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Supply Chain Manager

Wardstone· Operations
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El Segundo$100k - $140kFull-timePosted 6d ago

About the role

You will build Wardstone’s supply chain, from sourcing prototype parts today to supporting production of Hailstorm, our first interceptor, tomorrow. You’ll find and qualify suppliers, secure long-lead and hard-to-source components, negotiate terms, and make sure our supply chain meets defense requirements.

Responsibilities

  • Build the supplier base: Find, evaluate, and qualify suppliers for machined parts, composites, electronics, sensors, energetic materials, and motor components; Build relationships with key suppliers and negotiate pricing, lead times, and terms; Set up backup suppliers for critical and single-source parts.
  • Manage long-lead and critical parts: Work with engineering leads to identify long-lead and hard-to-source parts early, and secure them ahead of need; Track supply risks, such as shortages, single sources, and supplier problems, and maintain plans to address them; Support make-vs-buy decisions with cost, lead-time, and supplier data.
  • Plan for production: Build sourcing plans and cost models for scaling from prototypes to low-rate production; Work with engineering on design choices that lower cost and improve supply availability.
  • Ensure compliance and quality: Make sure purchasing meets government contract requirements, including FAR/DFARS flowdowns, specialty metals, counterfeit-parts prevention, and ITAR; Work with engineering to set supplier quality requirements, inspection, and documentation.
  • Build systems and processes: Set up purchasing, inventory, and supplier management processes and tools that scale with the company.

Qualifications

  • B.S. in supply chain management, engineering, business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
  • 5+ years of supply chain, procurement, or sourcing experience in aerospace, defense, or complex hardware.
  • Experience sourcing custom and technical parts, such as machined parts, electronics, or composites.
  • Working knowledge of FAR/DFARS requirements and ITAR.
  • Strong negotiation skills and experience managing supplier relationships.
  • Comfortable working closely with engineers and understanding technical requirements.
  • Must be a U.S. person as defined by ITAR (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual). [Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance.]

Skills

Required:Supplier managementSourcing and procurementFAR/DFARS/ITAR
Last updated Oct 21, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
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About Wardstone

Satellites for Missile Defense

Wardstone is a space defense-tech company developing next-generation capabilities to protect the United States and its allies from missiles and other space-based threats. We design, build, and deploy satellites equipped with space-based interceptors to kinetically counter hypersonic and ballistic missiles.

space-explorationsatellitesrocketryaerospace
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