The Role
Develop and evaluate manufacturing suppliers across aerospace, automotive, industrial, electronics, and related sectors. Visit factories, conduct supplier audits, negotiate commercial terms, reduce costs, build alternate vendor networks, and resolve quality, delivery, and supply bottlenecks. Partner with engineering teams to translate requirements into sourcing strategies and support rapid operational scaling.
Summary Generated by Built In
ABOUT
Agnikul Cosmos is a company incubated at IIT Madras and we build rockets that can take satellites up to 500 kg to Lower Earth Orbit (LEO). In May 2024, we successfully completed our maiden launch from our own launchpad (India's first private launchpad). The launch has proven all the new technologies developed by Agnikul and also earned recognition from Honourable Prime Minister of India.
We are not looking for someone who manages purchase orders from a laptop. We are looking for someone who can build supplier networks, negotiate aggressively, reduce costs, and solve sourcing problems on the ground.
If you enjoy visiting factories more than attending meetings, this role is for you.
- You prefer desk-based procurement.
- Most of your experience is creating POs, updating ERP systems, or tracking approvals.
- You are uncomfortable with supplier visits and commercial negotiations.
- You prefer process management over execution.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Identify, evaluate, and develop suppliers across aerospace, automotive, industrial, fabrication, machining, electronics, and related manufacturing sectors.
- Travel extensively to supplier locations and industrial clusters to assess manufacturing capabilities.
- Negotiate commercial terms, lead times, payment conditions, tooling costs, and long-term supply agreements.
- Create competition between suppliers and continuously drive cost reduction opportunities.
- Build alternate vendor ecosystems to reduce risk and improve supply reliability.
- Work closely with engineering teams to understand requirements and convert them into sourcing strategies.
- Conduct supplier audits, capability assessments, and commercial evaluations.
- Develop deep understanding of manufacturing processes and cost structures.
- Resolve supply bottlenecks, quality concerns, and delivery issues directly with vendors.
- Support rapid scaling of operations through strong supplier relationships and execution.
Requirements
- 0-5 years of experience in sourcing, procurement, vendor development, supply chain.
- Comfortable spending significant time on supplier visits and factory floors.
- Strong commercial negotiation skills.
- Ability to understand manufacturing processes, fabrication, machining, industrial components, and engineering drawings.
- Proven history of achieving measurable cost reductions.
- High ownership and willingness to solve problems independently.
- Comfortable working in fast-paced startup environments.
Preferred Skills
- Experience in aerospace, automotive, heavy engineering, industrial manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, or defence sectors.
- Supplier development or vendor audit experience.
- Understanding of cost estimation and manufacturing economics.
Skills Required
- 0–5 years of experience in sourcing, procurement, vendor development, or supply chain
- Willingness to spend significant time visiting suppliers and working on factory floors
- Strong commercial negotiation skills
- Ability to understand manufacturing processes, fabrication, machining, industrial components, and engineering drawings
- Proven history of achieving measurable cost reductions
- High ownership and ability to solve problems independently
- Comfort working in a fast-paced startup environment
- Experience in aerospace, automotive, heavy engineering, industrial manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, or defense sectors
- Supplier development or vendor audit experience
- Understanding of cost estimation and manufacturing economics
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The Company
What We Do
At AgniKul, we design, manufacture, test and launch orbital class rockets for micro and nano satellites. We currently work out of the National Center for Combustion R&D at IIT-Madras. Rocket scientists, engineers, ex-bankers and space lawyers are a part of our team. This unique blend of people is one of our biggest strengths. Our goal is to make space affordable for everyone in India.
