Manager, Strategic Sourcing

About Castelion

Castelion is bringing a new approach to defense development and production: one that focuses on short, iterative design cycles, rapid testing in development, and modern commercial manufacturing strategies for production at scale. We’re designing, building, and testing next generation long range strike weapons systems to give America and its Allies a definitive edge and deter future conflicts.

Manager, Strategic Sourcing

As a Manger of Strategic Sourcing, you will be integral in working with the cross-functional groups defining, designing, building, and testing Castelion vehicle and missile subsystems. This role requires an established supply chain professional with breadth to engage new suppliers and program sourcing strategies to align with short term development schedules and long term sourcing focus for low cost, sustainable supply chain plans. We seek intelligent, collaborative, and driven leaders who are passionate about problem-solving and eager to lay the groundwork for a team to contribute to an extraordinary mission. If you thrive in challenging environments and are excited by the prospect of making a tangible impact, we want to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a strategic sourcing plans by analyzing suppliers to identify new opportunities, optimize cost structures, and ensure a reliable supply chain for upcoming product launches.
• Evaluate and select suppliers based on their capabilities, quality, reliability, and cost-effectiveness to maintain a healthy supply base.
• Monitor and analyze performance metrics and sourcing trends to align with strategic goals.
• Lead efforts to enhance supplier quality, reduce total costs, improve service levels, and manage risks and compliance as needed.
• Negotiate and manage large contracts, including terms related to pricing, technical requirements, and compliance.
• Facilitate design for manufacturability reviews with input from supplier quality and engineering teams.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive supply plan to mitigate risks and ensure timely, quality-driven supply continuity.
• Serve as the primary team leader for engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing teams on supplier-related matters.
• Address and manage sole/single source risks to maintain supply continuity.
• Collaborate with engineering and quality teams to address and resolve issues with rejected materials, aiming to prevent future quality problems.
• Provide regular updates to key stakeholders on critical supply issues and maintain strong relationships with suppliers.
• Ensure adherence to company policies, procedures, and relevant government regulations.

Basic Qualifications

• Educational Background: Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• Technical Proficiency: 5+ years of experience working in a related field, program, or project

Preferred Skills and Experience

• System Experience: Experience with MRP or ERP systems, and with managing bill of materials, work orders, and purchase orders, and the total ownership of the data within them.
• Technical Skills: This role requires broad mechanical domain knowledge, including machined parts, composites, chemicals, avionics and their associated manufacturers and manufacturing methods.
• Problem-Solving: Innovative problem-solving approach using critical thinking, including utilization of learnings from an American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS) certification, Six Sigma certification, or similar certifications and data analysis using Excel, SQL, or an advanced analytics software.
• Clearance: Active US Government security clearance or the ability to get one.

All employees are granted long-term stock incentives as part of their employment as Castelion. All employees receive access to comprehensive medial, vision, and dental insurance, and the company offers three weeks of paid time off per year.

Leadership Qualities

Bias to Action and Creative Problem Solving. Desire and experience questioning assumptions in ways that lead to break through ideas that are ultimately implemented. Successfully bring in applicable processes/concepts/materials from other industries to achieve efficiency gains. Ability to personally resolve minor issues in development without requiring significant support.

High Commitment, High Initiative. A successful candidate will have a genuine passion for Castelion’s mission and consistently look for ways to contribute to the company’s technical goals and prevent hardware blockers. Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere. Strong sense of accountability and integrity.

Clear Communicator. Proactively communicates blockers. Trusted in previous roles to be voice of company with regulators, suppliers, gate keepers and customers. Capable of tactfully managing relationships with stakeholders to achieve company-desired outcomes without compromising relationships. Emails, Ims, and verbal interactions are logical, drive clarity, and detailed enough to eliminate ambiguity.

ITAR Requirements:

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Employment with Castelion is governed on the basis of competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.