Strategic Materials Program Manager

Mainspring Energy; Menlo Park (CA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Mainspring Energy, Inc is seeking a Strategic Materials Program Manager to own end-to-end material flow for high-value components across manufacturing. You will use MRP systems and AI-driven forecasts to review historical trends, compare scenarios, and publish capacity plans.

This role requires cross-functional collaboration with Production, Project Delivery, O&M, and R&D. Hybrid/Remote or Onsite at Menlo Park HQ, with base responsibilities to ensure material availability, alignment with

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in materials management or supply chain planning in manufacturing.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business, or related field.
• Advanced proficiency with MRP and ERP systems.
• Experience leading capacity planning, line-of-balance reviews, and cross-functional alignment with suppliers.
• Experience managing high-value, long-lead, custom-manufactured components.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management; ability to present data to executives.
• Proficiency with AI and automation tools to streamline planning workflows.
• Advanced Excel/Google Sheets skills (VLOOKUP, pivots, data modeling).

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end material flow and inventory visibility for critical components.
• Coordinate material requirements and allocations across Production, Project Delivery, O&M, and R&D.
• Lead capacity planning and line of balance reviews with internal manufacturing teams and external stakeholders.
• Review consumption trends, build comparisons, and evaluate forecasts using MRP systems and AI-driven forecasting tools to publish comprehensive planning reports.
• Partner with Procurement to review inventory coverage, align PO schedules with operational demand horizons, and prevent supply gaps.
• Own cross-functional communication by gathering operational inputs and delivering transparent executive reporting on material health and schedule risks to leadership.

Skills

MRP & scheduling

ERP planning

Analytical skills

Communication

Excel/Sheets

AI forecasting tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain/Engineering/Business

Tools

MRP software

ERP systems

Spreadsheets (Excel/Google Sheets)

Job description

About Mainspring

Mainspring Energy manufactures and delivers fuel-flexible, low-emissions local power solutions that rapidly add new capacity and deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable electric power. The company began commercial shipments of its Mainspring Linear Generators in 2020 and today has hundreds of megawatts in advanced development and field operations for leading Fortune 500 companies, data centers, and utilities. Mainspring also partners with global energy leaders including AEP, NextEra Energy Resources, Schneider Electric, and more.

The core values that ground our work, guide our decisions, and connect us together:

• Pragmatic Optimism
• Excellence without Ego
• Proactive Collaboration

Job Overview

The Strategic Materials Program Manager will be the operational linchpin for our most critical, high-value components. These components feature complex supply chains, custom manufacturing processes, and high field-rework value. To orchestrate material availability across diverse demand streams, you will leverage MRP systems and AI-driven forecasting tools to review historical trends, compare scenarios, and lead rigorous capacity planning. This role owns cross-functional communication, publishes regular planning reports for leadership, and partners directly with Procurement to ensure alignment. It is an opportunity to drive high-impact supply chain visibility from raw material mill runs to final asset delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end material flow and inventory visibility for critical components
• Coordinate and reconcile material requirements and allocations across multiple operational teams including Production, Project Delivery, O&M, and R&D
• Lead capacity planning and line of balance reviews with internal manufacturing teams and external stakeholders to identify and resolve throughput constraints
• Review consumption trends, build comparisons, and evaluate forecasts using MRP systems and AI-driven forecasting tools to publish comprehensive planning reports
• Partner closely with Procurement to review inventory coverage, align purchase order (PO) schedules with operational demand horizons, and prevent supply gaps
• Own cross-functional communication by gathering operational inputs and delivering transparent executive reporting on material health and schedule risks to leadership

Minimum Requirements

• Deep knowledge of material requirements planning (MRP) and production scheduling logic
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data sets and demand signals
• Proficiency in managing ERP planning modules and optimizing system parameters
• Exceptional communication skills to bridge gaps between Engineering, Production, and Procurement

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in materials management or supply chain planning in a manufacturing environment
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business, or a related technical field
• Advanced technical proficiency with MRP and ERP systems
• Proven track record of leading capacity planning, line of balance reviews, and cross-functional operations alignment with external suppliers
• Direct experience managing high-value, long-lead, custom-manufactured components or complex component lifecycles
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with a proven ability to present complex data insights clearly to cross-functional teams and executive leadership
• Proficiency in utilizing AI and automation tools (e.g., LLMs, spreadsheet automation) to streamline material planning workflows, accelerate documentation, and reduce manual reporting time
• Advanced Excel/Google Sheets skills (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, data modeling)
• Cultural fit: Rigorous Accuracy (attention to detail, process-oriented), Pragmatic Problem Solving (finding solutions in supply constraints), and Proactive Collaboration

$84,766 - $99,725 a year

This position is Hybrid/Remote or Onsite at ourMenlo Park HQ. The salary will be adjusted to reflect local market conditions based on employee location as well as the experience of the employee. Along with base salary, Mainspring offers pre-IPO company equity through Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) + benefits.

Does your experience not meet all of our posted requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to positions unless they meet every listed requirement. At Mainspring, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, flexible, and collaborative environment, so if you want to help us transition the world to clean and affordable electricity, and don’t meet all posted requirements for a particular role, we’d still love to hear from you. Mainspring can sometimes be flexible enough to shift responsibilities for the right person, or otherwise identify open or upcoming roles that may better fit your professional background.

In more traditional words, Mainspring Energy, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

This compensation and benefits information is based on Mainspring Energy's estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future. We generally do not negotiate on salary once we have made an offer. The level of pay within the range will depend on a variety of job-related factors that may include location, relevant prior experience and/or education, or particular skills and expertise. New hires joining the company tend to be paid within the starting base pay range noted above, with opportunities to increase pay over time based on development of additional skills, competencies, and company-specific knowledge.