Supply Chain Program Manager

Wayve•Sunnyvale, CA

19h•Hybrid

About The Position

Founded in 2017, Wayve is the leading developer of Embodied AI technology. Our advanced AI software and foundation models enable vehicles to perceive, understand, and navigate any complex environment, enhancing the usability and safety of automated driving systems. Our vision is to create autonomy that propels the world forward. Our intelligent, mapless, and hardware-agnostic AI products are designed for automakers, accelerating the transition from assisted to automated driving. In our fast-paced environment big problems ignite us—we embrace uncertainty, leaning into complex challenges to unlock groundbreaking solutions. We aim high and stay humble in our pursuit of excellence, constantly learning and evolving as we pave the way for a smarter, safer future. At Wayve, your contributions matter. We value diversity, embrace new perspectives, and foster an inclusive work environment; we back each other to deliver impact. Make Wayve the experience that defines your career! The Supply Chain Program Manager is a critical cross-functional role responsible for owning end-to-end supply chain execution across assigned programs and product builds at Wayve. This includes prototype development, new product introduction (NPI), and supporting fleet launches. This role serves as the primary Supply Chain lead ensuring meeting program deliverables, supplier compliance, and seamless coordination across Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, and external partners. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-moving, hardware-driven environment and brings both strategic thinking and hands-on execution capability. The role works cross-functionally with Engineering, Planning, Sourcing, Logistics, Finance, Legal, and Suppliers, and partners closely with global upfitters and third-party integration partners (spanning the US, UK, and other regions) to ensure vehicle and program timelines are met.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain program management, NPI, and hardware operations
Strong understanding of BOM management, material planning, and procurement processes.
Familiarity with supplier compliance frameworks including TISAX, ISO standards, and ethical sourcing requirements.
Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional programs across Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and risk management skills.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
Ability to travel internationally as needed

Nice To Haves

Automotive, consumer, hardware, or robotic industry experience preferred

Responsibilities

Act as the primary Supply Chain lead for assigned programs or internal product builds (e.g., prototypes, new product introduction, subassembly).
Own end-to-end material readiness to support program milestones across R&D, Engineering, Operations, and Manufacturing.
Collaborate closely with Engineering, Planning, Sourcing, Logistics, Finance, and Suppliers to align supply chain activities with program timelines.
Act as the strategic liaison between hardware engineering and the procurement teams, managing demand aggregation.
Translate engineering BOMs and aggregate Technical Program Manager demand into procurement plans
Identify long-lead items and critical path components early in the product lifecycle.
Track material status through build phases and escalate gaps or risks proactively.
Collaborating with Supply Chain Team Leads to ensure direct purchasing, indirect purchasing, and logistics suppliers are meeting compliance requirements, including legal, environmental, regulatory (e.g., TISAX, ISO), and ethical sourcing standards.
Partner with legal and compliance teams to ensure appropriate supplier agreements, NDAs, and risk controls are in place.
Develop contingency plans for supply disruptions and actively manage supply chain risks.
Serve as the primary program manager for upfitter and partner relationships, ensuring alignment across all stakeholders.
Drive upfitter/partner activities to ensure vehicles meet overall program timelines and quality standards.
Proactively identify and resolve issues impacting vehicle build readiness, coordinating between internal teams and external partners.
Maintain clear communication cadence with upfitters and stakeholders, tracking milestones and escalating risks as needed.
Define, track, and report on key supply chain performance metrics including, material availability, total cost saving, inventory cycle count accuracy.
Establish program-level supply chain dashboards and reporting cadences to provide visibility to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
Analyse KPI trends to identify root causes of supply chain underperformance and drive corrective actions with suppliers and internal teams.
Leverage KPI insights to continuously improve supply chain processes, reduce waste, and increase overall program efficiency.