Senior Lead, Global Semiconductor Category Manager

Sandisk; California (MO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan

Employee stock purchase plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Sandisk in California seeks a Senior Lead, Global Semiconductor Category Manager to define and execute global sourcing for PMIC & Mux, ensuring long-term supply continuity and technology leadership.

You will lead category roadmaps, engage with Engineering, Operations, Finance, and Program teams, and drive cost optimization and risk management.

This role requires 10+ years in semiconductor sourcing, a Bachelor's in a relevant field, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related discipline; MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of semiconductor sourcing, category management, supply chain, procurement, or supplier management experience.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor manufacturing ecosystems, especially PMIC & Mux.
• Experience managing executive-level supplier relationships and complex negotiations.
• Strong analytical, financial, and risk management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute global sourcing strategy for PMIC & Mux.
• Lead category business reviews and provide executive updates regarding supply outlook, risks, and initiatives.
• Own long-term supply continuity planning and capacity management for the category.
• Lead supplier negotiations covering commercial terms, pricing, and long-term commitments.
• Drive alternate source strategies and supplier diversification.
• Partner with Engineering, NPI Procurement, Planning, Supplier Quality, and Finance to align sourcing decisions.

Skills

Strategic category management

Supplier relationship management

Negotiation

Risk management

Cross-functional leadership

Financial analysis

Influence across teams

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related discipline

MBA preferred

Tools

ERP systems

MS Excel

Data analytics

Job description

Sandisk understands how people and businesses consume data and we relentlessly innovate to deliver solutions that enable today’s needs and tomorrow’s next big ideas. With a rich history of groundbreaking innovations in Flash and advanced memory technologies, our solutions have become the beating heart of the digital world we’re living in and that we have the power to shape.

Sandisk meets people and businesses at the intersection of their aspirations and the moment, enabling them to keep moving and pushing possibility forward. We do this through the balance of our powerhouse manufacturing capabilities and our industry-leading portfolio of products that are recognized globally for innovation, performance and quality.

Sandisk has two facilities recognized by the World Economic Forum as part of the Global Lighthouse Network for advanced 4IR innovations. These facilities were also recognized as Sustainability Lighthouses for breakthroughs in efficient operations. With our global reach, we ensure the global supply chain has access to the Flash memory it needs to keep our world moving forward.

Global Category Manager, PMIC & Mux

The Senior Lead, Global Semiconductor Category Manager is responsible for defining and executing the global sourcing and supply strategy for assigned semiconductor commodities (e.g. PMIC & Mux). The GCM serves as the strategic owner of the category, ensuring long-term supply continuity, supplier competitiveness, technology alignment, and risk mitigation in support of Sandisk's customer commitments and business growth objectives. The role leads strategic supplier engagement, develops category roadmaps, drives sourcing decisions, and collaborates with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Planning, Supplier Quality, and Program teams to secure sustainable supply solutions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Category Strategy & Business Planning

• Develop and maintain multi-year category strategies aligned with corporate objectives, product roadmaps, and customer demand forecasts.
• Analyze market conditions, supplier capabilities, capacity trends, technology roadmaps, geopolitical risks, and industry developments to guide sourcing decisions.
• Establish sourcing strategies that balance cost, supply assurance, technology leadership, and risk management.
• Lead category business reviews and provide executive updates regarding supply outlook, risks, and strategic initiatives

Supply Continuity & Risk Management

• Own long-term supply continuity planning for assigned semiconductor categories.
• Drive supplier commitment strategies to support Sandisk's transition toward multi-year customer commitments.
• Lead risk identification, mitigation planning, allocation strategies, capacity reservation discussions, and business continuity planning.
• Escalate and drive resolution of strategic supply constraints with executive stakeholders and suppliers.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Serve as the executive relationship owner for strategic semiconductor suppliers.
• Lead supplier negotiations covering commercial agreements, long-term capacity commitments, strategic investments, pricing frameworks, and supply assurance programs.
• Conduct Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) and supplier performance assessments.
• Develop supplier roadmaps aligned with technology and business requirements.

Strategic Sourcing & Qualification

• Lead sourcing recommendations for new programs and strategic component selections.
• Drive alternate source strategies, second-source qualifications, and supplier diversification initiatives.
• Partner with Engineering and NPI Procurement to influence sourcing decisions early in the product design cycle.
• Support value engineering initiatives focused on cost optimization, supply resilience, and technology competitiveness.

Commercial Management

• Own strategic commercial negotiations for assigned semiconductor commodities.
• Lead cost reduction initiatives, supplier productivity programs, and long-term cost competitiveness strategies.
• Approve and manage PPV-related decisions and category-level cost performance reporting where applicable.
• Negotiate and support execution of NDAs, MSAs, SOWs, LTAs, LOAs, and other commercial agreements.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner closely with:
  • Engineering and Platform Architecture
  • NPI Procurement
  • Planning and Material Management
  • Supplier Quality
  • Operations and Manufacturing
  • Finance
  • Program Management
• Provide strategic direction to Category Managers and Global Buyers responsible for tactical supplier execution.

Key Deliverables

• Multi-year category strategy and roadmap
• Supply continuity plans supporting customer commitments
• Capacity and allocation management framework
• Strategic supplier relationship plans
• Second-source and qualification strategiesExecutive risk mitigation and escalation plans
• Commercial negotiation outcomes and savings initiatives
• Market intelligence and supplier technology

Decision Authority

The Global Category Manager is accountable for:

• Category strategy and roadmap development
• Strategic sourcing recommendations
• Strategic supplier engagement and executive escalation
• Long-term supplier commitments and capacity planning
• Category-level risk management and mitigation
• Commercial negotiation strategy and major supplier agreements
• Cross-functional alignment on sourcing and supply

REQUIRED:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related discipline; MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of semiconductor sourcing, category management, supply chain, procurement, or supplier management experience.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor manufacturing ecosystems, especially PMIC & Mux.
• Experience managing executive-level supplier relationships and complex negotiations.
• Strong analytical, financial, and risk management capabilities.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and lead through ambiguity.
• Experience managing strategic supply continuity programs and high-impact business risks.

Sandisk is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person’s gender identity, gender expression, and gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal" poster. Our pay transparency policy is available here.

Sandisk thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.

Sandisk is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at [e-mail] to advise us of your accommodation request.

Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 12/17/2026(3 months from posting), although we reserve the right to close the application process sooner if we hire an applicant for this position before the application deadline. If we are not able to hire someone from this role before the application deadline, we will update this posting with a new anticipated application deadline.

Compensation & Benefits Details

• An employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
• The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York. This range may be modified in the future.
• You will be eligible to participate in Sandisk's Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance. Depending on your role and your performance, you may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan.RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to Sandisk's Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical/dental/vision insurance; life, accident and disability insurance; tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program; other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity; tuition reimbursement; transit; the Applause Program, employee stock purchase plan, and the Sandisk's Savings 401(k) Plan.
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.