Supply Chain - Senior Associate

AgniKul Cosmos; Chennai District; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,600,000; Full time

Job summary

AgniKul Cosmos, an IIT Madras incubated company, seeks a Procurement Lead to drive sourcing, vendor management, and cost strategies for aerospace components in Chennai. You will coordinate with design, quality, and manufacturing teams, ensure ITAR/EAR compliance, and optimize supplier performance across long-lead items.

Bachelor’s degree and 5–10 years in aerospace procurement are required. The role involves negotiating favorable terms, maintaining vendor records, and leveraging ERP systems for

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Experience in sourcing mechanical, electrical, or precision‑machined components.
• Basic knowledge of negotiation principles and cost estimates.
• 5 to 10 years of experience in procurement, supply chain, or vendor management (aerospace, defense, or manufacturing preferred).
• Understanding of engineering drawings, GD&T, and technical specifications.
• Understanding of ITAR/EAR export control requirements.

Responsibilities

• Identify project requirements and dependencies through interactions with various teams.
• Coordinate with design, quality, and manufacturing on spec changes and non-conformances.
• Develop project estimates by identifying phases, elements, personnel needs, and costs.
• Source suitable vendors and develop sourcing strategies; perform make-vs-buy analysis with relevant teams.
• Ensure vendor compliance with AS9100 and ITAR/EAR regulations.
• Prepare cost comparison reports by analyzing technical and commercial information.
• Negotiate with vendors to secure best prices and terms; draft vendor contracts.
• Track delivery of components and assist with shipping paperwork; assess product quality.
• Coordinate with vendors to replace or repair procured components as needed.
• Manage vendor payment schedules and vendor account management practices.
• Analyze project requirements and maintain a vendor database for current and future projects.
• Identify and mitigate single-source/sole-source supplier risks for long-lead items.
• Monitor supplier financial health and business continuity risk.
• Track long-lead-time items and obsolescence risk for components.
• Use/maintain ERP systems for procurement planning and inventory visibility.

Skills

Sourcing

Negotiation

Cost estimation

Vendor management

ERP systems

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

GD&T

ITAR/EAR compliance

Job description

Job Description:

ABOUT

Agnikul Cosmos is a company incubated at IIT Madras and we build rockets that can take satellites up to 500 kg to Lower Earth Orbit (LEO). In May 2024, we successfully completed our maiden launch from our own launchpad (Indias first private launchpad). The launch has proven all the new technologies developed by Agnikul and also earned recognition from Honourable Prime Minister of India.

• - If you’d rather visit the vendor than visit another Excel sheet this is for you.
• - If you see negotiation not as a skill, but as a way of life this is for you.
• -If you obsess about line processes vs. batch processes - this is for you
• -If you have wondered why Apple outsources its manufacturing outside USA - this is for you
• - If you understand Lead and Lean in a same sentence - this is for you

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify project requirements and the respective dependencies through interactions with various teams

• Coordinate closely with design, quality, and manufacturing teams on spec changes and non-conformances

• Develop project estimates by identifying project phases, key elements, personnel requirements, and associated costs.

• Source suitable vendors from the market and develop innovative sourcing strategies. Also, perform make-vs-buy analysis in coordination with relevant teams

• Ensure vendor compliance with AS9100 (aerospace quality standard) and relevant ITAR/EAR export control regulations

• Prepare cost comparison reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing technical and commercial information

• Negotiate with vendors to secure the best prices and commercial terms, and prepare vendor contracts that safeguard the best interests of the company

• Track the delivery of components from vendors, prepare necessary paperwork for shipping and also assist the team in assessing product quality

• Coordinate with vendors to facilitate the replacement or repair of procured components when required

• Manage vendor payment schedules and adopt best vendor account management practices

• Analyze project requirements and maintain a comprehensive vendor database to support current and future projects

• Identify and mitigate single-source/sole-source supplier risks, especially for long-lead or specialty items (propellant-grade materials, avionics-grade electronics)

• Monitor supplier financial health and business continuity risk

• Track long-lead-time items and manage obsolescence risk for components

• Use/maintain ERP systems for procurement planning and inventory visibility

Requirements

• Bachelors Degree

• Experience in sourcing mechanical, electrical, or precision-machined components

• Basic knowledge of negotiation principles and cost estimates

• 5 to 10 years of experience in procurement, supply chain, or vendor management (aerospace, defense, or manufacturing industry preferred)

• Understanding of engineering drawings, GD&T, and technical specifications

• Understanding of ITAR/EAR export control requirements