Manager, Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Quality

Neros; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 171,000 - 239,000; Full time

Job summary

Neros seeks a Manager for Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Quality to build and lead the integrated sourcing and supplier quality function for our growing supply base. This role owns category strategy, supplier relationships, supplier qualification, and cross‑functional alignment from selection through delivery.

The ideal candidate combines strategic sourcing with hands-on supplier quality leadership to scale production while mitigating supplier-driven risk. Join a fast-paced, defense-focused team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in sourcing, procurement, supplier quality, supply chain, or related function.
• Experience leading supplier management, strategic sourcing, contract management, and category strategy development.

Responsibilities

• Lead category strategy development and identify supplier risks and opportunities.
• Build and manage supplier relationships supporting quality, delivery, cost, and strategic goals.
• Lead and grow a team of supplier quality engineers responsible for qualification, audits, corrective actions, and KPIs.
• Own supplier scorecards, business reviews, quality KPIs, and corrective action cycles.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier quality

Team leadership

Category strategy

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk mitigation

Analytics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Supply Chain/related field

Job description

Manager, Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Quality

Who we are

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 Manager, Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Quality to build and lead the integrated sourcing and supplier quality function for our growing supply base. This role will own category strategy, supplier relationships, supplier qualification, supplier quality performance, and cross-functional alignment from supplier selection through delivery. The ideal candidate combines strategic sourcing expertise with hands‑on supplier quality leadership and can help Neros scale production while reducing supplier-driven risk.

Responsibilities:

• Lead category strategy development, identify emerging supplier risks and opportunities, and shape long-term supply plans across critical categories.
• Build and manage high-performing supplier relationships that support quality, delivery, compliance, cost, and strategic alignment with Neros’ business goals.
• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of supplier quality engineers responsible for supplier qualification, audits, corrective actions, acceptance criteria, and supplier performance.
• Own supplier scorecards, business reviews, quality KPIs, corrective action cycle times, supplier audits, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, regional supply chain teams, and GSMs across Air, Ground, and EE categories.
• Champion risk mitigation through proactive planning, dual-sourcing, supply continuity planning, and effective commercial negotiations.

You should have the following

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related technical field
• 10+ years of experience in sourcing, procurement, supplier quality, supply chain, manufacturing operations, or a related function
• Demonstrated experience leading supplier management, strategic sourcing, contract management, negotiations, and category strategy development
• Hands‑on experience with supplier qualification, supplier audits, corrective actions, root‑cause analysis, supplier scorecards, and quality KPI ownership
• Experience building or leading supplier quality engineering teams, including mentoring senior individual contributors and driving accountability across suppliers
• Strong understanding of manufactured components, assemblies, inspection protocols, acceptance criteria, and supplier performance management
• Proven ability to partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and procurement/GSM teams in a fast‑paced production environment
• Experience driving supply continuity, dual‑sourcing, cost reduction, quality improvement, and risk mitigation across a complex supplier base
• Strong analytical, communication, and executive‑facing business review skills
• Ability to operate with urgency, handle ambiguity, and make practical tradeoffs across cost, schedule, quality, and risk

Nice to Have

• Experience in aerospace, defense, robotics, drones, electronics, automotive, hardware, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments
• Experience working with PCBA, mechanical, electromechanical, RF, airframe, propulsion, or ground systems suppliers
• Experience scaling supplier quality and sourcing processes in a startup or high-growth manufacturing company
• Familiarity with ASL processes, first article inspection, APQP/PPAP-style methods, ISO/AS9100 environments, or lean/six sigma practices
• Prior experience managing international suppliers, including APAC-based supplier quality or sourcing activities

US Salary Range

$170,500 – $238,500 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...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Neros Technologies’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.