Strategic Sourcing Lead, Precision Mechanical Components

Salient Motion; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Health benefits 100% covered

Life Insurance 2x salary

Job summary

Salient Motion in Torrance, CA is seeking a Category Manager, Mechanical Equipment to own the mechanical supplier base for its actuator lines. You will source precision gears, housings, bearings, shafts, and machined parts, and manage raw materials feeding our internal machine shop.

This strategic role oversees supplier relationships to ensure on-time delivery, cost targets, and compliant materials, with U.S. Person status due to ITAR/EAR requirements.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, category management, or supply chain for precision mechanical components.
• Experience sourcing machined, forged, or cast metal components and raw materials (aluminum, titanium, steel, specialty alloys).
• Knowledge of GD&T, material certifications, and special process requirements (heat treat, plating, NDT).
• Experience negotiating supply agreements, pricing, and capacity commitments with machine shops and distributors.
• Familiarity with AS9100 quality systems and supplier qualification/audit processes.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Must qualify as a U.S. Person under ITAR (22 CFR 120.15).

Responsibilities

• Own commodity strategy and supplier selection for precision mechanical components: gears, housings, bearings, shafts, and related machined/formed parts.
• Lead sourcing for new programs from RFQ through award, negotiating cost, lead time, and capacity commitments.
• Own procurement for New Product Introduction (NPI): lead early supplier involvement and manage components through initial production.
• Qualify and develop precision machining, forging, and casting suppliers; lead supplier audits and capability assessments.
• Partner with design and manufacturing engineering on material selection to balance cost, performance, and manufacturability.
• Develop should-cost and price targets for mechanical commodities and own NPI cost-out commitments.
• Manage supplier corrective action for dimensional, material, or process quality escapes.
• Negotiate long‑term agreements and POs with key machine shops and distributors.
• Ensure supplier compliance with AS9100, ITAR/EAR, and material traceability/certification requirements.
• Support make/buy decisions and capacity planning in coordination with internal CNC machine shop.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Supply chain

GD&T knowledge

NPI procurement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/SC or related

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

NetSuite

SAP

Epicor

Job description

Salient Motion in Torrance, CA is seeking a Category Manager, Mechanical Equipment to own the mechanical supplier base for its actuator lines. You will source precision gears, housings, bearings, shafts, and machined parts, and manage raw materials feeding our internal machine shop.

This strategic role oversees supplier relationships to ensure on-time delivery, cost targets, and compliant materials, with U.S. Person status due to ITAR/EAR requirements.