As a Supply Chain Manager at Kepler you’ll be responsible for end-to-end ownership of procurement, supplier management, and material readiness across satellite programs. You will bridge the gap between engineering, program management, and external suppliers, ensuring that Kepler’s missions from prototype builds to constellation-scale production are supported by a robust, agile, and cost-effective supply chain.
At Kepler, the role goes beyond transactional procurement; it’s about strategic partnership, technical acumen and operational execution in a very fast-moving space environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Play a key role in defining and implementing supply chain strategies to meet the needs of the Program
Lead NPI activities for high complexity electromechanical components and assemblies from inception to production
Lead supplier sourcing activities for internal product teams (IPTs) developing spacecraft subsystems and customer hardware
Identify and manage supply chain risk including the development of contingency plans
Optimize component and supplier selection through cost analysis, total cost of ownership, and make-or-buy evaluations
Develop procurement plans by defining and implementing procurement strategies across products and programs
Lead end-to-end procurement activity from sourcing to program delivery
Identify and manage procurement risk including the development of contingency plans – i.e. supplier financial and/or schedule risk
Gather bids & lead reviews with program leadership and key stakeholders
Develop sourcing strategies aligned with technical product requirements
Develop negotiation plans based on the needs of the business
Lead supplier onboarding activities while maintaining and updating approved supplier lists (ASL)
Optimize component and supplier selection, analyze equipment costs and drive savings
Tactical buying purchase order generation for commodities, services and equipment
Lead supplier due diligence initiatives and onboarding
Act as point of contact for suppliers by confirming delivery schedules, resolving non-conformities and discrepancies, and escalating delays
Contribute to maintaining supplier scorecards and department KPIs
Drive supplier relationship management to ensure responsiveness and reliability
Identify and mitigate supplier related technical and programmatic risks
Support the Quality team to address supplier non-conformances, ensuring timely implementation and verification of corrective actions
Own assigned engineering work packages to maintain control of the costed bill of materials and enable smooth, timely supply delivery
Influence design decisions by proactively identifying and advocating for feasible, cost-effective solutions
Work upstream with the technical community to accelerate and de-risk procurement for long lead and EEE components
Lead Clear to Build reviews
Coordinate BoM Readiness Reviews (BRR)
Coordinate and support Manufacturing Readiness Reviews (MRR) and Test Readiness Reviews (TRR)
Participate in production standups communicating expected delivery dates, delays and key updates
Coordinate schedules and expected deliverables to operations groups
Support ERP system refinement and data accuracy to enhance visibility and decision-making
Develop scalable processes & tools to support Kepler’s growth toward larger constellation production
Identify automation or digitization opportunities for supply chain data collection activities
Help drive implementation of inventory management system (IMS)
Supply Chain Management and Procurement
Supplier Management
Engineering Coordination
Production & Manufacturing Operations Coordination
Continuous Improvement & Systems Development
Required Skills & Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Engineering or business administration
7+ years of experience in supply chain management, engineering or engineering adjacent roles
Direct experience sourcing medium-to-high complexity electro-mechanical and electrical components and small/medium assemblies
Experience with mechanical or electrical engineering concepts related to component procurement
Understanding of manufacturing/fabrication process related to mechanical or electrical components (PCB/PCBA)
- Demonstrated willingness and ability to leverage AI-assisted engineering and development tools to improve productivity, design quality, and innovation while adapting to evolving technologies and best practices
Experience with using ERP, Procurement or MRP systems
Ability to assess sourcing, programmatic and technical risk associated with bringing a product from development to production
Experience building automated & scalable reporting methodologies
Bonus Points:
Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or any other relevant degree
- NetSuite experience
Previous work in space, aerospace, or a high complexity hardware industry
Experience with CGP, ITAR, EAR, or Controlled Goods sourcing & procurement
Experience building scalable & sustainable processes & tools
Lean Six Sigma or PMP designation
Experience reading and analyzing engineering drawings and 3D models
Experience with supplier terms and conditions or master supplier agreements (MSA) covering pricing structures, lead times, warranty, quality standards, and delivery terms
Salary Range: $94,363 - 119,363 CAD
Actual total compensation will be determined at the Company’s discretion and is based on a variety of job-related factors, which may include, but are not limited to, relevant knowledge, skills, experience, performance, and education and/or training. The Company encourages all qualified applicants to apply, even if the posted salary range does not align with their expectations, as it does not reflect our total compensation package.
Job Type: Contingent Upon Program Award
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Engineering or business administration
- 7+ years of experience in supply chain management, engineering or engineering adjacent roles
- Direct experience sourcing medium-to-high complexity electro-mechanical and electrical components and small/medium assemblies
- Experience with mechanical or electrical engineering concepts related to component procurement
- Understanding of manufacturing/fabrication processes related to mechanical or electrical components (PCB/PCBA)
- Demonstrated willingness and ability to leverage AI-assisted engineering and development tools
- Experience with using ERP, Procurement or MRP systems
- Ability to assess sourcing, programmatic and technical risk associated with bringing a product from development to production
- Experience building automated & scalable reporting methodologies
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or any other relevant degree
- NetSuite experience
- Previous work in space, aerospace, or a high complexity hardware industry
- Experience with CGP, ITAR, EAR, or Controlled Goods sourcing & procurement
- Experience building scalable & sustainable processes & tools
- Lean Six Sigma or PMP designation
- Experience reading and analyzing engineering drawings and 3D models
- Experience with supplier terms and conditions or master supplier agreements (MSA)
What We Do
Kepler designs, builds, launches, and operates an advanced network of low earth orbit satellites with the ultimate goal of bringing internet to outer space. Today, Kepler serves the needs of earth by connecting machines all around the world using its satellites on orbit and other complementary networks. Through a host of compatible partner equipment we make it easy to use satellite communications in your solution and route data over the best networks.
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