Supply Chain and Procurement Lead

The posting, as Ultra wrote it

About Ultra
Ultra builds industrial AI robots that are working in the real world today. Our robots automate mission-critical warehouse labor end-to-end, starting with e-commerce order packaging. We deploy fast, learn from real production data, and iterate aggressively. We already have a quickly growing number of revenue-generating robots operating in U.S. warehouses, and are now scaling towards thousands of deployments over the next few years. Our mission is simple: build the world's most useful and deployable robot.

WARNING: Robotics is not for the faint of heart. There are no silver bullets here. It is tiresome, unglamorous, and at times brutal work. The only way out is through, and the only way through is treacherous and unknown. Success will require teamwork - so we are building a world-class team to tackle some of the most exciting problems out there. We hope you join us.

Overview

We're looking for a Supply Chain & Procurement Lead to join our NYC-based team and take ownership of how parts get sourced, bought, and kept flowing as we scale robot production from 100 to 1000+ units. You'll build and run the supplier relationships behind every build, make ordering effortless for our manufacturing team, get inbound parts to the door on time, and hold our suppliers to a high quality bar. The goal is to turn buying the right parts at the right cost and lead time into a well-run system rather than a daily scramble.

We run this function software-forward: rather than scaling the team linearly with volume, we build tooling and lean on AI agents so the system does the repetitive work and the humans handle judgment, relationships, and exceptions. You'll shape and own that system as much as the sourcing itself. We're an early-stage company moving very fast in a rapidly growing space, and we welcome people from any background as long as you're excited about the mission, ready to drive impact from day one, and eager to help make automation accessible to all.

What You'll Do

Build and manage vendor relationships

• Find, vet, and set up new supplier and contract-manufacturer relationships across our parts base, at home and internationally
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, and lead times — and revisit them as volumes grow
• Develop and deepen existing relationships through regular reviews, supplier scorecards, and quick resolution of cost and delivery issues
• Travel to China and other destinations to meet suppliers face-to-face, qualify new partners, and build out a resilient global supply base

Own ordering, purchasing, and planning

• Place purchase orders and track them to keep builds on schedule — or make it fast and easy for the manufacturing team to place orders themselves
• Run RFQs and turn new product introductions (NPI) and BOM changes into clean sourcing and buying decisions in partnership with the manufacturing and hardware teams
• Own inventory accuracy and the demand/forecasting signals that drive purchasing — approached softwa

[…]
under real deadlines

Experience and Skills

• 5+ years owning procurement, sourcing, and/or supply chain in a hardware or manufacturing environment — or less, if you pair real procurement instinct with unusually strong systems and software fluency
• Strong supplier management: finding and qualifying vendors, negotiating pricing and payment terms, and building long-term relationships
• A track record of making ordering and purchasing run smoothly — POs, approvals, and the systems behind them (ERP/MRP, PLM, or equivalent)
• Comfort with inventory management and demand/forecasting, and a bias toward building tooling to keep counts accurate at speed rather than managing them by hand
• Familiarity with inbound logistics: booking freight, tracking shipments, and working through international shipping, imports, and customs
• Experience holding suppliers to a quality standard — inspection, scorecards, and corrective action
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally, including to China, to develop the supply base
• Bonus: experience with contract manufacturing or scaling sourcing beyond in-house production
• Bonus: Mandarin or other relevant language skills for working directly with overseas suppliers

Expected Compensation
$145,000 - $175,000/annual salary + equity + benefits

This compensation range may be inclusive of several career levels at Ultra and will be narrowed during the interview process based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications. Adjustments outside of this range may be considered for candidates whose qualifications significantly differ from those outlined in the job description.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.