Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
The Strategic Sourcing Manager is responsible for leading sourcing strategy, supplier relationships and contract execution for munitions and defense-related commodities. This role drives cost, performance, and supply continuity in a highly regulated and capacity-constrained environment, while ensuring full compliance with U.S. government regulations.
What you'll do:
Develop and execute sourcing strategies for critical munitions components and assemblies, balancing cost, risk, and delivery requirements.
Build and manage strategic supplier relationships, including sole-source and limited-source vendors, to ensure continuity of supply.
Partner cross-functionally with engineering, program management, legal, and finance to align negotiation strategies with program and business objectives.
Drive cost savings and value creation through should-cost analysis, benchmarking, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Ensure compliance with ITAR, EAR, DFARS, and other applicable U.S. government regulations and export controls.
Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including geopolitical, capacity, and regulatory risks specific to munitions.
Lead and develop a high-performing procurement/supply chain team, fostering accountability, collaboration, and execution excellence.
Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for supplier performance, cost, quality, and delivery.
Required qualifications:
Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field (MBA preferred) with 5-10+ years of progressive experience in procurement/supply chain, including significant exposure to defense or munitions programs or Aerospace Programs.
Defense & Munitions Expertise: 3+ years of experience with munitions or defense-related commodities in strategic sourcing, purchasing, or supply chain.
Regulatory Knowledge: Demonstrated expertise in ITAR, EAR, DFARS, and U.S. government contracting requirements, including experience working with export-controlled materials and compliance frameworks.
Analytical Acumen: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple suppliers and priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Security Clearance (if applicable): Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance, depending on program requirements.
