Commodity Manager Torrance, CA Supply Chain

Castelion Corporation; Torrance (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Castelion is rapidly advancing defense systems and seeks a senior Commodity Manager for ownership of supplier strategies across vehicle and missile programs. You will partner with engineering, manufacturing, quality, finance, and operations to build a resilient supply base from development through production.

This senior IC role requires deep expertise in at least one defense-related commodity and the ability to influence decisions without direct people management.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, purchasing, commodity management, supply chain, manufacturing, or related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in defense/aerospace/regulation-heavy purchasing commodities.
• Experience leading sourcing events, supplier negotiations, and commercial analysis as an IC.

Responsibilities

• Own commodity strategies and supplier landscapes for assigned programs and products.
• Lead supplier discovery, qualification, RFQs, bid analysis, negotiation and award recommendations.
• Drive cost reduction, value engineering, and total cost of ownership improvements.
• Collaborate with engineering and suppliers on manufacturability and alternate sources.
• Monitor supplier performance and drive corrective actions.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier negotiations

Commodity management

Market analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain / related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Sourcing systems

SQL

Job description

Castelion is moving incredibly fast to develop and deliver advanced defense systems at a time when execution matters more than ever. We believe focus, ownership, and excellence are decisive advantages - and we're building a world-class team to turn bold ideas into real capability.

This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage, where you'll have significant ownership, collaborate with exceptional teammates, and make a direct, measurable impact on our mission and the future of the company - regardless of your function.

Commodity Manager

As a Commodity Manager, you will own and execute sourcing and supplier strategies for assigned commodities across Castelion vehicle and missile programs. You will partner closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, finance, program management, and operations to establish a resilient, competitive, and scalable supply base from rapid development through production.

This is a senior individual contributor role. You will be expected to bring deep technical and commercial expertise in at least one defense-related purchasing commodity—such as avionics, machined/metallic parts, composites/special materials, hardware, chemicals, or a similar category—while remaining capable of supporting work across commodities. You will lead through influence, make sound decisions with incomplete information, and personally drive sourcing outcomes without direct people-management responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Own commodity strategies, supplier landscapes, sourcing plans, and execution priorities for assigned programs and product lines.
• Provide recognized subject-matter expertise in at least one core commodity: avionics; machined/metallic parts; composites/special materials; hardware; chemicals; or a similar defense-related purchasing category.
• Analyze market conditions, manufacturing processes, cost drivers, capacity, lead times, and supplier capabilities to identify sourcing opportunities and risks.
• Lead supplier discovery, qualification, selection, RFQs, bid analysis, negotiation, award recommendations, and implementation of sourcing decisions.
• Negotiate pricing, lead time, capacity, tooling, payment terms, quality, warranty, change control, intellectual property, and applicable compliance requirements.
• Drive cost reduction, cost avoidance, value engineering, design-to-cost, supplier productivity, and total-cost-of-ownership improvements.
• Partner with engineering and suppliers on design for manufacturability, standardization, alternate sources, material/process choices, and early supplier involvement.
• Monitor supplier performance and lead corrective actions related to quality, delivery, cost, responsiveness, capacity, and technical execution.
• Identify and mitigate single-source, sole-source, long-lead, financial, geopolitical, export-control, and sub-tier risks; maintain actionable recovery plans.
• Own accurate supplier, pricing, purchase-order, lead-time, and commodity data in ERP/MRP and sourcing systems; ensure decisions are documented and audit-ready.
• Provide concise, fact-based communication to stakeholders and senior leadership on tradeoffs, risks, decisions, and progress.
• Contribute to sourcing process improvements, mentor peers, and raise the technical and commercial capability of the broader purchasing organization.
• Ensure adherence to Castelion policies and procedures and applicable government, export-control, quality, ethics, cybersecurity, and contractual requirements.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, engineering, finance, materials science, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, purchasing, commodity management, supply chain, manufacturing, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in one or more defense, aerospace, advanced-manufacturing, or similarly regulated purchasing commodities.
• Experience leading sourcing events, supplier negotiations, commercial analysis, and supplier-performance improvement as an individual contributor.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Deep knowledge of at least one of avionics; machined/metallic parts; composites/special materials; hardware; chemicals; or a comparable defense-related purchasing commodity, including relevant processes, specifications, and supplier ecosystem.
• Experience supporting new product introduction, rapid development, production ramp, or configuration-controlled hardware.
• Experience with ERP/MRP and sourcing systems, bills of material, purchase orders, supplier master data, and lead-time/planning parameters.
• Strong analytical skills using Excel, SQL, should-cost models, or advanced analytics software.
• Knowledge of FAR/DFARS, ITAR/EAR, counterfeit-part prevention, cybersecurity requirements, or other government-contracting controls.
• APICS, ISM, Six Sigma, or comparable certification.
• Active U.S. Government security clearance or ability to obtain one.

Castelion offers a generous benefits package. Please refer to the bottom of our Careers page for more details.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

This position may require access to classified information or restricted U.S. Government sites, systems, or information, as determined by the Company and/or applicable U.S. Government requirements. If the position is so designated, your employment in the role may be contingent upon your ability to obtain and maintain the required U.S. Government security clearance or other government authorization, and to satisfy any citizenship or other eligibility requirements imposed by applicable law, regulation, executive order, or government contract requirements. You will be notified if and when such requirements apply.

Affirmative Action/EEO Statement

Castelion is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Castelion is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, participate in the interview process, or otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact [e-mail]. Requests for accommodation will be considered on an individual basis and handled in accordance with applicable law.

Castelion is committed to fostering a workplace where employment decisions are based on qualifications, business needs, and the ability to perform the essential functions of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation.

This position requires access to export-controlled information, and as such, employment (or hiring of a contractor) is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.