Lead strategic sourcing and supplier management for spacecraft production: supplier qualification and onboarding, RFQs and negotiations, sourcing strategies, BOM management in PLM/ERP, KPI/SLA definition, cost optimization, inventory oversight, logistics coordination, and compliance with AS9100 and ITAR.
As a Sourcing Manager at Impulse, you will collaborate with multiple departments to support strategic sourcing and supplier management activities for hardware and materials critical to the production and manufacturing of a spacecraft. A key aspect of this role will be overseeing the supplier qualification processes to ensure that all suppliers meet the required performance, quality, and compliance standards. You will be responsible for evaluating potential suppliers and building long-term partnerships to ensure the timely and reliable delivery of materials essential for mission success.
Responsibilities
- Conduct in-depth analysis of the sourcing risk landscape by evaluating spend profiles, market trends, global economic indicators, lead times, and supplier capabilities, and develop robust mitigation strategies to proactively manage potential disruptions
- Lead the development and execution of sourcing strategies for indirect spend categories, including ground support equipment (GSE) and tooling, in collaboration with the inventory and operations teams to ensure cost-effective procurement, optimal stock levels, and alignment with program schedules
- Drive the end-to-end vendor onboarding process, including the development and implementation of a supplier tiering framework. Maintain clear documentation and ensure alignment with regulatory and internal standards
- Collaborate with stakeholders to define SLAs and KPIs for suppliers and measure the appropriate criteria, such as: delivery of business results, cost reduction, quality and timeliness of delivery.
- Partner with the planning team to assess cross-program demand for shared commodities and components, consolidate forecasts into a strategic book of business, and engage with key suppliers to identify and develop preferred sourcing partnerships
- Perform advanced quantitative and business process analyses to identify financial impacts of decisions, cost improvement and performance for assigned categories
- Identify and execute annual cost optimization initiatives by minimizing usage inefficiencies and eliminating operational waste
- Lead high-volume RFQs to source suppliers based on cost, lead time, and capabilities; negotiate favorable terms and ensure suppliers meet technical, quality, and compliance requirements including AS9100 certification and ITAR regulation in coordination with quality for vendor qualification
- Drive continuous improvement of the supply chain risk landscape by identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential disruptions that could impact execution, resilience, and overall supply chain health
- Collaborate with design and manufacturing engineers to maintain accurate, up-to-date bills of materials (BOMs) in PLM and ERP systems, ensuring alignment with design changes and production schedules in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Monitor inventory levels against demand and consumption patterns, implementing systems to procure materials efficiently and accurately
- Coordinate logistics for outsourced parts, drop shipments, and open order management, ensuring on-time delivery according to PO promise dates and maintaining supplier performance
- Oversee the accuracy of receipts against purchase orders (POs) and vendor invoices, ensuring accurate accounting and financial tracking for the business
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Material or production planning, master production scheduling, or a related field
- 5+ years of demonstrated experience in supply chain, procurement, logistics, and vendor relationship management
- 5+ years of demonstrated experience working with ERP or inventory management systems
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Masters degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Material or Production Planning, or a related field
- 8+ years of demonstrated experience in supply chain, procurement, logistics, and vendor relationship management
- Experience with commodities such as Machining, Additive Manufacturing, COTS (Fittings, Fasteners, Washers, etc.), Metal Raw Materials, PCB/PCBA, Composites, or Aerospace/Space-related components
- Preferred background in manufacturing or production environments, with a strong understanding of shop floor operations, fabrication processes, and cross-functional collaboration with engineering and quality teams
- Solid understanding of manufacturing processes related to mechanical components
- Proven experience building dashboard tools to automate repetitive tasks
- Strong data analysis skills, with proficiency in Excel, SQL, and Power BI
- Must be able to travel up to 15%
Additional Information:
Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
About
Impulse Space, the in-space transportation company founded by Tom Mueller, is opening access beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with its fleet of in-space transportation vehicles. The high-energy Helios vehicle unlocks orbits beyond LEO with its powerful Deneb engine, dropping off payloads in MEO, GEO, heliocentric, lunar, and other planetary orbits. The flight-proven Mira vehicle uses a nontoxic, high-impulse chemical propulsion system to offer orbital transport, constellation deployment, and precision reentry services to customers throughout LEO. Led by a team that delivered the most reliable rockets in history, Impulse provides economical and efficient in-space transportation by reliably and rapidly getting customers where they want to go.
Impulse Space El Segundo, California, USA Office
El Segundo, CA, United States, 90245
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