WHAT WE LOOK FOR
Mission-Driven Problem Solvers – The problems in missile defense demand ingenuity. We want engineers who approach challenges with curiosity, embrace failure as a learning opportunity, and stay focused on delivering the best solution for the mission.
Total Ownership – We seek engineers who take full responsibility for delivering flight-ready work while recognizing that no one succeeds alone. The best engineers make their teammates better, knowing that complementary skills create force multiplication and drive mission success.
The Supply Chain Specialist, Strategic Vendors will own Long Wall’s most critical supplier relationships, serving as the primary point of contact and accountable owner for vendors supporting our missile defense programs.
This role manages the supplier lifecycle end-to-end, from sourcing and selection through negotiation, onboarding, delivery, and ongoing performance management for the Company’s most important vendors. Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and Legal, this person will ensure that our suppliers meet demanding technical, scheduling, and compliance requirements. The role will also include regular travel to supplier sites for capability assessments, business reviews, and hands-on issue resolution. We’re looking for someone who treats supplier management as a craft. Someone who can build strong relationships, negotiate effectively, take ownership when issues arise, and move quickly to get to a solution. The right person will be comfortable operating with a high level of ownership in a fast-paced aerospace and defense environment.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Own and manage the Company’s most critical vendor relationships, acting as the primary point of contact and single accountable owner for strategic suppliers
- Own the vendor process end-to-end- sourcing, evaluation, selection, negotiation, onboarding, delivery, and post-delivery performance management
- Lead strategic sourcing activities, including RFI/RFQ/RFP processes, supplier capability assessments, and second-source evaluations
- Negotiate pricing, lead times, terms, and long-term agreements with strategic suppliers, in partnership with Legal and Finance
- Travel to vendor sites to conduct capability assessments, quarterly business reviews, and on-site issue resolution
- Monitor and manage supplier performance against quality, cost, and on-time delivery targets, including scorecards, business reviews, and corrective action follow-through
- Manage delivery schedules and purchase order execution for owned suppliers, proactively expediting and resolving shortages, delays, and escalations
- Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality to align supplier capabilities with technical requirements, drawings, and specifications
- Identify and mitigate supply risks, including single-source dependencies, capacity constraints, and long-lead material exposure
- Ensure suppliers meet applicable compliance requirements, including ITAR/EAR export control and quality system expectations
- Maintain accurate supplier, pricing, and purchase order data in the ERP system
- Drive continuous improvement and cost reduction initiatives across the supply base as the Company scales
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field
- 5+ years of progressive experience in supply chain, procurement, or supplier/vendor management, with direct ownership of strategic supplier relationships
REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES:
- Demonstrated experience owning supplier relationships end to end, from sourcing and selection through delivery and ongoing performance management
- Strong negotiation skills, with experience negotiating pricing, terms, lead times, and supplier agreements
- Experience managing supplier performance through scorecards, business reviews, and corrective actions
- Experience working in ERP and procurement systems and analyzing supplier, cost, and delivery data to drive decisions
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders at all levels
- Willingness and ability to travel regularly to domestic vendor sites
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES:
- Experience within aerospace & defense or another complex, highly regulated manufacturing environment
- Experience sourcing complex hardware such as machined components, electronics, or aerospace-grade materials
- Working knowledge of ITAR/EAR export control requirements and FAR/DFARS flow-downs
- Experience building or improving sourcing and procurement processes in a fast-growing company
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
- CPSM, CSCP, CPIM, or other relevant supply chain certification is a plus
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
- Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time
- Ability to use a computer to complete assignments
- Ability to communicate with individuals and groups in person, by phone and via telepresence
- Ability to pick up to 50lbs
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee will typically work in an office environment
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field
- 5+ years of progressive experience in supply chain, procurement, or supplier/vendor management
- Direct ownership of strategic supplier relationships from sourcing through delivery and performance management
- Strong negotiation experience involving pricing, terms, lead times, and supplier agreements
- Experience managing supplier performance through scorecards, business reviews, and corrective actions
- Experience working with ERP and procurement systems and analyzing supplier, cost, and delivery data
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Willingness and ability to travel regularly to domestic vendor sites
- Experience in aerospace and defense or another complex, regulated manufacturing environment
- Experience sourcing complex hardware, including machined components, electronics, or aerospace-grade materials
- Working knowledge of ITAR/EAR export controls and FAR/DFARS flow-downs
- Experience building or improving sourcing and procurement processes in a fast-growing company
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
- CPSM, CSCP, CPIM, or another relevant supply chain certification
- US person status as defined by applicable export control laws
- Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
- Ability to pick up to 50 pounds
What We Do
Long Wall is an American aerospace company based in Long Beach, California, that specializes in developing and manufacturing deployable launch vehicles and infrastructure for missile defense. Formerly known as ABL Space Systems, the company focuses on creating containerized, mass-producible missile defense systems and providing rapid, low-cost flight testing to enhance global security and stability through advanced defensive technology.
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