Category Manager, Electronics

Salient Motion, Inc.; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Equity

Top-tier healthcare

Flexible PTO & 401K

Job summary

Salient Motion, Inc. is pioneering modular motion technologies to power the next generation of innovation for Industrial, Aerospace and Defense.

We are at the forefront of innovation, crafting exclusive motion control components that propel these sectors into the future. A Category Manager, Electronics will own the electronics supply base for PCBAs, connectors, power conversion components, motor drives, and avionics-adjacent electronics.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in strategic sourcing or category management for electronic components.
• Experience sourcing PCBAs, connectors, power electronics, and semiconductors.
• Familiarity with obsolescence management (DMSMS) and AS9100 quality systems.
• Experience negotiating long-term supply agreements with distributors and OEMs.
• Must qualify as a U.S. Person under ITAR (22 CFR §120.15).

Responsibilities

• Own category strategy for PCBAs, connectors, power supplies, motor drives, and electronic sub-assemblies.
• Lead sourcing for new programs from RFQ through award, negotiating cost, lead time, and terms.
• Manage component allocation risk and develop multi-source/second-source strategies.
• Drive obsolescence programs for electronic components across platforms.
• Influence component selection with design engineering during development.
• Lead supplier corrective actions for quality escapes tied to electronics.
• Negotiate and manage long-term agreements with distributors and manufacturers.
• Monitor tariffs, shortages, and other market trends affecting cost and availability.
• Ensure supplier compliance with ITAR/EAR and counterfeit-parts avoidance.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Supply chain

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

NetSuite

SAP

Epicor

Job description

We are pioneering modular motion technologies to power the next generation of innovation for Industrial, Aerospace and Defense. If you're excited about disrupting legacy industries, and passionate about building the financial infrastructure behind cutting-edge hardware, let's chat!

We are at the forefront of innovation, crafting exclusive motion control components that propel the industrial, aerospace, and defense sectors into the future.

A couple other things:

• We offer a lot of autonomy
• We like to run lean for impact
• We have great benefits
• We are well funded, and already generating revenue
• We're currently in Torrance, CA, but will be moving into a new facility in Hawthorne, CA in the summer!

What you'll do:

The Category Manager, Electronics owns the electronics supply base that feeds Salient Motion's actuator, power supply, and integrated system product lines. This is a strategic, high-visibility role: the mandate is to set commodity strategy for PCBAs, connectors, power conversion components, motor drives, and avionics-adjacent electronics, and to be the strategic authority the business relies on when a supplier problem threatens a program milestone.

This role works directly with engineering, program management, and quality to translate design intent into a resilient, cost-competitive supply base, and requires U.S. Person status due to the export-controlled nature of the components and programs involved

• Own category strategy and supplier selection across PCBAs, connectors, power supplies, motor drives, and electronic sub-assemblies/cable assemblies.
• Lead sourcing for new programs from RFQ through award, negotiating cost, lead time, and terms that protect program margin and schedule.
• Manage component allocation risk and lead-time volatility; build multi-source and second-source strategies to protect production continuity.
• Drive a proactive obsolescence program for electronic components across active and legacy platforms.
• Partner with design engineering during development to influence component selection for cost, and availability.
• Lead or support supplier corrective action for quality escapes tied to electronic components.
• Negotiate and manage long-term agreements, pricing tiers, and consigned inventory arrangements with key electronics distributors and manufacturers.
• Monitor and report commodity market trends (tariffs, shortages, conflict) and their impact on cost and availability.
• Ensure supplier compliance with AS9100, ITAR/EAR, and counterfeit-parts avoidance requirements (AS5553).
• Support make/buy analysis and total-cost-of-ownership modeling for electronics commodities.

What you need:

• 5+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, category management, or supply chain for electronic components, ideally in aerospace, defense, or another regulated manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience sourcing semiconductors, PCBAs/electronic sub-assemblies, connectors, and power electronics.
• Working knowledge of DMSMS/obsolescence management practices.
• Experience negotiating supply agreements, pricing, and long-term commitments with distributors and OEM electronics manufacturers.
• Familiarity with AS9100 quality systems and counterfeit electronic parts avoidance (AS5553/AS6081).
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Must qualify as a U.S. Person under ITAR (22 CFR §120.15).

Nice to have:

• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Epicor) for demand planning and PO management.
• Prior experience supporting flight controls, actuation systems, or aircraft systems programs.
• Exposure to power supply or motor drive commodity sourcing specifically.

What we have to offer:

We are not just building components. We are reshaping the future of the Aerospace and Defense component industry, which is a $300B+ market! Come join us and help build next generation systems that will make a massive impact at global scale.

• Competitive compensation: Base Salary of $160,000 - $175,000, plus equity
• Exceptional healthcare benefits — Medical is 100% covered by the company
• Life Insurance (2x Salary) 100% covered by the company
• Flexible PTO, 401K, Financial Wellness Resources, and more