Strategic Sourcing Specialist

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 Specialist** on the Radar Supply Chain Management team to lead complex sourcing and subcontracting activities supporting U.S. Government-funded and other contract-driven programs. This role will translate program and contractual requirements into supplier actions from intake and competitive sourcing through negotiation, award, administration, and closeout. This role will work closely with the Strategic Sourcing Manager, Legal, Engineering, Manufacturing, Finance, Security, and other Supply Chain partners. The Strategic Sourcing Specialist will own assigned strategic sourcing and subcontract actions, including supplier evaluations, negotiations, flow-down coordination, and audit-ready procurement documentation. The ideal candidate has strategic sourcing, procurement, or subcontracting experience in aerospace, defense, space, electronics, or another highly regulated environment, with working knowledge of FAR/DFARS requirements, supplier terms, price analysis, source-selection documentation, and supplier management. **This is a full-time hybrid role based in Menlo Park, CA.** Responsibilities - Own strategic sourcing and subcontracting activities for assigned suppliers and program requirements from intake through solicitation, evaluation, negotiation, award, administration, and closeout. Partner with Engineering, Legal, Security, Finance, and Supply Chain stakeholders to translate contractual, technical, schedule, and compliance requirements into supplier sourcing and award actions. - Lead RFQ/RFPs, supplier evaluations, source-selection recommendations, cost and price analysis, and negotiations covering pricing, lead times, payment terms, delivery, statements of work, and commercial terms. - Prepare and administer purchase orders, subcontracts, amendments, and related supplier agreements in accordance with internal approvals, sourcing strategies, and applicable contract requirements. - Coordinate supplier reviews of FAR/DFARS flow-downs, domestic sourcing requirements, DPAS, ITAR/export controls, CUI or cybersecurity requirements, representations and certifications, security obligations, and other program-specific terms. - Maintain organized, audit-ready procurement files documenting competition, source selection, price reasonableness, negotiations, approvals, supplier acknowledgements, and required compliance records, including DPAS documentation where applicable. - Manage supplier commercial and contractual performance, including cost, schedule, deliverables, change management, terms-and-conditions issues, risk escalation, and recovery actions. - Support proposal and program planning with supplier quotations, lead-time validation, commercial assumptions, and sourcing or compliance risk inputs. - Improve sourcing and subcontracting processes, templates, documentation standards, and stakeholder guidance as program complexity grows. Required Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Finance, Operations, Contracts, or a related field, or equivalent experience. - 7+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, subcontracts, procurement, or supplier negotiations supporting technically complex or contract-driven programs. Experience supporting U.S. Government contracts, federally funded programs, or defense/aerospace procurement, with working knowledge of FAR/DFARS flow-downs, source selection, pricing, and supplier documentation requirements. - Experience leading RFQ/RFP processes, evaluating supplier proposals, performing cost or price analysis, documenting price reasonableness, and negotiating supplier commercial terms. - Experience preparing or administering purchase orders, subcontracts, amendments, statements of work, or other supplier agreements through the procurement lifecycle. - Experience maintaining complete procurement files that support internal, customer, or audit review. - Ability to work cross-functionally with Legal, Program Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Finance, Security, and suppliers to resolve complex sourcing, contractual, and compliance issues. - Proficiency with ERP, procurement, sourcing, or contract-management systems and Excel, with strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills. - Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Personnel Security Clearance. Preferred Qualifications - Experience leading strategic sourcing or subcontracting activities for radar, RF, satellite, space, electronics, precision mechanical assemblies, contract manufacturing, or technical services. Hands-on experience with FAR/DFARS flow-downs, DPAS, domestic sourcing requirements, ITAR/export controls, CUI or cybersecurity requirements, and supplier representations and certifications. - Experience supporting complex subcontracts or service procurements involving statements of work, milestones, deliverables, intellectual property, data rights, or negotiated terms and conditions. - Familiarity with CPSR expectations, procurement-file reviews, DCMA or DCAA oversight, sole-source justifications, and documented price or negotiation rationale. - Hands-on experience with NetSuite, sourcing or contract-management tools, supplier compliance tracking, or procurement reporting systems. - Experience supporting classified programs or working with suppliers in secure environments. Within 1 month, you'll: - Learn LeoLabs' sourcing, procurement, subcontracting, approval, and supplier-onboarding workflows, plus active programs, key suppliers, and core flow-down and documentation expectations. - Review assigned sourcing and subcontract activity and align priorities, ownership, documentation gaps, and escalation paths with the Strategic Sourcing Manager and key stakeholders. Within 3 months, you'll: - Independently manage an assigned portfolio of sourcing and subcontract actions from intake through award and supplier acknowledgement. - Complete solicitations, proposal and price analyses, negotiations, source-selection records, procurement files, and required supplier flow-down coordination with limited supervision. Within 6 months, you'll: - Lead complex, high-value, or compliance-sensitive sourcing and subcontract actions across multiple programs, balancing cost, schedule, supplier capability, contract requirements, and risk. - Establish a repeatable review cadence and implement improvements that reduce cycle time, improve documentation quality, and strengthen audit readiness. Within 12 months, you'll: - Serve as a trusted sourcing and subcontracting partner for program teams and a go-to resource for complex contractual or regulated supplier actions. - Help scale sourcing and subcontracting practices while demonstrating measurable improvements in cycle time, procurement-file quality, supplier responsiveness, negotiation outcomes, compliance readiness, or program risk. **Compensation** The base salary range for this position is up to $114,000 + 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. **Perks and Benefits** - $100 USD monthly wellness benefit to support your health and well-being - $300 USD home office setup stipend, available for use within your first six months - $75 USD monthly home internet allowance, paid directly through your regular paycheck - Individual Development Fund to support training, learning, and professional development - Employee Recognition Program to celebrate contributions and achievements across the team **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. **Vendor Notification** LeoLabs does not engage external staffing agencies or third-party recruiting firms for this role. Unsolicited candidate submissions will not be considered. ***All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.***