Supply Chain Manager (CONTRACT)
About The Position
GrayMatter Robotics is a Physical AI company headquartered in Los Angeles that develops robotics systems for manufacturing and delivers them through a Robots-as-a-Service model. The Supply Chain Manager will work onsite at the company’s Carson, California office, developing and executing procurement processes, sourcing suppliers, and managing vendor relationships to support a seamless, cost-optimized supply chain. The role collaborates with cross-functional teams, makes strategic procurement decisions, and implements best practices. It begins as a six-month contract; an extension may be possible based on business needs but is not guaranteed. The position owns end-to-end procurement operations and supplier performance, builds procurement systems and tools, and coordinates sourcing plans with engineering, product, logistics, deployment, and quality teams. It analyzes demand forecasts tied to robot deployment, supports supplier recovery when delivery commitments are missed, and uses AI-enabled procurement and data tools to improve reporting and research. Procurement metrics, cost savings, and sourcing effectiveness are reported to the Head of Operations.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- At least 8 years of experience as a purchasing or procurement manager within a hardware and/or electronics business.
- Track record of building procurement systems and processes from the ground up, ideally in a startup or rapid-growth environment.
- Demonstrated ability to source, negotiate, and manage supplier contracts, including resolving delivery defaults against fixed lead-time commitments.
- Ability to work as a self-managed individual contributor, independently handling day-to-day procurement and engaging stakeholders for specific decisions.
- Strong budgeting, cost optimization, and negotiation skills, with excellent written and verbal communication.
- Proficiency with procurement and vendor management software and systems.
- Authorization to work in the United States and maintain ongoing work authorization from the time of hire through the duration of employment.
Nice To Haves
- Relevant procurement or supply chain management certification, such as CPSM or CSCP.
- Experience with global sourcing, logistics, and cross-border supply chain management.
- Proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools for tracking procurement metrics and spend.
- Demonstrated use of AI tools to automate sourcing research, spend analysis, or procurement reporting.
- Experience partnering closely with engineering or manufacturing teams on product and part requirements.
- Prior experience at a smaller company or as an early startup employee, owning procurement across its full lifecycle.
Responsibilities
- Own end-to-end procurement operations, including sourcing and negotiating with suppliers, issuing purchase orders, and confirming correct, on-time fulfillment with logistics and deployment teams.
- Build and implement procurement systems and tools that provide visibility into open purchase orders, vendor commitments, and lead times as deployment volume grows.
- Negotiate supplier contracts and resolve delivery defaults against fixed lead-time commitments.
- Evaluate, select, and onboard suppliers against cost, quality, and engineering requirements; manage supplier relationships through regular performance reviews.
- Partner with engineering and product teams to translate requirements into sourcing and purchasing plans.
- Analyze demand forecasts associated with robot deployment volume, including mobile robot rollouts, to identify current and future needs.
- Bridge vendors and quality teams to reduce rework and turnaround time for parts and components that do not meet specifications.
- Use AI-enabled procurement and data tools to automate reporting, flag spend or lead-time anomalies, and accelerate sourcing research.
- Develop and report procurement metrics, cost savings, and sourcing effectiveness to the Head of Operations.
Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Unlimited PTO
- 401(k) plan with employer match
- Regular offsite events
- Discretionary fund for enhancing productivity
