Sourcing Manager

Firestorm•San Diego, CA

1d•$134,000 - $158,000•Onsite

About The Position

Firestorm Labs is seeking a proactive and strategic Sourcing Manager to join our growing team in San Diego. In this high-impact role, you will drive innovative sourcing strategies and lead engagements across a wide range of commodities, helping our next-generation hardware and integrated systems move from prototype to full-rate global production. You will work closely with engineering, product, and business development teams to optimize performance, ensure exceptional quality, and enable rapid launch and scale of mission-critical programs. This is a hands-on role where your ability to navigate complex supplier ecosystems, mitigate risk, and maintain compliance with DoD, ITAR, FAR/DFARS, and cybersecurity requirements will directly impact Firestorm’s success. You will play a key role in expanding our global supplier network, adding resiliency and capacity to meet the needs of customers worldwide, while supporting fast-paced, high-visibility programs in a highly collaborative environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, supply chain, business or a related field
5+ years of progressive supply chain or sourcing experience in a manufacturing or technology environment
U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations
Experience with New Product Introduction (NPI) and Product Lifecycle Change Management processes.
Hands-on experience sourcing and procuring commodities for domestic and international production builds.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and engineering BOMs.
Demonstrated success in supplier negotiations, cost reduction, and supplier performance management.
Familiarity with FAR, DFARS, ITAR, and U.S. Government acquisition regulations.
Ability to learn quickly, apply new concepts accurately, and manage evolving priorities.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint).
Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities
Clear and professional communication with technical and non-technical users

Nice To Haves

10+ years of sourcing or supply chain experience in aerospace, defense, or high-tech hardware industries.
Demonstrated experience interfacing with DCAA, DCMA, or other U.S. Government oversight agencies.
International sourcing experience (e.g., East or South Asia).
Manufacturing or quality management experience.
Exposure to additive manufacturing, automation, or advanced hardware environments.
Understanding of supply chain risk management and supplier contingency planning.
Knowledge of forecasting tools, procurement analytics, and market benchmarking.
Experience supporting R&D procurement and prototype builds.
Experience in an early-stage tech or startup environment
Ability to influence change and adapt processes as business needs evolve
Demonstrated ability to manage complex, fast-paced operations in a dynamic environment

Responsibilities

Lead strategic sourcing initiatives across all commodities, developing innovative strategies that drive cost-effective procurement from New Product Introduction (NPI) through prototype and production scale-up, ensuring programs launch and scale efficiently.
Identify, qualify, and onboard suppliers that meet engineering, DoD, cybersecurity, and regulatory requirements, while expanding Firestorm’s global supplier network to improve capacity, resiliency, and performance.
Manage the full RFP process, evaluate proposals, negotiate commercial terms and contracts, create award recommendations, and establish agreements that optimize cost, quality, and delivery performance.
Analyze supplier data, conduct market research, and benchmark industry best practices to identify opportunities for expanding the Approved Supplier List and improving the supply base.
Monitor and manage supplier performance across quality, cost, and delivery, proactively mitigating risks and escalating issues to maintain mission-critical program timelines and meet strict production schedules.
Ensure sourcing activities comply with FAR, DFARS, ITAR, NIST 800-171, and internal policies, while supporting internal and external audits, including DCAA/DCMA reviews, supplier quality audits, and cybersecurity assessments.
Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, product, and business development teams to align sourcing strategies with the product roadmap, forecasted demand, and future revenue streams, ensuring all programs meet business, technical, and financial goals.
Support engineering and operations in identifying and qualifying suppliers for specialized technologies, additive manufacturing, and advanced hardware systems, contributing to R&D procurement and prototype builds.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by implementing procedural enhancements, standardizing sourcing processes, and identifying opportunities to increase efficiency, quality, and supplier engagement across programs.
Communicate effectively with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and customers to ensure seamless acquisition of materials and services, maintaining transparency and collaboration throughout complex, fast-paced programs.

Benefits

We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
Equity grants for new hires
Unlimited PTO
Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November, & December.
Generous Parental Leave
Lifestyle Spending Account
FSA
DCFSA
HSA
Hospital Indemnity insurance
Critical Illness insurance
Accident insurance
Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus, the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.
Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.