Software Commodity Manager

Socket.dev; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 105,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Health

Dental

Vision

HRA/HSA options

PTO and paid holidays

401K

Parental Leave

Job summary

True Anomaly is seeking a Software Commodity Manager to own the strategy, sourcing, and vendor relationships for the software licenses, SaaS platforms, and technology subscriptions that power our engineering, operations, and business functions.

You will manage a complex portfolio of software agreements - from simulation and CAD tools to infrastructure and cybersecurity platforms - working closely with IT, engineering, legal, and finance to ensure True Anomaly has the tools it needs at the right

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of procurement or vendor management experience
• Experience negotiating software agreements with measurable commercial outcomes
• Deep understanding of software licensing models
• Ability to engage credibly with engineering and IT stakeholders on technical requirements and translate them into clear commercial terms
• Familiarity with software contract provisions including data rights, IP ownership, SLAs, and termination clauses
• Strong analytical skills

Responsibilities

• Own software spend strategy across True Anomaly, including engineering tools, simulation and modeling software, PLM/PDM systems, SaaS business applications, cloud services, and cybersecurity platforms
• Lead sourcing events for new software acquisitions and renewals - defining requirements, issuing RFPs, evaluating proposals, and driving award decisions in partnership with technical stakeholders
• Build and maintain a software vendor catalog and license inventory, ensuring visibility into what is owned, deployed, and upcoming for renewal
• Develop market intelligence on software pricing benchmarks, licensing trends, and vendor negotiation leverage to inform strategy
• Identify opportunities to consolidate redundant tools, rationalize the software portfolio, and reduce total cost of ownership
• Serve as the primary commercial owner of software vendor relationships - managing day-to-day interactions, renewals, escalations, and strategic account conversations
• Negotiate software agreements including ELAs (Enterprise License Agreements), SaaS subscriptions, and professional services contracts - with a focus on favorable pricing, flexible true-up terms, data rights, and exit provisions
• Partner with legal to review and redline software contracts, with particular attention to data handling, IP ownership, export control, and security provisions relevant to a defense contractor
• Manage vendor performance and SLA compliance, escalating issues related to uptime, support responsiveness, or contractual breaches
• Ensure software procurement and usage complies with ITAR, export control, and cybersecurity requirements (e.g., CMMC) applicable to True Anomaly's programs
• Partner with engineering, IT, and program teams to understand software needs ahead of renewal cycles and new program starts - avoiding last-minute purchases and missed leverage windows
• Act as an internal advisor to stakeholders on software licensing models (per-seat, concurrent, token-based, ELA) to help teams make informed decisions about what to buy and how
• Resolve vendor issues - billing disputes, license overages, support escalations - quickly and without disruption to engineering operations

Skills

Negotiation of software agreements

Software licensing models

Vendor relationship management

Analytical skills

Tools

MATLAB

Ansys

Siemens NX

JIRA

CAD/CAM tools

SAM tooling

Job description

Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it.

OUR MISSION

True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors - enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.

OUR VALUES

• Be the offset.We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity.
• What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results.
• It's the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together.

YOUR MISSION

As Software Commodity Manager at True Anomaly, you will own the strategy, sourcing, and vendor relationships for the software licenses, SaaS platforms, and technology subscriptions that power our engineering, operations, and business functions. You will manage a complex portfolio of software agreements - from simulation and CAD tools to infrastructure and cybersecurity platforms - working closely with IT, engineering, legal, and finance to ensure True Anomaly has the tools it needs at the right cost, with the right terms, and in full compliance with regulatory requirements. This role requires someone who understands software licensing models deeply, negotiates with confidence against sophisticated vendors, and can build a scalable software procurement function from the ground up.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own the commodity strategy for software spend across True Anomaly, including engineering tools, simulation and modeling software, PLM/PDM systems, SaaS business applications, cloud services, and cybersecurity platforms
• Lead sourcing events for new software acquisitions and renewals - defining requirements, issuing RFPs, evaluating proposals, and driving award decisions in partnership with technical stakeholders
• Build and maintain a software vendor catalog and license inventory, ensuring visibility into what is owned, deployed, and upcoming for renewal
• Develop market intelligence on software pricing benchmarks, licensing trends, and vendor negotiation leverage to inform strategy
• Identify opportunities to consolidate redundant tools, rationalize the software portfolio, and reduce total cost of ownership
• Serve as the primary commercial owner of software vendor relationships - managing day-to-day interactions, renewals, escalations, and strategic account conversations
• Negotiate software agreements including ELAs (Enterprise License Agreements), SaaS subscriptions, and professional services contracts - with a focus on favorable pricing, flexible true-up terms, data rights, and exit provisions
• Partner with legal to review and redline software contracts, with particular attention to data handling, IP ownership, export control, and security provisions relevant to a defense contractor
• Manage vendor performance and SLA compliance, escalating issues related to uptime, support responsiveness, or contractual breaches
• Ensure software procurement and usage complies with ITAR, export control, and cybersecurity requirements (e.g., CMMC) applicable to True Anomaly's programs
• Partner with engineering, IT, and program teams to understand software needs ahead of renewal cycles and new program starts - avoiding last-minute purchases and missed leverage windows
• Act as an internal advisor to stakeholders on software licensing models (per-seat, concurrent, token-based, ELA) to help teams make informed decisions about what to buy and how
• Resolve vendor issues - billing disputes, license overages, support escalations - quickly and without disruption to engineering operations

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5-8 years of procurement or vendor management experience, with direct ownership of software or technology commodity sourcing
• Demonstrated experience negotiating software agreements with measurable commercial outcomes
• Deep understanding of software licensing models and the ability to identify risk, inefficiency, or missed leverage in existing agreements
• Experience managing a software vendor portfolio and license inventory across a complex, multi-team organization Ability to engage credibly with engineering and IT stakeholders on technical requirements and translate them into clear commercial terms
• Familiarity with software contract provisions including data rights, IP ownership, SLAs, and termination clauses
• Strong analytical skills

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience procuring engineering or defense-specific software (e.g., MATLAB, Ansys, Siemens NX, JIRA, CAD/CAM tools, simulation platforms)
• Familiarity with ITAR, export control, and CMMC compliance requirements as they apply to software procurement and data handling Background in aerospace, defense, or technology manufacturing environments
• Experience implementing or improving software asset management (SAM) programs
• Exposure to cloud procurement (AWS, Azure, GCP) and consumption-based commercial models

COMPENSATION

• Base Salary: $105,000-$160,000
• Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work Location - Successful candidates will be located near Denver or Long Beach.
• Work environment - the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
• Physical demands - the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.

True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.