Strategic Sourcing Director - Key Technologies and Commodities

VAST Data; Campbell (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

VAST Data is seeking an experienced Strategic Sourcing Leader to drive multi-year strategies for critical hardware commodities, including memory, storage, and compute. You will manage key supplier relationships and align technology roadmaps to build supply chain resilience for next‑gen AI hardware systems.

This role focuses on driving negotiations, contract structures, and cost optimizations while collaborating with cross‑functional teams to enable scalable hardware solutions for data center and

Qualifications

• 10+ years in technical/strategic sourcing or related field.
• Deep understanding of hardware architectures and cost modeling.
• Proven record in large-scale contract negotiations and supplier management.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, or Business; MBA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and drive multi-year sourcing strategies for critical hardware commodities.
• Cultivate relationships with core suppliers and influence roadmaps.
• Lead complex contract negotiations and finalize pricing/awards; implement Master Supply Agreements and SOWs.
• Create and maintain product specification requirements; manage lifecycles end-to-end.
• Drive cost optimization through TCO analysis and should-cost modeling.
• Create and drive RFx processes and associated contracts with key suppliers.
• Monitor market trends and conduct competitive analyses.

Skills

Strategic Sourcing

Commodity Management

Contract Negotiations

Cost Modeling

Vendor Management

Education

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

Job description

Role Overview

Lead strategic technology and commodity sourcing initiatives for critical hardware components. In this role, you will spearhead high-impact supplier relationships, align technology roadmaps, and build supply chain resilience for our next-generation AI hardware systems. Your primary focus will encompass strategic commodities, including compute, storage, and memory products.

Role Overview

Lead strategic technology and commodity sourcing initiatives for critical hardware components. In this role, you will spearhead high-impact supplier relationships, align technology roadmaps, and build supply chain resilience for our next-generation AI hardware systems. Your primary focus will encompass strategic commodities, including compute, storage, and memory products.

This is a rare opportunity to join one of the fastest-growing infrastructure companies in history, positioned directly at the epicenter of the artificial intelligence revolution.

About VAST Data

VAST Data is the data platform company for the AI era. We build the enterprise software infrastructure required to capture, catalog, refine, enrich, and protect massive datasets, making them seamlessly available for real-time analytics, AI training, and inference. Designed from the ground up to make AI effortless to deploy and manage, VAST eliminates the cost and complexity of enterprise AI infrastructure across data center, edge, and cloud environments.

Our momentum is driven by relentless innovation, a customer-first mindset, and a team of fearless VASTronauts who leverage their expertise to make a lasting market impact.

Join us at a pivotal moment in our company’s growth—and at a defining nexus in computing history.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Sourcing & Roadmap: Develop and drive multi-year sourcing strategies. Lead cross-functional teams to drive technology, roadmap, qualification, and supplier strategies for key commodities
• Supplier Management: Cultivate strong relationships with core suppliers. Influence business models and technology roadmaps. Drive long-term technology collaboration.
• Negotiation & Commercials: Drive commodity RFP/RFQ processes. Lead complex contract negotiations and finalize pricing/business awards. Implement Master Supply Agreements and SOWs.
• Specification & Product Lifecycle Management: Create and maintain product specification requirements; Drive specification alignment with suppliers. Create and support optimal commodity strategies for NPI. Manage key product lifecycles end-to-end.
• Cost Optimization: Drive hardware cost optimizations and reductions through TCO analysis, should-cost modeling, and commodity strategies. Drive key supplier and product selection, qualification and multi-sourcing strategies to ensure competitive pricing, ongoing cost reduction path, and commercial resiliency
• RFI/RFP/RFQ & Contracts: Create and drive RFx process and associated contracts with key commodity suppliers for POC, NPI, new technologies/products, new suppliers, etc.
• Market Intelligence & Competitive Analysis: Maintain a pulse on emerging technologies and industry trends to conduct insightful competitive analyses

Core Requirements

• Experience: 10+ years in technical/strategic sourcing, commodity management, or component engineering (focusing on semiconductor, memory, or data center hardware).
• Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of hardware architectures (memory/storage, semiconductors). Ability to evaluate technical trade-offs and vendor roadmaps; understand supplier/technology costs, industry trends, and perform cost modeling analysis.
• Commercial Acumen: Proven track record in large-scale complex contract negotiations and supplier management.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, or Business (MBA or advanced degree preferred).
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead global, cross-functional teams and influence executive-level stakeholders.