Senior Manager, Sourcing and Procurement

The posting, as Proper Voltage wrote it

Please note that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
About Proper Voltage
Proper Voltage is unlocking the next generation of battery technology across robotics, data centers, and defense.

We're building intelligent battery systems that make advanced chemistries (sodium-ion, lithium-titanate, lithium-silicon) work in products that were never designed for them. Humanoid robots can upgrade power systems without redesigning their entire platform. Data centers get safer, cheaper backup power. Drones and autonomous vehicles get higher energy density without lengthy integration cycles.

If you want to work on hard problems that matter, with colleagues that you enjoy working with, this is the place.

Job Overview
The Senior Manager, Sourcing and Procurement owns the commodity strategy and supplier ecosystem for Proper Voltage’s custom mechanical components. This means building and managing supplier relationships, negotiating commercial terms, developing new sources for hard-to-find custom fabricated parts, and ensuring the company can build on schedule and at target cost as it scales from NPI to thousands of units per month.
This person sits within the supply chain team, reporting to the Director of Supply Chain, and partners closely with Engineering on design-for-sourcing decisions, with Finance on cost modeling and spend visibility, and with the VP of Supply Chain on strategic sourcing direction and production readiness. The role is the commercial owner of the mechanical supplier book, from the first RFQ through long-term supplier development.
Our manufacturing model includes contract manufacturing in Mexico with a mixed US and Asia sourcing base. The BOM includes custom-fabricated mechanical components (precision CNC aluminum, sheet metal enclosures, thermal management assemblies, flexible copper busbars), PCBA, and sodium-ion cells sourced from a novel chemistry supply base. This role’s primary focus is the custom mechanical portfolio. Electrical commodities (PCBA, power boards) will be added to the team’s scope as the function scales.
This role starts as an individual contributor. You are not inheriting a team. You will own the mechanical sourcing and procurement function personally, with the expectation that we will hire and build a team around you as the company scales. This is a role that grows with you.

Who this role is for

You have hands-on experience sourcing and qualifying suppliers, not just managing relationships that were handed to you. You have issued RFQs, run factory visits, negotiated pricing, and seen a supplier through from first contact to production PO. Ideally, you bring a network of trusted fabricators and mechanical component suppliers that you can tap into on day one.
You are comfortable working in supplier ecosystems that are still being built. You know how to find and qualify a precision CNC fabricator when there is no approved vendor list to pull from. You can evaluate a facility for producti
[…]
h production scale.

• Hands-on should-cost modeling experience: ability to build total cost of ownership from raw material inputs through landed cost, and use that analysis to drive sourcing decisions and negotiations.
• Track record of building supplier ecosystems from early-stage through production scale, not just managing inherited vendor books.
• Strong commercial instincts with the ability to identify cost reduction pathways and negotiate complex agreements.
• Ability to operate independently, set priorities without a defined playbook, and move fast from incomplete or fuzzy requirements. Demonstrated experience identifying and proactively mitigating supply risks, including single-source exposure, capacity constraints, and long lead time items.

Preferred Qualifications

• Asia sourcing experience with on-site supplier visits and direct commercial negotiations in China, Southeast Asia, or similar markets.
• Experience in battery, energy storage, or adjacent hardware categories (power electronics, EV, BESS, UPS).
• An existing network of trusted fabricators and mechanical component suppliers that can be activated quickly.
• Familiarity with Mexico cross-border manufacturing or IMMEX program structures.
• Multilingual capability: Mandarin, Spanish, or other languages relevant to the supplier base.
• Early-stage startup experience building sourcing functions from zero.
• Experience attracting, hiring, and building high-performing sourcing and procurement teams as a function scales.

Compensation & Benefits
Competitive cash compensation plus equity, depending on level and location.

• Salary range: $165,000 - $175,000 depending on location, experience, and qualifications.
• Company Equity
• Health, dental, vision insurance
• Flexible PTO with a generous holiday policy
• Remote-friendly with monthly travel to Carlsbad, CA and periodic international supplier visits, including potentially to Mexico.

Ready to work on power systems that matter? Let's talk.