Supply Chain Manager

Wardstone; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Wardstone is seeking a Supply Chain Manager to build and lead the supplier network from prototype parts to production. You will qualify suppliers for machined parts, composites, and electronics, negotiate terms, and establish backup sources for critical items.

You will ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS and ITAR, while coordinating with engineers to optimize cost and lead times. You will identify long-lead components early, track risks, and support make-vs-buy decisions with solid data.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of supply chain, procurement, or sourcing experience in aerospace, defense, or complex hardware.
• Experience sourcing custom and technical parts (machined parts, electronics, composites).
• Working knowledge of FAR/DFARS and ITAR.
• Strong negotiation skills and supplier relationship experience.
• Collaborate closely with engineers on technical requirements.

Responsibilities

• Build the supplier base by finding, evaluating, and qualifying suppliers for machined parts, electronics, and composites.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, and terms with key suppliers; establish backup suppliers for critical parts.
• Identify long-lead and hard-to-source parts early and secure them ahead of need; track supply risks.
• Develop sourcing plans and cost models to scale from prototype to production; influence design to reduce cost.
• Ensure government contract compliance (FAR/DFARS, ITAR) and set supplier quality requirements with engineering.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Supplier relationships

Technical understanding

US person ITAR

Education

B.S. in supply chain management / related field

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

You will build Wardstone’s supply chain, from sourcing prototype parts today to supporting production of Hailstorm, our first interceptor, tomorrow. You’ll find and qualify suppliers, secure long-lead and hard-to-source components, negotiate terms, and make sure our supply chain meets defense requirements. You’ll report to the Head of Business Operations and work closely with every engineering lead and the Technical Program Manager.

Interceptors depend on specialized parts, including energetic materials, high-performance alloys and composites, precision electronics, and sensors, many with long lead times and few suppliers. Your work will decide how fast we can build and how many we can make.

What You’ll Do

Build the supplier base

• Find, evaluate, and qualify suppliers for machined parts, composites, electronics, sensors, energetic materials, and motor components.
• Build relationships with key suppliers and negotiate pricing, lead times, and terms.
• Set up backup suppliers for critical and single-source parts.

Manage long-lead and critical parts

• Work with engineering leads to identify long-lead and hard-to-source parts early, and secure them ahead of need.
• Track supply risks, such as shortages, single sources, and supplier problems, and maintain plans to address them.
• Support make-vs-buy decisions with cost, lead-time, and supplier data.

Plan for production

• Build sourcing plans and cost models for scaling from prototypes to low-rate production.
• Work with engineering on design choices that lower cost and improve supply availability.

Ensure compliance and quality

• Make sure purchasing meets government contract requirements, including FAR/DFARS flowdowns, specialty metals, counterfeit-parts prevention, and ITAR.
• Work with engineering to set supplier quality requirements, inspection, and documentation.

Build systems and processes

• Set up purchasing, inventory, and supplier management processes and tools that scale with the company.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in supply chain management, engineering, business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of supply chain, procurement, or sourcing experience in aerospace, defense, or complex hardware.
• Experience sourcing custom and technical parts, such as machined parts, electronics, or composites.
• Working knowledge of FAR/DFARS requirements and ITAR.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience managing supplier relationships.
• Comfortable working closely with engineers and understanding technical requirements.
• Must be a U.S. person as defined by ITAR (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual). [Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance.]

Nice to Have

• Experience with missile, rocket, or munitions supply chains, including energetic materials.
• Experience scaling hardware from prototype to production.
• Experience with supplier quality systems (e.g., AS9100).
• Experience setting up ERP or purchasing systems.
• Experience managing a small team.
• Prior early-stage startup experience.

Overview

You will build Wardstone’s supply chain, from sourcing prototype parts today to supporting production of Hailstorm, our first interceptor, tomorrow. You’ll find and qualify suppliers, secure long-lead and hard-to-source components, negotiate terms, and make sure our supply chain meets defense requirements. You’ll report to the Head of Business Operations and work closely with every engineering lead and the Technical Program Manager.

Interceptors depend on specialized parts, including energetic materials, high-performance alloys and composites, precision electronics, and sensors, many with long lead times and few suppliers. Your work will decide how fast we can build and how many we can make.

What You’ll Do

Build the supplier base

• Find, evaluate, and qualify suppliers for machined parts, composites, electronics, sensors, energetic materials, and motor components.
• Build relationships with key suppliers and negotiate pricing, lead times, and terms.
• Set up backup suppliers for critical and single-source parts.

Manage long-lead and critical parts

• Work with engineering leads to identify long-lead and hard-to-source parts early, and secure them ahead of need.
• Track supply risks, such as shortages, single sources, and supplier problems, and maintain plans to address them.
• Support make-vs-buy decisions with cost, lead-time, and supplier data.

Plan for production

• Build sourcing plans and cost models for scaling from prototypes to low-rate production.
• Work with engineering on design choices that lower cost and improve supply availability.

Ensure compliance and quality

• Make sure purchasing meets government contract requirements, including FAR/DFARS flowdowns, specialty metals, counterfeit-parts prevention, and ITAR.
• Work with engineering to set supplier quality requirements, inspection, and documentation.

Build systems and processes

• Set up purchasing, inventory, and supplier management processes and tools that scale with the company.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in supply chain management, engineering, business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of supply chain, procurement, or sourcing experience in aerospace, defense, or complex hardware.
• Experience sourcing custom and technical parts, such as machined parts, electronics, or composites.
• Working knowledge of FAR/DFARS requirements and ITAR.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience managing supplier relationships.
• Comfortable working closely with engineers and understanding technical requirements.
• Must be a U.S. person as defined by ITAR (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual). [Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance.]

Nice to Have

• Experience with missile, rocket, or munitions supply chains, including energetic materials.
• Experience scaling hardware from prototype to production.
• Experience with supplier quality systems (e.g., AS9100).
• Experience setting up ERP or purchasing systems.
• Experience managing a small team.
• Prior early-stage startup experience.

Compensation

• The base pay range for this role is $100,000 – $140,000 per year.