Senior Category Manager-Strategic Sourcing for Electronics

nLIGHT, Inc.; Camas (WA); On-site; USD 93,000 - 123,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

Restricted Stock Unit grants

Paid time off

Health benefits starting day 1

401(k) with company match

Life & AD&D Insurance

Tuition assistance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

nLIGHT, Inc. in Camas, WA, is seeking a Senior Category Manager to lead sourcing strategies for direct materials and tech in electronics.

You’ll work with Engineering, Quality, Operations and Program teams to support roadmaps, qualifications, and cost targets, ensuring continuity of supply. You will shape supplier portfolios, negotiate favorable terms, monitor market and regulatory developments, and drive supplier performance across DoD/government programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years in category management or sourcing.
• Experience developing category strategies and managing supplier relationships.
• Negotiating supplier agreements and commercial terms.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Familiarity with government contracting (FAR/DFARS/ITAR/EAR) preferred.
• Experience leading sourcing and supplier performance initiatives.
• Proficiency in ERP and Excel and other analytics tools.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and deliver cross-functional results.

Responsibilities

• Develops category and supplier strategies aligned with priorities.
• Shapes supplier portfolio to support qualification plans and reduce single-source risk.
• Drives supplier performance through scorecards and QBRs.
• Negotiates supplier agreements including pricing and terms.
• Partners with engineering and operations on sourcing for new and sustaining products.
• Monitors market conditions and regulatory developments to mitigate supply risk.
• Ensures compliance with regulations and internal purchasing policies.
• Drives improvements in sourcing processes and analytics.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

nLIGHT, Inc. in Camas, WA, is seeking a Senior Category Manager to lead sourcing strategies for direct materials and tech in electronics.

You’ll work with Engineering, Quality, Operations and Program teams to support roadmaps, qualifications, and cost targets, ensuring continuity of supply. You will shape supplier portfolios, negotiate favorable terms, monitor market and regulatory developments, and drive supplier performance across DoD/government programs.