Supply Chain Manager (CONTRACT)

Summary GrayMatter Robotics is a well-capitalized Physical AI company headquartered in Los Angeles, building Factory SuperIntelligence (FSI) through systems that learn, adapt, and develop genuine process intelligence across every part they touch. Our robots take on the tedious, hazardous, and ergonomically demanding work that has kept manufacturing dependent on a shrinking skilled workforce, delivering superhuman performance. Robotics has a demo problem. GMR doesn't. Our systems are in active production today, adapting autonomously to real geometries, real materials, and real process variation without reprogramming. We deliver our system through a Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model that converts capital expenditure into an operating subscription, making Physical AI accessible to the manufacturers who need it most. We hire people who want to solve hard physical problems at an industrial scale. We help manufacturers improve the quality of life for their workforce while increasing production capacity, and reducing scrap, repair, and rework costs. As a Supply Chain Manager, you will join our team onsite in our Carson, CA office to develop and execute procurement processes, source suppliers and manage vendor relationships to ensure a seamless supply chain while optimizing costs. You will also collaborate with cross-functional teams, make strategic decisions and implement best practices within our procurement function. Please Note: This role will begin as a 6-month contract position. While there may be opportunities to extend the engagement based on business needs, no extension or conversion is guaranteed at this time. Role & Responsibilities - Own end-to-end procurement operations: source and negotiate with suppliers, issue purchase orders, and confirm correct, on-time fulfillment in partnership with the logistics and deployment teams. - Build and implement procurement systems and tools that give GMR clear visibility into every open PO, vendor commitment, and lead time as deployment volume grows. - Negotiate supplier contracts and resolve delivery defaults against fixed lead-time commitments, treating vendor recovery as a core part of the job rather than an exception. - Evaluate, select, and onboard suppliers against cost, quality, and engineering requirements, then manage the relationship through regular performance reviews. - Partner directly with engineering and product teams to translate their requirements, including ones outside your prior experience, into concrete sourcing and purchasing plans. - Analyze demand forecasts tied to robot deployment volume, including mobile robot rollouts, to determine what GMR needs, what it is missing, and what it will need next. - Act as the working bridge between vendors and quality, driving down rework and turnaround time on parts and components that fall short of spec. - Use AI-enabled procurement and data tools to automate reporting, flag anomalies in spend or lead time, and speed up sourcing research. - Develop and report procurement metrics, cost savings, and sourcing effectiveness to the Head of Operations. Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience. - 8+ years of experience as a purchasing or procurement manager within a hardware and/or electronics business. - A track record of building procurement systems and processes from the ground up, ideally in a startup or rapid-growth environment. - Demonstrated ability to source, negotiate, and manage supplier contracts, including resolving delivery defaults against fixed lead-time commitments. - Comfortable operating as a self-managed individual contributor: able to run day-to-day procurement work independently and know which stakeholders to bring in for specific decisions. - Strong skills in budgeting, cost optimization, and negotiation, paired with excellent written and verbal communication. - Proficiency with procurement and vendor management software and systems. - Must have authorization to work in the United States and maintain ongoing work authorization from time of hire through the duration of employment. Preferred Qualifications - Relevant certification in procurement or supply chain management, such as CPSM or CSCP. - Experience with global sourcing, logistics, and cross-border supply chain management. - Proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools for tracking procurement metrics and spend. - Demonstrated use of AI tools to automate sourcing research, spend analysis, or procurement reporting. - Experience partnering closely with engineering or manufacturing teams on product and part requirements. - Prior experience at a smaller company, or as an early employee at a startup, having owned procurement across its full lifecycle. GrayMatter Robotics provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage and embrace applicants of all backgrounds to apply! GrayMatter Robotics is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities. If you believe you require accommodations during the recruiting process, please contact accommodations@graymatter-robotics.com to submit your request. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Depending on the position and if listed, compensation may include the base salary range, bonus or commission, and equity. We also provide comprehensive benefits and perks which include but are not limited to medical, dental, vision, unlimited PTO, 401(k) plan + employer match, regular offsite events, a discretionary fund for enhancing productivity and so much more! The range listed on job postings reflect the minimum and maximum new hire salary across levels in Los Angeles, CA.