Strategic Sourcing Manager, Mechanical Components

Zoox; Foster City (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Zoox is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Manager of Direct Procurement to drive supplier strategy for hardware components and direct materials used in our autonomous vehicle program.

You will lead cross-functional sourcing, draft RFQs, negotiate terms, and optimize cost and performance with partners. Requires 4+ years in hardware procurement and a Bachelor’s degree, plus strong Excel and analytical skills.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in partnership development and/or purchasing in a hardware product environment.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Strategic sourcing, financial and business opportunity analysis, and contract negotiation skills.
• Excellent communication and ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement and partnerships for vehicle direct materials (interiors, structural components, advanced hardware).
• Engage with Zoox stakeholders to derive and execute 3–5 year roadmaps for vehicle development.
• Develop supply chain and partnership footprint with a long-term strategic view.
• Oversee day-to-day supplier relationships, milestones, and change orders.
• Design and synthesize supplier, industry, and market research.
• Drive cost transparency and total cost of ownership models.
• Ensure optimal contract coverage with engineering and legal support.
• Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships as the lead contact for commercial issues.
• Review, analyze, and finalize supplier quote packages.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Advanced Microsoft Excel skills

Excellent analytical skills

Team collaboration and cross-function

Independent, self-starter

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

As Strategic Sourcing Manager of Direct Procurement, you will be responsible for Zoox’s strategic sourcing and industry partnerships, which includes working cross-functionally to understand needs for third-party engagement across the business, finding and evaluating potential partners and suppliers, drafting and issuing RFQs, leading the negotiation of all key terms and conditions as well as pricing, managing commercial and supply chain issues, identifying and executing on cost reduction opportunities, and overall management of third party relationships. You can operate independently and possess expertise in drive modules, powertrain, chassis, or body components.

• Lead procurement and partnership initiatives for vehicle direct materials (interiors, structural components, advanced hardware)
• Proactively engage with Zoox stakeholders (incl. engineering, operations, manufacturing, strategy, finance, and design) to derive and execute the medium-term (3-5 years) business and technology roadmap to support Zoox’s vehicle development program and autonomous ride-hailing service
• Develop the supply chain and partnership footprint with a long-term, strategic view
• Lead the day-to-day process of ensuring successful partnerships (milestone adherence, change order management, quality assurance, cost control, etc.) and build supplier performance assessments to support future sourcing decisions
• Design, conduct, and synthesize supplier, industry, and market research
• Drive cost transparency and build total cost of ownership models to support sourcing decisions
• Ensure optimal contract coverage for the commodity/servicein partnership with engineering and legal support
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers as the lead point of contact for all commercial issues
• Review, analyze, and finalize quote packages from suppliers
• Support and inform internal stakeholders with respect to supplier selection and management
• Identify sourcing alternatives to drive efficiencies via benchmarking, competitive quotes, andchanging requirements
• 4+ years of experience inpartnership development and/orpurchasing in a hardware productenvironment
• Bachelor’s degree
• Strategic sourcing, financial and business opportunity analysis, comfort with legal frameworks, and contract negotiation skills (development, supply, licensing, and service agreements)
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders, including C-level, engineering, legal, finance, manufacturing, and logistics
• Excellent analytical skills
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment to achieve business objectives
• Demonstrated ability to identify business process issues and drive process improvement
• Open-minded self-starter with the ability to adapt, improvise, and problem-solve
• Ability to work independently on multiple tasks and projects with various stakeholders
• Organizational skills to manage and track transactional details

About Zoox

Zoox is developing the first ground-up, fully autonomous vehicle fleet and the supporting ecosystem required to bring this technology to market. Sitting at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and design, Zoox aims to provide the next generation of mobility-as-a-service in urban environments. We’re looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part of a fast-moving and highly execution-oriented team.

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Accommodations

If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to [e-mail] or your assigned recruiter.

Final Note:

You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Zoox, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.