SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Salary: USD 125,306 - 169,533 / annual
Varda Space Industries is accelerating commercial space infrastructure development, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reentry capsules. The company designs, builds, and operates its W-Series vehicles in-house, including pharmaceutical processing payloads, capsules, C-PICA heat shields, and satellite buses. Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, CA, with additional offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
As a Sourcing Manager, you will own the end-to-end procurement of high-quality, precision-machined components for spacecraft assembly, propulsion systems, and other space hardware. You will work closely with engineering, production, and quality teams to identify suppliers, negotiate contracts, monitor delivery timelines, and ensure parts meet rigorous quality and reliability standards.
Key responsibilities include:
- Managing the full procurement lifecycle from RFQ through delivery
- Sending RFQs, placing purchase orders, and conducting open order meetings with key suppliers
- Developing understanding of supplier capacity, lead times, and cost trends
- Building a preferred supplier network with supply chain engineering to minimize cost and lead time
- Collaborating with design engineering teams to understand upcoming design releases and part changes
- Negotiating pricing and lead times with suppliers to meet mission milestones
- Identifying supply constraints that may impact production and creating mitigation plans
- Maintaining part and planning master data to reflect accurate lead times and stock levels
- Supporting purchasing of various commodities and inventory operations as needed
This is a full-time, exempt position located in El Segundo. The role requires up to 50% travel.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or Finance
- Minimum 4 years of relevant procurement or sourcing experience, ideally in space, aerospace, precision medical devices, pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotech, or life sciences
- Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% of the time
- Strategic sourcing experience with machined components or propulsion components
- Experience translating engineering designs into demand and supply plans
- Extensive experience using MES/ERP software
- Strong relationship-building and influencing skills; ability to work effectively with multiple levels of personnel and suppliers
- Detail-oriented with ability to respond quickly in a fast-moving, dynamic environment
- ITAR compliance: Must be a U.S. person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))
PREFERRED SKILLS:
- Technical knowledge in coding and computer applications (MS Office Suite, VBA, Smartsheet, SQL, Confluence, JIRA, Power BI, ION)
- Proactive, quick learner with ability to prioritize efforts
- Previous machinist experience and understanding of manufacturing and material flow processes
