Material Program Manager
Owns the material function for advanced product-development programs at a defense tech company: translates program schedules into sourcing and procurement plans, runs RFIs/RFPs/RFQs through to purchase orders, and coordinates across engineering, procurement, and production control. Onsite in El Segundo, CA; requires ERP/MRP and supply-chain experience.
- Compensation
- $110K–$140K / yr
- Location
- El Segundo, California, United States
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Not specified
- Employment
- Contract
- Experience
- 3+ years
- Category
- Project management
- Posted
Must have
- Bachelor's degree with 5+ years relevant experience, or advanced degree with 3+ years (equivalent combinations considered)
- Background in supply chain, production control, material planning, procurement, or related discipline
- Working proficiency with an ERP or MRP system
- Understanding of supply-and-demand planning tied to requisitions, purchase orders, and supplier management
- Ability to manage shifting priorities in a fast-moving product-development environment
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to operate across engineering, operations, supply chain, finance, and program teams
- Eligible to obtain and maintain any required security clearance
- U.S. citizenship may be required depending on program or clearance requirements
Nice to have
- MBA or master's degree in finance, supply chain management, or related field
- Background in aerospace, defense, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment
- Track record supporting fast-moving product development or rapid prototyping
- Hands-on experience developing material program strategy from the ground up
- Familiarity with supplier statements of work and contract requirements
- Experience managing supplier selection, onboarding, and performance evaluation
- Working knowledge of material requirements planning and logistics coordination
- Demonstrated success operating in a matrixed organization
- Strong analytical and reporting skills with executive-level communication
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
Full description
CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage—domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats.
CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, and London. For more information, please visit .
Role Overview:
- Own the material function for advanced product-development programs, from early development through delivery.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for program and technical leadership on all supply-chain matters.
- Translate program schedules into concrete sourcing and procurement plans that keep material moving on time.
- Identify and resolve material issues before they affect program cost, schedule, or quality.
- Operate effectively in a matrixed environment where priorities shift and requirements evolve.
Responsibilities:Planning & Strategy
- Develop material program plans and supplier management plans for assigned programs.
- Translate engineering and program requirements into an actionable sourcing plan.
- Keep leadership informed on material risk, priority decisions, and recovery plans as issues arise.
- Maintain working knowledge of the policies and procedures governing material sourcing and movement.
Sourcing & Order Execution
- Develop RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs, and evaluate supplier responses on pricing, lead time, and terms.
- Convert approved material needs into purchase requisitions and manage them through to a placed purchase order.
- Drive improvements in procurement cycle time by identifying and removing barriers to material availability.
- Support new-supplier onboarding, including confidentiality agreements and other required documentation.
Cross-Functional Execution
- Coordinate across procurement, planning, and production control to ensure clean handoffs and task ownership.
- Partner directly with engineering to define supply-chain requirements and delivery timing.
- Identify and escalate anything that puts program material at risk on cost, schedule, quality, or performance.
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree with 3+ years of relevant experience (equivalent combinations of education and experience considered).