Global Supply Manager — NPI Sourcing for Defense Tech

Neros; Tennessee; On-site; USD 114,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Neros, a defense technology company, is seeking a Global Supply Manager to own sourcing strategy and supplier execution for key product families from development through production.

You will collaborate with Engineering, Product Development, Supplier Quality, Planning, Purchasing, Finance, and Operations to ensure the right suppliers, commercial terms, costs, lead times, and risk posture for rapid drone development and scale.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in strategic sourcing, global supply management, supply chain program management, commodity management, or a closely related supply chain role.
• Experience supporting NPI programs, prototype builds, production ramps, or fast-changing product-development environments.
• Demonstrated ability to select suppliers, run RFX/RFQ processes, negotiate commercial terms, and manage supplier relationships.
• Experience with supplier risk reduction, including sole-source mitigation, lead-time reduction, cost-down execution, and commercial contract improvements.
• Ability to partner directly with Engineering, Product Development, Supplier Quality, Planning, Purchasing, Finance, and Operations.
• Strong commercial judgment, negotiation skills, analytical ability, and comfort using data to support supplier and sourcing decisions.
• Experience maintaining supplier or item master data such as preferred suppliers, lead times, pricing, commodity classifications, or approved supplier lists.
• Ability to operate with urgency in an ambiguous, hardware-focused environment where requirements, designs, suppliers, and production needs may change quickly.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to elevate risks clearly and hold internal and external stakeholders accountable.
• Willingness to work onsite in Knoxville, TN and support a high-intensity defense technology manufacturing environment

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing strategy for assigned product families, including NPI supply chain program management from concept through prototype builds, LRIP, and high-rate production
• Drive supplier selection for new products and long-term strategic needs, including RFXs, commercial analysis, supplier recommendations, and award decisions
• Partner with Engineering and Product Development to support part-specific sourcing, prototype build purchasing needs, DFM opportunities, and supplier readiness for development and production builds
• Track NPI material required dates, supplier lead times, release dependencies, and sourcing risks to help keep development builds and production ramps on schedule
• Own commercial cost-down initiatives in partnership with Engineering, including cost modeling, supplier negotiation, alternate sourcing, and contract improvements
• Partner with Supplier Quality Engineers to assess supplier capability and capacity, maintain supplier categorization, and support approved supplier list governance
• Manage supplier relationships, run supplier QBRs, review supplier scorecards, and act as the main escalation point for commercial and supply issues raised by Purchasing and Planning
• Negotiate MSAs, LTAs, favorable payment terms, cancellation clauses, tiered pricing, and other commercial agreements that improve cost, flexibility, and supply continuity
• Maintain accurate item master data, including preferred suppliers, lead times, unit prices, commodity assignments, and commercial sourcing strategy

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Global supply management

NPI programs

Supplier negotiation

Data-driven decisions

Job description

Neros, a defense technology company, is seeking a Global Supply Manager to own sourcing strategy and supplier execution for key product families from development through production.

You will collaborate with Engineering, Product Development, Supplier Quality, Planning, Purchasing, Finance, and Operations to ensure the right suppliers, commercial terms, costs, lead times, and risk posture for rapid drone development and scale.