Global Supply Manager - Tennessee

Neros Technologies; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 114,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Neros Technologies in Knoxville, TN is seeking a Global Supply Manager to own sourcing strategy and supplier execution for key product families from early development through production.

This role partners with Engineering, Product Development, Supplier Quality, Planning, Purchasing, Finance and Operations to ensure the right suppliers, favorable commercial terms, costs, lead times and supply‑chain risk posture to accelerate drone development and scale production.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years in strategic sourcing or global supply management.
• Experience supporting NPI programs, prototypes, and ramps.
• Proven ability to select suppliers, run RFx processes, and negotiate terms.
• Experience reducing supplier risk and improving contracts.
• Ability to partner with Engineering, Planning, Purchasing, Finance and Ops.
• Strong commercial judgment and data‑driven decision making.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Experience maintaining supplier master data and pricing.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing strategy for assigned product families through development and production.
• Drive supplier selection, RFx processes, and award decisions.
• Collaborate with Engineering/Product Development for part sourcing and readiness.
• Track material dates, lead times, dependencies, and sourcing risks.
• Own cost‑down initiatives with Engineering and suppliers.
• Assess supplier capability, maintain supplier categorization, and governance.
• Manage supplier relationships, conduct QBRs, and escalate issues.
• Negotiate MSAs, LTAs, payment terms, and pricing structures.
• Maintain item master data: suppliers, lead times, prices, classifications.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Global supply management

Supply chain program management

Commodity management

NPI programs

Supplier negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

Communication

Job description

Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America’s drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands‑on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment.

As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy. We’re hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership, and get capability into the hands of warfighters in months, not years.

What you will be doing

Neros is seeking a Global Supply Manager to own sourcing strategy and supplier execution for key product families from early development through production. This person will partner with Engineering, Product Development, Supplier Quality, Planning, Purchasing, Finance, and Operations to ensure Neros has the right suppliers, commercial agreements, costs, lead times, and supply‑chain risk posture to support rapid drone development and scale production.

• 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

You should have the following

• 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

Nice to have:

• Experience sourcing mechanical, electrical, PCB/PCBA, harness, optics, camera, black box, aerospace, semiconductor, automotive, robotics, or other hardware‑related commodities
• Experience negotiating MSAs, LTAs, tiered pricing agreements, payment terms, cancellation clauses, or other production‑scale commercial agreements
• Experience using supplier scorecards, QBRs, ASLs, supplier categorization, or supplier performance management systems
• Experience with DFM, supplier capability assessments, capacity assessments, or supplier industrialization in partnership with SQE or Engineering teams
• Experience in aerospace, defense, drones, robotics, high‑growth manufacturing, or startup hardware environments

US Salary Range

$114,000 - $159,600 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Neros' total compensation package.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Export Compliance: The person hired will have access to information and items controlled by the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), and, therefore, must be a "U.S. Person" or otherwise eligible to receive an export license. As defined in the ITAR, a “U.S. Person” includes U.S. citizens, noncitizen U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain other classes of individuals (e.g., asylees/refugees). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.” To assist Neros in assessing its export compliance obligations in relation to your application, please identify which statement best applies to you: * Select...

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