Manager, Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Quality

The role

This person will build and lead the integrated sourcing and supplier quality function. They will own category strategy, supplier relationships, supplier qualification, and supplier quality performance.

What you will do

• Lead category strategy development and shape long-term supply plans.
• Build and manage high-performing supplier relationships.
• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of supplier quality engineers.
• Own supplier scorecards, business reviews, quality KPIs, and supplier audits.
• Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and supply chain teams.
• Champion risk mitigation through proactive planning, dual-sourcing, and commercial negotiations.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related technical field
• 10+ years of experience in sourcing, procurement, supplier quality, supply chain, manufacturing operations, or a related function
• Demonstrated experience leading supplier management, strategic sourcing, contract management, negotiations, and category strategy development
• Hands-on experience with supplier qualification, supplier audits, corrective actions, root-cause analysis, supplier scorecards, and quality KPI ownership
• Experience building or leading supplier quality engineering teams
• Strong understanding of manufactured components, assemblies, inspection protocols, acceptance criteria, and supplier performance management
• Proven ability to partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and procurement/GSM teams in a fast-paced production environment
• Experience driving supply continuity, dual-sourcing, cost reduction, quality improvement, and risk mitigation across a complex supplier base
• Strong analytical, communication, and executive-facing business review skills
• Ability to operate with urgency, handle ambiguity, and make practical tradeoffs across cost, schedule, quality, and risk

Nice to have

• Experience in aerospace, defense, robotics, drones, electronics, automotive, hardware, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments
• Experience working with PCBA, mechanical, electromechanical, RF, airframe, propulsion, or ground systems suppliers
• Experience scaling supplier quality and sourcing processes in a startup or high-growth manufacturing company
• Familiarity with ASL processes, first article inspection, APQP/PPAP-style methods, ISO/AS9100 environments, or lean/six sigma practices
• Prior experience managing international suppliers, including APAC-based supplier quality or sourcing activities

About the company

Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America’s drone industrial base. They design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems.