- Job title
- Supply Chain Manager
- Job location
- San Francisco, CA, US
- Job description
- ### What we’re looking for
We’re expanding our operations team with a Supply Chain Manager to own the discovery, qualification, and onboarding of new CNC machine shops and additive manufacturing shops across the United States.
Vendra’s customer demand is growing - particularly in aerospace & defense - and we need to continuously expand and improve our network of high-quality U.S. manufacturers with available capacity. This is a high impact, “boots on the ground” role that directly influences Vendra’s ability to scale.
### What you’ll do
1. **Expand Vendra’s U.S. CNC Machining and Additive Manufacturing Supplier Network**
* Build a strong pipeline of qualified 3-, 4-, and 5-axis shops
* Build a strong pipeline of polymer and metal additive manufacturing suppliers
* Target suppliers aligned with aerospace, defense, and high-spec hardware requirements
* Evaluate supplier capabilities, capacity, and specialization (materials, tolerances, part size, finishing, etc.)
* Travel to visit key shops and build long-term relationships
2. **Own Supplier Qualification & Onboarding**
* Evaluate suppler capability and quality through reviews and test parts
* Assess quality systems (ISO 9001, AS9100, documentation controls, etc.)
* Validate ability to meet traceability, documentation, and compliance requirements (ITAR/EAR, certs, FAIRs, etc.)
* Ensure suppliers are fully production-ready before receiving high-value RFQs and orders
3. **Build and Optimize Vendra’s Supplier Network**
* Understand real-time supplier capacity, technical strengths, and constraints across our network
* Identify capability gaps (large-format machining, tight GD&T performance, specific materials or finishes, etc.)
* Collect and analyze supplier performance metrics (on-time delivery, quality, quoting speed, communication, program complexity, etc.)
* Feed structured performance data back into Vendra’s supplier matching system to improve how RFQs are routed and matched to the best-fit shop
### What success looks like (in order of importance)
* Supplier quality and on-time delivery remain extremely high as we scale
* Vendra consistently has the capacity to support customer demand without bottlenecks
* New CNC shops are onboarded quickly and become reliable production partners
* We have strong geographic and capability coverage across the U.S.
* Our supplier base becomes a long-term strategic advantage
### What the ideal candidate looks like
* 2-5 years of experience in supply chain, sourcing, manufacturing operations, or supplier management
* Experience working directly with CNC machine shops or precision manufacturers
* Strong understanding of machining processes, tolerances, materials, and finishes
* Comfortable reviewing technical drawings and assessing manufacturability
* Experience qualifying suppliers in regulated environments (aerospace/defense preferred)
* Willingness to travel to visit suppliers in person
**Nice to have (not required)**
* Experience working with aerospace, defense, robotics, or advanced hardware companies
* Familiarity with regulated manufacturing environments (ITAR/EAR, AS9100, traceability, FAI reports, etc.)
* Background in mechanical engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, or industrial operations
### **Why should you join Vendra?**
* We’re growing fast, and we’re a trusted manufacturing partner for companies like Anduril, Shield AI, Relativity Space, and K2 Space
* You’ll be shaping the sales and customer trajectory to build a category-defining company in manufacturing
* You’ll work in an environment where your contributions will have immediate, tangible impact on revenue and success
* You will have tremendous growth opportunities because we want our early hires to lead future organizations
