A solid understanding of the space industry's evolution over the past decades, along with general technical familiarity with satellite systems and subsystems
The judgment to know when to apply traditional, risk-averse sourcing practices versus when to challenge legacy approaches to solve cost and schedule problems
Comfort operating in ambiguity- able to toggle between structured, compliance-heavy sourcing and fast-moving, scale-focused sourcing
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with business development, product, program management, engineering, and quality teams
Nice to have
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
Government procurement experience
Lean Six Sigma process improvement experience
Space products procurement and supply chain experience
Industrialization in automotive experience
Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders, including suppliers, engineering, legal, finance, manufacturing, and logistics
Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to respond quickly in a fast-moving, ever-changing environment
Full description
Please review the job details below.
Intuitive Machines – West is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Manager to help build and manage a supply chain capable of flexing across two very different operating modes: high-volume, cost-efficient, and schedule-driven commercial production, and traditional, low-volume, high-reliability government and legacy space programs. This position is located in Palo Alto, CA or Houston, TX - (remote considered).
Intuitive Machines is a world leader in delivering powerful and innovative spacecraft. That legacy is adapting to include high-volume production capability for advanced spacecraft, while preserving the rigorous, mission-critical sourcing needs of traditional space programs. This role sits at the center of that dual mandate- the ideal candidate will have the skill and agility to support production environments optimized for throughput and cost-efficiency, as well as strategic, high-stakes programs that focus on lower-rate production, reliability, and risk mitigation.
Responsibilities:
Lead procurement and supplier partnership initiatives, tailoring sourcing strategy to the specific risk, cost, and schedule profile of each program
Conduct comprehensive supplier analysis to identify new and existing suppliers, optimize cost structures, and ensure continuity of supply
Lead cross-functional teams to assess supplier technical capability, industrial capacity, and quality systems to determine fit for either high-rate production or low-volume, high-reliability work
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to address supplier quality, cost, delivery, lead-time, and risk compliance
Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders (business development, contracts, program management, engineering, quality) to translate customer requirements into the right procurement strategy
Partner with engineering on design decisions that support an efficient and resilient supply plan, including designing for manufacturability at scale or designing for mission assurance on a one-off build
High-Volume Program Focus:
Architect and scale a repeatable, agile supply chain capable of supporting serial production of spacecraft and subsystems
Qualify suppliers for industrial-scale output while managing cost-down roadmaps and lead-time compression
Traditional/Low-Volume Program Focus:
Manage sourcing for custom, mission-specific hardware with extended qualification and traceability requirements
Navigate government contracting requirements (e.g., FAR/DFARS flow-downs) and long-lead procurement cycles typical of legacy space programs
What We're Looking For:
A solid understanding of the space industry's evolution over the past decades, along with general technical familiarity with satellite systems and subsystems
The judgment to know when to apply traditional, risk-averse sourcing practices versus when to challenge legacy approaches to solve cost and schedule problems
Comfort operating in ambiguity- able to toggle between structured, compliance-heavy sourcing and fast-moving, scale-focused sourcing
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with business development, product, program management, engineering, and quality teams
Your Career:
Intuitive Machines takes professional development seriously. You'll have the opportunity to define your own career trajectory, working with a manager or mentor to set goals and build a development plan.
What We Offer:
Dedicated time for professional development, conference attendance, industry training, peer group collaboration, paid certifications, and education reimbursement.
Minimum Requirements:
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, supply chain, or a related field. Four additional years of related experience may be substituted for degree.
Minimum of 8 years of experience sourcing from a global supply base, using a variety of contractual models (development, supply, licensing, and service agreements)
Minimum of 2 years of functional lead, supervisory, or management experience, or equivalent experience leading multifunctional/cross-functional teams
Proven success working on cross-functional new product introduction (NPI) projects
Technical knowledge of high-volume manufacturing products and industry practices
Ability to travel up to 20% and communicate outside of standard work hours as needed
Demonstrated ability to work in a changing environment and adapt across different projects and situations, directly relevant to toggling between high-volume and traditional low-volume programs
Preferred Qualifications:
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
Government procurement experience
Lean Six Sigma process improvement experience
Space products procurement and supply chain experience
Industrialization in automotive experience
Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders, including suppliers, engineering, legal, finance, manufacturing, and logistics
Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to respond quickly in a fast-moving, ever-changing environment
In support of pay transparency at Lanteris Space Systems, we disclose salary ranges on all U.S. job postings. The successful candidate’s starting pay will fall within the salary range provided below and is determined based on job-related factors, including, but not limited to, the experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, geographic work location, and market conditions. Candidates with the minimum necessary experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skillsets for the position should not expect to receive the upper end of the pay range.
● The base pay for this position within Colorado is: $123,000.00 - $205,000.00 annually.● The base pay for this position within New Jersey is: $123,000.00 - $205,000.00 annually.● The base pay for this position within Delaware is: $123,000.00 - $205,000.00 annually.● The base pay for this position within the Washington, DC metropolitan area is: $135,000.00 - $225,000.00 annually.● The base pay for this position within California is: $142,000.00 - $236,000.00 annually.
For all other states, we use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop market-driven ranges for our roles, and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, health and welfare insurance, and 401(k) to eligible employees. More information on our benefits will be shared with candidates as they move forward in the recruitment process.
Additionally, this position is incentive eligible with a target based on contribution, company performance, and/or individual results achieved; the specific incentive plan and target amount will be determined based on the role and breadth of contributions.The application window is three days from the date the job is posted and will remain posted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire. If the job is reposted regardless of reason, it will remain posted three days from the date the job is reposted and will remain reposted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire.
The date of posting can be found on the Lanteris Space Systems Career page at the top of each job posting.
To apply, submit your application via the Lanteris Space Systems Career page.
Lanteris Space Systems values diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.