Supply Chain Manager

Critical Energy • Hawthorne, CA

1d

About The Position

Critical Energy is hiring a Senior Supply Chain Manager to own vendor relationships and manage inventory and receiving for its manufacturing operation. The role involves sourcing and negotiating short- and long-term vendor agreements, ensuring suppliers meet committed lead times, and building a reliable US-based supply base to support production growth. This is a hands-on, senior individual contributor position reporting to the Head of Manufacturing. The manager will work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, and Operations to translate build schedules into supply plans. Experience in aerospace, energy, or fast-moving hardware manufacturing is a strong plus.

Critical Energy is an early-stage, venture-backed cleantech company developing factory-built, modular power plants. Its systems convert heat into electricity through a closed-loop thermodynamic cycle and serve geothermal and waste-heat-recovery applications. The company is building its team as it scales its manufacturing operation and aims to support a 100% clean-energy future.

Requirements

• Proven ownership of vendor management in a hardware, aerospace, or complex manufacturing supply chain.
• Hands-on experience managing inventory and receiving in a production environment.
• Track record negotiating both short-term purchase orders and long-term supplier contracts.
• Experience holding vendors to lead-time commitments and recovering when they slip.
• Experience building or running a primarily US-based vendor base.
• Comfort working as a senior individual contributor in a fast-paced startup with significant ambiguity.
• Bias toward action, clear communication, and ability to keep the production floor supplied.

Nice To Haves

• Supply chain experience in aerospace, energy, or high-velocity hardware manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Own vendor relationships across the manufacturing supply base and expand and qualify US-based suppliers as production scales.
• Hold vendors to committed lead times and escalate and resolve delays before they affect the production floor.
• Negotiate short-term agreements and purchase orders to secure capacity, pricing, and delivery for near-term builds.
• Structure long-term supplier agreements to support reliability and supply continuity as volume grows, while improving terms without sacrificing quality, lead time, or flexibility.
• Manage inventory end to end, including planning, receiving, accuracy, and flow into production.
• Set up and run receiving processes that move material from the dock to the production line.
• Work with the Head of Manufacturing to translate production needs into supply plans that match material availability to build schedules and ramp goals.
• Work with Engineering and Operations on make-or-buy decisions, alternate sources, and risk mitigation for critical parts.
• Build simple, durable processes that scale with the company.

Benefits

• Equity options.
• 100% company-covered Platinum or HD/HSA medical plan, with company contribution.
• 100% company-covered dental and vision insurance.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
• 401(k) retirement options.
• Daily catered lunch.
• Free EV charging.
• Several annual social and team-building outings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed