level (compute, storage, networking, or integrated hardware platforms).
Demonstrated experience negotiating and managing build and supply agreements with ODMs, OEMs, or contract manufacturers (e.g., Taiwan- and China-based ODMs, tier-one server or networking OEMs, or global CMs).
Strong command of system-level cost structure: BOM cost roll-up, should-cost analysis, conversion and integration cost, NRE and tooling, and total landed cost.
Experience owning platform-level partner selection and managing partners through NPI, qualification, and mass production ramp.
Strong understanding of hardware manufacturing operations (integration, system test, rack build, logistics, and the realities of ramping in a global footprint).
Proven track record leading complex commercial negotiations and delivering measurable cost, capacity, and supply outcomes.
Strong analytical, financial, and business acumen.
Experience operating in constrained, long-lead-time, high-growth supply environments.
Ability to build effective relationships with senior partner executives and internal cross-functional stakeholders, including across time zones and cultures.
Technically fluent and commercially sharp — able to move fluidly between a factory floor conversation and a high-stakes negotiation.
Data-driven, decisive, and execution-oriented.
A strong relationship builder with partners and internal stakeholders.
Comfortable operating with a high degree of ownership in a fast-growth, ambiguity-rich environment.
Willing to personally drive negotiations, partner escalations, and problem-solving day to day.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting hyperscale data center or AI infrastructure build programs.
Experience managing manufacturing footprint transitions, regional dual-sourcing, or tariff and trade-driven site strategies.
Familiarity with open hardware ecosystems and standards (OCP, OAM, and similar) and their impact on sourcing leverage.
Working fluency in the underlying supply base (accelerators, memory, optics, power, and cooling) sufficient to understand the cost drivers and constraints flowing into finished-goods pricing.
Mandarin language ability and experience working directly with Taiwan- or China-based manufacturing partners.
Willingness to travel internationally to partner factories as needed.
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related field; advanced degree a plus.

Responsibilities

Own and execute the ODM/OEM sourcing strategy for assigned finished-goods portfolio, including full-system integration, rack integration, and factory test.
Map and continuously assess the ODM/OEM landscape (capability, capacity, technology readiness, quality track record, financial health, manufacturing footprint) and recommend the right partner for each platform and program.
Build multi-partner strategies to create competitive leverage and protect supply (dual-sourcing, qualified alternates, regional diversification).
Develop platform sourcing strategies aligned with hardware and network architecture roadmaps, deployment forecasts, and long-term data center growth plans.
Evaluate build-versus-buy and disaggregation trade-offs (branded OEM vs. white-box/ODM, turnkey vs. consigned, vendor-integrated vs. Lambda-integrated racks).
Maintain deep market intelligence on the ODM/OEM ecosystem, finished-goods build economics, integration capacity, and peer/hyperscaler build relationship structures.
Lead system-level commercial negotiations with ODM and OEM partners, including master manufacturing, build, and supply agreements; system and rack-level pricing; BOM cost transparency; capacity reservations; NRE and tooling agreements; software/firmware/licensing entitlements; buffer, liability, cancellation, and inventory terms; quality, warranty, RMA, sparing, service, and on-site support terms; and logistics terms.
Build negotiation strategies that balance total landed cost, supply security, and configuration flexibility.
Drive competitive RFQ/RFP events end to end, including requirements definition, bid packages, cost analysis, partner selection, and award.
Partner with Legal and Finance to structure and finalize contracts, commercial terms, and pricing mechanisms.
Manage day-to-day and executive-level relationships with strategic ODM and OEM partners.
Lead quarterly business reviews, scorecards, escalation management, and performance improvement plans (cost, quality, delivery, responsiveness).
Partner with ODMs/OEMs on manufacturing capacity planning, build slot allocation, roadmap alignment, and production readiness.
Serve as the primary commercial point of contact and escalation owner for assigned platforms and partners.
Manage the commercial interface for key components sourced or procured through the ODM/OEM, including pass-through pricing, buy/sell decisions, and consigned vs. turnkey structures.
Coordinate with adjacent sourcing owners to ensure cost, capacity, and schedule commitments remain aligned for integrated clusters.
Support new platform and technology introductions from EVT through PVT to mass production, owning the commercial workstream at each gate.
Align build schedules, qualification timelines, and capacity ramps with deployment commitments.
Drive early sourcing engagement to ensure manufacturability, cost, and capacity are designed in.
Manage engineering change commercial impact, cost deltas, and transition/inventory exposure across build phases.
Partner with Hardware, Network, and Data Center Engineering to translate platform, fabric, power, thermal, and rack requirements into sourcing and commercial strategies.
Work with Supply Chain Planning to align partner manufacturing capacity and lead times with demand forecasts.
Partner with Finance on system and rack cost models, budget planning, capex forecasting, and savings tracking.
Provide market insight and recommendations to leadership on partner selection, cost trends, and build strategy.
Develop and maintain supply continuity plans for the ODM/OEM base addressing total landed cost, capacity availability, lead time, geographic risk, partner financial/operational risk, and quality escapes.
Proactively identify and mitigate risk across the ODM/OEM partner base and the systems they build.