Strategic Sourcing Director - Key Technologies and Commodities

VAST Data•Campbell, CA

About The Position

Lead strategic technology and commodity sourcing initiatives for critical hardware components. In this role, you will spearhead high-impact supplier relationships, align technology roadmaps, and build supply chain resilience for our next-generation AI hardware systems. Your primary focus will encompass strategic commodities, including compute, storage, and memory products. This is a rare opportunity to join one of the fastest-growing infrastructure companies in history, positioned directly at the epicenter of the artificial intelligence revolution. About VAST Data VAST Data is the data platform company for the AI era. We build the enterprise software infrastructure required to capture, catalog, refine, enrich, and protect massive datasets, making them seamlessly available for real-time analytics, AI training, and inference. Designed from the ground up to make AI effortless to deploy and manage, VAST eliminates the cost and complexity of enterprise AI infrastructure across data center, edge, and cloud environments. Our momentum is driven by relentless innovation, a customer-first mindset, and a team of fearless VASTronauts who leverage their expertise to make a lasting market impact. Join us at a pivotal moment in our company’s growth—and at a defining nexus in computing history.

Requirements

10+ years in technical/strategic sourcing, commodity management, or component engineering (focusing on semiconductor, memory, or data center hardware).
Deep understanding of hardware architectures (memory/storage, semiconductors).
Ability to evaluate technical trade-offs and vendor roadmaps; understand supplier/technology costs, industry trends, and perform cost modeling analysis.
Proven track record in large-scale complex contract negotiations and supplier management.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, or Business (MBA or advanced degree preferred).
Demonstrated ability to lead global, cross-functional teams and influence executive-level stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and drive multi-year sourcing strategies.
Lead cross-functional teams to drive technology, roadmap, qualification, and supplier strategies for key commodities.
Cultivate strong relationships with core suppliers.
Influence business models and technology roadmaps.
Drive long-term technology collaboration.
Drive commodity RFP/RFQ processes.
Lead complex contract negotiations and finalize pricing/business awards.
Implement Master Supply Agreements and SOWs.
Create and maintain product specification requirements; Drive specification alignment with suppliers.
Create and support optimal commodity strategies for NPI.
Manage key product lifecycles end-to-end.
Drive hardware cost optimizations and reductions through TCO analysis, should-cost modeling, and commodity strategies.
Drive key supplier and product selection, qualification and multi-sourcing strategies to ensure competitive pricing, ongoing cost reduction path, and commercial resiliency.
Create and drive RFx process and associated contracts with key commodity suppliers for POC, NPI, new technologies/products, new suppliers, etc.
Maintain a pulse on emerging technologies and industry trends to conduct insightful competitive analyses.