Supply Chain Deputy

Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. • San Luis Obispo, CA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Supply Chain Deputy provides strategic and operational support for all supply chain functions in a mid-sized, AS9100-certified aerospace manufacturing and R&D organization. This role is responsible for procurement, production planning, inventory control, logistics, and supplier quality, ensuring alignment with company growth objectives, customer requirements, and regulatory standards. As a key member of the leadership team, this role balances hands-on execution with strategic direction—building scalable processes, strengthening supplier partnerships, and supporting both production and new product development in a high-mix, low-volume environment.

Requirements

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in Supply Chain.
• Proficiency with computerized MRP/ERP systems is required
• Ability to identify and maintain key performance measurements for procurement.
• Ability to help negotiate subcontract terms and conditions and pricing for materials and services
• Responsible for maintaining positive relationships with qualified Suppliers
• Ability to lead recurring cost estimation efforts for new product idea
• Ability to review cost/quantity choices and make cost effective decisions
• Knowledge of contract manufacturing practices.
• Ability to find and establish viable relationships with offshore Suppliers
• Ability to motivate and mentor a skilled procurement team
• Familiarity with commercial electronics building practices and components
• Hands-on experience with subcontracting and outsourcing printed circuit board assembly and cable/ harnesses is a must
• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• Formal purchasing certification is required.
• Understanding of inventory control methods and production control techniques
• Prior government contracting experience is required.
• US citizenship or US resident status.
• Must be able to pass background check and drug test.

Nice To Haves

• Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) or Institute for Supplier Management (ISM) training and/or certification is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Helping with the performance of the ESAERO purchasing process and team.
• Designs and implement procurement strategies across all commodities to meet the needs of a growing project and manufacturing business in the aerospace and defense marketplace.
• Maintain key performance Indicators (KPI’s) to drive superior supplier performance with an emphasis on high quality parts and services delivered on time.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with key Suppliers in accordance with ESAero’s strategy to support project and manufacturing requirements.
• Extend the capabilities of the ESAERO supply base to enable effective make/buy decisions, identification of tooling choices and the use of alternative materials, evaluation of available manufacturing methods, and the selection of high-quality subcontractors.
• Ensure the application of the highest ethical standards in all procurement transactions.
• Lead major subcontracting efforts to include wire harnesses, consigned inventory, turnkey pcba’s, and composite fabrication.
• Develop secondary sources for any sole source components and services to support production and project team future growth.
• Ensure DFARS regulations, DPAS ratings and specific government and/or Customer contract requirements are followed by procurement and flowed down to all relevant sub-contractors and suppliers.
• Maintain and refine an “approved supplier” methodology in accordance with AS9100/ISO9001 requirements.
• Work with QA and Engineering to identify and approve new suppliers to meet business needs
• Monitor supplier performance and work with QA to refine this process and use the data to drive procurement choices, corrective actions, and supplier performance improvements.
• Facilitate the inclusion of approved Suppliers to the integrated product teams throughout the product development process.
• Help in positioning ESAERO to be able to leverage outside resources, especially in the areas of printed circuit assembly, wire harnesses and composite fabrication.
• Establish and maintain a supplier base to support new products from prototype to ramped production with consistently high-quality components and services.
• Identify and approve outside resources for key engineering services to meet overflow requirements and enable intelligent make/buy decisions.
• Work with finance/accounting to ensure timely collection and recording of purchasing commitments and invoices.
• Generates and maintains processes that enable accurate physical and NetSuite inventory
• Generates and maintains processes that enable our inventory systems to scale efficiently and accurately manage >$100M of inventory
• Works closely with finance and projects to rectify inventory errors
• Works with projects to ensure good inventory practices are being followed, trains these practices
• Supports project inventory disposition and closeout
• Identifies and implements opportunities to reduce non-value-added time associated with inventory management and movement
• Develops processes around consistent use and naming of inventory Locations and Bins
• Supports process development around inventory tagging/marking such as labels, barcodes, etc. that better enable high-volume production
• Owns inventory cycle counts and corrects root causes of inventory errors
• Regularly performs internal audits of inventory processes (FAR requirement)
• Helps projects navigate and follow FAR and DFARS-required inventory practices from procurement to consumption or disposition
• Works with QA and project teams to develop processes that better enable traceability of material from receipt to consumption
• Lead a small team to clean-up existing inventory in our facilities

Benefits

• Choose from three health, dental, and vision plans - including a 100% employer-paid option covering both employees and their families.
• 120 hours of PTO, 80 hours accrued plus an additional 40 hours of holiday break pay in addition to Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day off.
• $25,000 employer-paid life insurance policy, with the option to purchase additional coverage for employees and their families.
• Access optional benefits such as Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, and Critical Illness with Skin Cancer coverage.
• Take advantage of a tax-advantaged HSA to manage medical expenses.
• 401(k) with a company match to support your financial future.
• 9 paid holidays throughout the year.
• A casual dress code, complimentary snacks, and a welcoming company culture.

What This Job Offers

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