Junior Sourcing Manager
Protolabs
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Job summary
Protolabs in Bengaluru, India seeks a Junior Sourcing Manager to lead supplier evaluation, selection, and cost optimisation for CNC machining, sheet metal, and related manufacturing processes. You will work with engineering, quality, and external partners to ensure components meet specs and arrive on time.
The role requires reading drawings, understanding GD&T, and negotiating with suppliers to achieve competitive pricing.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.
- 4–8 years of experience in CNC machining production, manufacturing estimation, or technical sourcing/procurement.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, GD&T and technical specifications.
- Foundational understanding of CNC processes including 3-axis to 5-axis milling/turning.
Responsibilities
- Identify, evaluate, and onboard reliable manufacturing vendors across CNC machining, sheet metal, 3D printing, castings, forgings, and injection moulding tooling.
- Assess vendor capabilities against specifications, quality, material, volumes and delivery timelines.
- Prepare RFQs, review quotations, and negotiate pricing and lead times to meet target costs.
- Translate engineering requirements into manufacturing specifications for external vendors.
- Monitor orders to ensure on-time delivery and coordinate with internal stakeholders.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
You will be responsible for sourcing, evaluating, and managing manufacturing vendors across CNC machining, sheet metal, 3D printing, castings, forgings, and injection moulding tooling. Working closely with engineering, quality, and external manufacturing partners, you will ensure outsourced components meet technical specifications, are delivered on time, and are procured at competitive costs. This role offers an opportunity to apply your manufacturing knowledge, develop supplier relationships, and contribute to cost optimisation and sourcing excellence.
What You'll Do:
Identify, evaluate, and onboard reliable manufacturing vendors across CNC machining, sheet metal, 3D printing, castings, forgings, and injection moulding tooling.
Assess vendor capabilities against technical specifications, quality standards, material requirements, production volumes, and delivery timelines.
Build and maintain strong working relationships with external suppliers and job shops.
Support supplier selection by comparing technical capabilities, quotations, pricing, and lead times.
Prepare and distribute Requests for Quotations (RFQs) to external manufacturing suppliers.
Review and compare supplier quotations based on technical and commercial requirements.
Negotiate pricing, payment terms, and lead times to achieve customer target prices and cost-reduction objectives.
Coordinate with suppliers to resolve quotation queries and clarify manufacturing requirements.
Prepare price break-ups where required to support sourcing and commercial decisions.
Read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, GD&T requirements, technical specifications, and 3D CAD models.
Communicate manufacturing requirements accurately to external vendors.
Apply knowledge of CNC machining and manufacturing processes to assess supplier feasibility.
Work with suppliers to clarify technical requirements and address manufacturing-related questions.
Monitor vendor production schedules and order progress to ensure committed delivery timelines are met.
Proactively identify and resolve production bottlenecks, material delays, and supplier capacity constraints.
Follow up with suppliers to maintain delivery commitments and address potential delays.
Coordinate with internal stakeholders and vendors to resolve order-related issues.
Coordinate with the internal Quality Control team and suppliers to resolve defects, non-conformances, and deviations from engineering drawings.
Support investigations into quality issues and follow up on corrective actions.
Monitor supplier performance against on-time delivery and quality rejection metrics.
Help ensure outsourced components meet agreed technical specifications and quality requirements.
Conduct market research to understand raw material prices, tooling costs, shipping costs, machining cycle times, and industry benchmarks.
Develop should-cost estimates to assess the competitiveness of supplier quotations.
Analyse manufacturing cost drivers to identify potential savings.
Apply knowledge of manufacturing processes to support effective sourcing and costing decisions.
Identify opportunities to improve machining cycle times through effective fixture and tooling methods.
Maintain accurate supplier performance metrics, purchase orders, pricing databases, and sourcing documentation in the ERP system.
Ensure vendor information and commercial records are up to date.
Track supplier pricing, delivery performance, and quality trends to support sourcing decisions.
Maintain organised and accurate records to support procurement activities.
Bachelor's degree or Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.
4–8 years of experience in CNC machining production, manufacturing estimation, or technical sourcing/procurement.
Strong ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, technical specifications, and GD&T requirements.
Foundational understanding of CNC manufacturing processes, including 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis milling, turning, and lathe operations.
Knowledge of sheet metal, 3D printing, castings, forgings, injection moulding tooling, and materials such as aluminium, steel, plastics, and alloys.
Good understanding of manufacturing processes, including turning, milling, EDM, surface treatment, and heat treatment.
CNC programming skills and an understanding of machining processes.
Experience with CAD/CAM software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Mastercam, or Delcam.
Ability to analyse supplier quotations and prepare manufacturing price break-ups where required.
Understanding of machining cycle times and opportunities for improvement through effective fixture and tooling methods.
Basic negotiation skills, with the ability to coordinate with suppliers and work towards customer target prices and lead times.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills to build effective, long-term vendor relationships.
Ability to evaluate supplier quotations and compare technical and commercial proposals.
Strong vendor coordination and follow-up skills to support timely deliveries.
Ability to work collaboratively with Engineering, Quality Control, Production, and Procurement teams.
Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
Proactive and resourceful, with a strong sense of ownership for sourcing activities and supplier follow-ups.
Technically curious, with an interest in manufacturing processes and continuous learning.
Cost-conscious, with an understanding of material prices, tooling costs, and market trends.
Detail-oriented when working with engineering drawings, quotations, specifications, and supplier records.
Practical and solution-focused when addressing quality, production, and delivery challenges.
Adaptable and willing to develop expertise across different manufacturing technologies and sourcing categories.
Committed to continuous improvement in cost, quality, lead time, and manufacturing efficiency.
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