Global AI Compute Sourcing Lead

OpenAI; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenAI in San Francisco is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Manager to lead global sourcing for AI compute infrastructure, including GPUs, CPUs, server platforms, and cooling systems.

You will shape commercial strategy, drive supplier engagements, and partner with engineering, legal, and finance to ensure alignment with technical objectives and program timelines.

This role is foundational to deploying compute faster and building deep, integrated partnerships across the worldwide compute supply chain.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of strategic sourcing and vendor management experience in compute systems.
• Proven leadership negotiating capital procurement agreements.
• Experience with hyperscale data-center hardware and supply chains.
• Ability to influence cross-functional technical and exec teams.
• Strong analytical, commercial structuring, and risk management skills.
• Experience with global manufacturing and ramp-to-volume for hardware.
• Familiarity with compute architectures incl GPUs/CPUs and cooling.
• Procurement engagements with OEM/JDM/ODM are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for the next generation of AI compute infrastructure in partnership with engineering and program leadership.
• Stay at the leading edge of industry and supply-chain trends to inform category strategy and long-range planning.
• Initiate, negotiate, and manage commercial agreements across OEM/ODM/JDMs for accelerators, GPUs/CPUs, server platforms, rack systems, liquid-cooling components, PSUs, and subsystems.
• Secure capacity and optionality across a rapidly scaling compute supply chain while mitigating risk and ensuring manufacturing readiness.
• Partner cross-functionally with engineering, program delivery, legal, operations, and finance to align sourcing strategies with objectives.
• Drive competitive sourcing events, commercial structuring, and vendor accountability across BOMs.
• Provide technical and commercial evaluation guidance during supplier selection and product qualification cycles.
• Deliver portfolio-level visibility to executives on progress, risks, and decisions with clarity.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Vendor management

Compute systems

Data center hardware

Cross-functional leadership

Analytical decision-making

Global manufacturing

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

OpenAI in San Francisco is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Manager to lead global sourcing for AI compute infrastructure, including GPUs, CPUs, server platforms, and cooling systems.

You will shape commercial strategy, drive supplier engagements, and partner with engineering, legal, and finance to ensure alignment with technical objectives and program timelines.

This role is foundational to deploying compute faster and building deep, integrated partnerships across the worldwide compute supply chain.