Strategic Sourcing Manager

Job description

Why LeoLabs? At LeoLabs, we’re building the living map of activity in space. Through our proprietary global radar network and AI-enabled analytics platform, we collect millions of measurements daily on more than 25,000 objects in low Earth orbit (LEO). Our radar-powered intelligence protects billions in assets, monitors adversarial behavior, and ensures safe operations for commercial and government missions. We’re not just building technology, we are redefining global security, safety, and transparency in space. As orbital activity accelerates and threats grow more complex, LeoLabs is a trusted partner for Space Domain Awareness, Space Traffic Management, and Satellite Operations for top-tier space operators and allied defense organizations. If you're looking to work on mission-critical challenges at the forefront of aerospace, national security, and AI, your impact starts here. LeoLabs is hiring a Strategic Sourcing Manager to build and execute strategies for sourcing critical technologies, components, subassemblies, equipment, and services supporting advanced radar and sensing systems. This role will establish the supplier and commercial foundation needed to support development, production readiness, deployment, and long-term supply chain resilience. As part of the Radar Supply Chain organization, this role will partner early with Engineering, Manufacturing, Legal, Finance, Security, and Supply Chain to evaluate supply markets, assess supplier capabilities, translate technical and program requirements into sourcing strategies, and negotiate agreements that improve availability, cost, quality, scalability, and risk posture. The ideal candidate has deep strategic sourcing experience in aerospace, defense, electronics, RF, space, or advanced manufacturing environments and is comfortable operating in complex, low-volume, high-reliability hardware programs. They should also bring a strong background in identifying, qualifying, onboarding, and sourcing from suppliers that meet U.S. Government contracting and compliance requirements, along with demonstrated experience managing and developing sourcing or procurement professionals. **This is a full-time hybrid role based in Menlo Park, CA.** Responsibilities - Develop and own sourcing and category strategies for critical radar, RF, electronics, mechanical, test equipment, contract manufacturing, and technical service suppliers, using market intelligence and supplier capability assessments to guide source selection. - Lead competitive sourcing and complex commercial negotiations, including RFQ/RFP processes, total-cost and should-cost analysis, pricing, lead times, capacity commitments, long-term agreements, and strategic supplier terms. - Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing early in design and NPI cycles to evaluate manufacturability, supplier capability, make-versus-buy options, alternate sources, and supply risks before requirements are finalized. - Own supplier onboarding, governance, and risk management, including supplier segmentation, performance reviews, corrective actions, dual-source and contingency strategies, and coordination with Purchasing and Supply Planning on material readiness. - Partner closely with Legal and internal stakeholders to ensure sourcing and supplier decisions comply with applicable U.S. Government contract requirements, FAR/DFARS flow-downs, domestic sourcing requirements, DPAS, ITAR, CUI, cybersecurity, security, and other program-specific obligations. - Manage and develop assigned sourcing and procurement team members, including setting priorities, allocating work, coaching performance, supporting professional development, removing execution barriers, and ensuring team objectives align with Supply Chain and program priorities. Required Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience. - 10+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, category management, supplier management, procurement, or supply chain supporting technically complex hardware programs. - Experience developing sourcing strategies, leading RFQ/RFP processes, evaluating suppliers, and negotiating commercial agreements. - Demonstrated experience supporting U.S. Government contracts or programs, either within a government agency or in the private sector, with working knowledge of applicable supply chain compliance requirements, contract flow-downs, and supplier obligations. - Working knowledge of FAR/DFARS flow-downs, domestic sourcing requirements, DPAS, ITAR, CUI, cybersecurity requirements, and government-contractor audit expectations. - Ability to assess technical and program requirements and translate them into supplier selection criteria, sourcing recommendations, and risk mitigation plans. - Proven ability to operate as a senior cross-functional partner, influence technical and business stakeholders, and make sound sourcing decisions in complex or ambiguous environments. - Demonstrated people-management experience, including managing individual contributors, setting priorities and expectations, providing coaching and performance feedback, supporting professional development, and ensuring team objectives and commitments are met. - Experience with ERP, procurement, supplier management, or sourcing data systems. - Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Personnel Security Clearance. Preferred Qualifications - Experience sourcing radar, RF, satellite or space hardware, electronics, precision mechanical assemblies, test equipment, or contract manufacturing services. - Experience structuring and negotiating long-term agreements, master service agreements, capacity commitments, or other strategic supplier arrangements. - Experience sourcing and managing suppliers in ITAR, export-controlled, or other highly regulated environments. - Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI) and scaling supplier readiness from prototype and early builds through production. - CPSM, CPIM, CSCP, MBA, or equivalent advanced credential; familiarity with NetSuite, sourcing and contract tools, supplier scorecards, and compliance reporting. - Experience supporting classified programs and working with suppliers in secure environments. Within 1 month, you'll: - Complete onboarding and understand LeoLabs' Radar Supply Chain structure, sourcing workflows, approval processes, key supplier base, active hardware program priorities, and applicable U.S. Government supply chain requirements. - Build working relationships with assigned team members and partners across Engineering, Procurement, Supply Planning, Finance, Legal, Security, and Manufacturing; understand team responsibilities, priorities, and development needs. - Assess the current supplier landscape, including active sourcing actions, contractual coverage, onboarding and compliance gaps, long-lead materials, sole-source dependencies, and key supply risks. Within 3 months, you'll: - Independently own sourcing activities for select categories or suppliers, including market analysis, competitive sourcing, supplier capability assessments, and sourcing recommendations. - Lead negotiations and supplier selection decisions for priority requirements, balancing cost, lead time, quality, capacity, compliance, and commercial risk. - Establish clear priorities and operating rhythms for assigned team members while maintaining regular cross-functional alignment on sourcing, onboarding, NPI, compliance, and material readiness priorities. Within 6 months, you'll: - Develop and execute category strategies for critical supplier segments, including alternate-source development, supplier rationalization, long-term commercial strategies, and risk mitigation. - Implement supplier relationship management routines for strategic suppliers, including business reviews, performance expectations, corrective actions, and escalation pathways. - Develop a high-performing sourcing and procurement team through clear ownership, workload prioritization, coaching, and accountability for team objectives. Within 12 months, you'll: - Serve as a trusted Supply Chain leader for strategic sourcing and supplier management while building team capabilities and scalable practices for radar and U.S. Government programs. - Institutionalize a scalable strategic sourcing framework that strengthens supplier optionality, contract coverage, audit readiness, negotiation leverage, and sourcing cycle time. - Deliver measurable improvements in supplier performance, lead-time visibility, capacity assurance, compliance, supply continuity, and overall supply chain resilience. The base salary range for this position is $165,000 - $175,000 + bonus + stock options + benefits  **Compensation Note**: The salary range for this position is benchmarked based on the designated primary work location for the role. Final compensation may vary depending on the selected candidate's work location, applicable market data, experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors. **ITAR Requirements** To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. More information regarding ITAR can be found at DDTC’s website All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.