Strategic Sourcing Specialist - Electronic Components

Aivres; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Aivres is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Specialist for electronic components to join our Milpitas, CA team. You will partner with manufacturers and distributors to ensure cost competitiveness, material availability, and supplier performance while supporting NPI and component selection.

The role requires hands-on sourcing experience, knowledge of BOMs, and strong English communication; Mandarin Chinese is required to communicate with Mandarin-speaking suppliers and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in electronic component sourcing/procurement.
• Strong knowledge of BOMs, lead times, pricing, and supply risks.
• Able to analyze data and coordinate across functions.
• Proficiency with ERP/procurement systems.

Responsibilities

• Analyze BOM categories for sourcing plans and cost reductions.
• Monitor pricing, lead times, and supply risks; propose alternatives.
• Identify and develop supplier sources across manufacturers and distributors.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and inventory arrangements within delegated authority.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Planning, and Operations during NPI and sourcing decisions.
• Track sourcing metrics and ensure ERP/procurement system data accuracy.

Skills

Electronic sourcing

Excel proficiency

Mandarin Chinese

English communication

Tools

ERP/procurement systems

Job description

Aivres is a leading data center servers and storage solutions provider committed to delivering innovative technologies that propel the world’s leading industries to new frontiers. We widely deliver and deploy cutting-edge hardware products and designs to major data centers across the US, supporting critical modern applications that include cloud, AI, big data, mass storage, and edge. Our unique JDM model enables open collaboration with partners and customers to develop purpose-built, performance-optimized solutions that tackle different workloads and overcome real-world challenges. We are looking for a Strategic Sourcing Specialist - Electronic Components to join our Milpitas office, CA.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Strategic Sourcing Specialist to support the sourcing, commercial management, and supply continuity of electronic components used in our products. This role partners with component manufacturers, authorized distributors, qualified independent distributors, and internal engineering, quality, and operations teams to improve cost competitiveness, material availability, and supplier performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze bill-of-materials (BOM) categories, including analog/digital ICs, power devices, MOSFETs, memory, passive components, and connectors, to support category sourcing plans and cost-reduction opportunities.
• Monitor component pricing, lead times, allocation constraints, market supply/demand, and end-of-life (EOL)/last-time-buy (LTB) risks; recommend alternative sourcing and mitigation plans.
• Identify, evaluate, qualify, and develop component supply sources across manufacturers and authorized distribution channels; engage qualified independent distributors when appropriate.
• Maintain effective supplier contacts, support supplier assessments and performance reviews, and coordinate manufacturer discussions on pricing, availability, allocation, or LTB arrangements as needed.

3. Distribution Channel & Supply Continuity

• Manage day-to-day sourcing relationships with authorized distributors; evaluate commercial programs such as price protection, ship-and-debit, hub/buffer stock, consignment, and vendor-managed inventory (VMI), where applicable.
• Support shortage recovery, excess/obsolete inventory decisions, and contingency sourcing while working with Quality to manage traceability and counterfeit-component risks, especially in independent channels.

4. Cost Analysis & Commercial Negotiation

• Conduct RFQs and quotation comparisons; analyze manufacturer-direct versus distributor pricing, total cost, lead times, and commercial terms.
• Negotiate pricing, supply, and inventory arrangements within delegated authority; support supplier agreements and cross-functional cost-reduction initiatives, including part consolidation and BOM optimization.

5. Cross-functional Collaboration

• Partner with Engineering/R&D, Quality, Planning, and Operations during new product introduction (NPI), component selection, approved-alternate evaluation, and sample validation.
• Coordinate supplier resolution of delivery, incoming-quality, and lot-traceability issues; elevate supply disruptions with clear recovery actions and timelines.

6. Reporting, Systems & Compliance

• Track sourcing metrics such as purchase price, cost savings, on-time delivery, supplier responsiveness, inventory exposure, and supply risk; maintain accurate information in ERP/procurement systems.
• Follow applicable sourcing and trade-compliance processes, including anti-bribery, export-control, sanctions, and intellectual-property requirements; escalation concerns to the appropriate internal teams.

Qualifications

Required

• Hands-on experience in electronic component sourcing/procurement, or in a related commercial or supply-chain role involving semiconductor manufacturers or component distributors.
• Working knowledge of electronic-component supply chains, BOMs, lead times, allocation, pricing, and shortage/LTB/EOL management.
• Ability to assess supplier quotations, negotiate commercial terms, analyze data, and coordinate effectively across functions.
• Strong English communication skills and proficiency with Excel and ERP/procurement systems.
• Professional proficiency in Mandarin Chinese is required to communicate effectively with Mandarin-speaking suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Preferred

• Experience with semiconductor manufacturers, authorized distributors, qualified independent distributors, or OEM/EMS sourcing teams; established manufacturer contacts are a plus, not a requirement.
• Knowledge of distributor commercial programs (e.g., price protection, ship-and-debit, hub/buffer stock, consignment/VMI) and component authenticity/traceability controls.
• Familiarity with export-control and trade-compliance fundamentals (e.g., EAR); education in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or a related discipline is a plus.