Hardware Sourcing Intern

Base Power Company; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 20,664 - 34,440; Part time

Job summary

Base Power Company in Austin, Texas is seeking a Sourcing Intern to assist in building supplier relationships and contributing to the sourcing strategy. The role involves negotiating with suppliers, managing proposals, and supporting product development in hardware manufacturing.

The ideal candidate will have strong Excel skills, project management abilities, and clear communication. This position offers an opportunity to work in a dynamic startup environment with a focus on innovation and resilience in the power sector.

Qualifications

• Strong Excel and spreadsheet analysis skills.
• Excellent organizational and project management abilities.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• A flexible, solutions-oriented mindset.

Responsibilities

• Create and run requests for proposals (RFPs).
• Develop cost models.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and conditions with suppliers.
• Build and maintain strong supplier partnerships.
• Work directly with key suppliers to develop and implement sourcing strategies.
• Ensure suppliers are prepared for prototype and mass production.
• Present recommendations on contract awards and cost reviews.

Skills

Excel and spreadsheet analysis skills

Organizational and project management abilities

Written and verbal communication skills

Flexible, solutions-oriented mindset

Education

Experience or coursework related to hardware manufacturing, supply chain, or operations

Job description

About Base

Base is America’s next-generation power company. We’re rebuilding the foundation of modern civilization–electricity–by deploying a vast network of distributed batteries that is transforming today’s fragile, centralized grid into a resilient and abundant system. We are engineers, operators, and creatives solving some of the most complex, interdisciplinary challenges of our time.

About the Role

Base is looking for a Sourcing Intern to help build and manage supplier relationships, support product development and manufacturing, and contribute to our sourcing strategy. You’ll collaborate closely with engineering, manufacturing, and logistics teams to ensure the right suppliers, materials, and processes are in place to support our product roadmap. The role will primarily focus on general hardware manufacturing.

What You’ll Do

• Create and run requests for proposals (RFPs).

• Develop cost models.

• Negotiate pricing, terms, and conditions with suppliers.

• Build and maintain strong supplier partnerships.

• Work directly with key suppliers to develop and implement sourcing and cost management strategies for existing and new products.

• Ensure suppliers are prepared to deliver on prototype builds, product ramp-up, and mass production.

• Present recommendations on contract awards, cost reviews, and supply chain risk assessments.

What You’ll Bring

• Strong Excel and spreadsheet analysis skills.

• Excellent organizational and project management abilities.

• Clear written and verbal communication skills.

• A flexible, solutions-oriented mindset.

Preferred Skills

• Experience or coursework related to hardware manufacturing, supply chain, or operations.

Please note: Base is a startup, which means priorities shift and evolve quickly. Your role may expand or change based on the needs of the business at any given time, so the responsibilities listed may not be exhaustive.

Our Values

• First Principles Thinking: Question assumptions. Principles > rules.

• Operate at Base Pace: Focus on what matters, act quickly, and learn by doing.

• Give & Get Feedback: Be direct, be humble, and maintain a growth mindset.

• Everyone’s an Owner: Follow through on commitments and own results.

• Strong Opinions, Loosely Held: Drive clarity and make calls with imperfect information.

• Committed to the Mission: Rebuilding the grid is a big challenge. We work hard because we care deeply about the impact we’re creating. We work in-person. It’s not a 9-to-5. We are all-in.

• Fun & Optimism Coexist with Grit: Collaboration and celebration coincide with the intensity of building real things.

Do the best work of your life at Base.