Strategic Sourcing Specialist

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company building a faster, more connected future. Our mission is to democratize high-speed flight by making supersonic travel flexible, accessible, and sustainable. We believe that rapid, on-demand, point-to-point global mobility will become the new standard for moving people and goods across the planet. To achieve this, we are integrating our advanced airframe and engine technologies—which include Duality™, our proprietary dual-use propulsion system—with a new flight operations model to make supersonic transport as efficient and economical as commercial air travel is today. In the near term, we are developing adaptable, high-speed systems to close aircraft performance gaps for the United States government.

We’re a team of passionate engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace. We’re generalists with specialist depth, united by a flat structure and a shared obsession with building things that work well. We move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy.

We’re seeking a Strategic Sourcing Lead who will build and manage the supplier network required to develop, test, and manufacture across our aviation and energy assemblies.

You are a high-energy hardware operator who can quickly understand technical requirements, identify capable suppliers, negotiate effectively, and drive parts, equipment, and services to closure on aggressive timelines. You are known for creative problem solving in the face of roadblocks. You are comfortable working directly with engineering, manufacturing, quality, facilities, finance, and leadership to make smart sourcing decisions in a fast-moving environment. You thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and are equally comfortable building a supplier strategy, chasing down a late part, creating an executive-level build readiness dashboard, or negotiating with a critical supplier. You think critically and systematically, but you are not afraid to make decisions with imperfect information. You are excited to design and build our supply chain from the ground up.

As an early supply chain hire, you’ll own strategic sourcing across critical hardware, vendors, and services needed to support product development, testing, and manufacturing. Specifically, you will:

• Build and manage a qualified supplier network for aerospace and industrial hardware, test infrastructure, tooling, and manufacturing support

• Lead sourcing efforts for long-lead, high-risk, and technically complex components, including RFQs, supplier selection, commercial negotiations, and purchase order execution

• Partner with engineering and manufacturing to translate BOMs, drawings, specifications, and test plans into executable sourcing strategies

• Develop strong relationships with critical suppliers, manufacturers, machine shops, fabricators, and equipment vendors

• Create scalable sourcing and vendor management processes, including supplier qualification, quote comparisons, lead-time management, and vendor performance reviews

• Identify supply chain risks early and develop mitigation plans for single-source parts, long lead times, immature suppliers, capacity constraints, and late engineering changes

• Collaborate with legal, finance, and leadership to ensure supplier agreements, quality requirements, compliance needs, and business objectives are aligned

• Help define the broader sourcing strategy as the company scales from prototype builds to test articles, qualification units, and early manufacturing

• 5+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supply chain, supplier management, or manufacturing operations for complex hardware

• Experience sourcing technical components or services in aerospace, defense, space, aviation, energy, automotive, robotics, industrial equipment, or another engineered hardware environment

• Strong commercial skills, including experience with RFQs, supplier negotiations, purchase orders, MSAs, LTAs, cost analysis, and delivery commitments

• Ability to work closely with engineering and manufacturing teams to understand build plan, gather technical requirements and identify the right suppliers

• Excellent communicator who can manage external supplier relationships while keeping internal teams aligned on cost, schedule, quality, and risk

• Highly organized and execution-oriented; able to manage many suppliers, parts, quotes, and deadlines without losing track of critical details

• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced startup environment where we are building processes from the ground up and priorities can change quickly

• Exposure to aerospace quality requirements, AS9100 suppliers, ITAR/export controls, defense contracting, or regulated hardware environments is a strong plus

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• 401(k) program and transparent stock option plan

• Self-managed and flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time

• Flexible work environment

At Astro Mechanica, we highly value in-office work to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. We consider working in the office five days a week an essential part of the employee's role.

Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer. We proudly recruit and hire a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.