Sourcing Manager

Company Description

Founded in 2024, Nexthop Systems Inc is at the forefront of building high-performance AI infrastructure solutions tailored to meet the demands of the world's largest cloud operators. Specializing in AI infrastructure hardware and software development, Nexthop is committed to delivering cutting-edge, efficient, and scalable technology that powers the next generation of artificial intelligence. By combining expertise in advanced hardware and software integration, Nexthop enables cloud providers to optimize AI workloads, reduce costs, and improve energy efficiency.

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced, commercially strong, and execution-driven Sourcing Manager - Mechanicals to lead the sourcing strategy, commercial negotiations, and ongoing performance management for our global mechanical, thermal, and power partners.

This role will own the commercial relationship with Tier 1 manufacturers around the world, drive cost competitiveness, negotiate complex manufacturing and supply agreements, and partner closely with Engineering and Operations to ensure flawless NPI execution and scalable mass production.

You will be responsible for delivering the right balance of cost, quality, flexibility, and supply assurance—while shaping Nexthop's long-term supplier strategy.

Job Responsibilities

Commercial & Contract Ownership

• Lead commercial management of global mechanical, thermal, and power manufacturers across NPI and mass production.
• Drive capital investment decisions to ensure scaling of production lines to meet long-term customer forecasts and upside potential
• Negotiate and execute Master Purchase Agreements (MPA) Master Service Agreements (MSA), Manufacturing Service Agreements (MSA), MVAs, SOWs, pricing models, payment terms, flexibility terms, warranty, and service-level commitments.
• Develop structured negotiation strategies, including should-cost analysis, cost breakdown models, and scenario trade-offs.
• Partner with Legal to drive contract closure with the right safeguards (quality, delivery, workmanship, liability, termination, IP protection).

Sourcing Strategy & Supplier Management

• Develop , drive cross-functional alignment, and execute sourcing and supply strategies to deliver company business objectives
• Own supplier selection, business awards, and ongoing commercial governance for supplier partners.
• Lead cross-functional teams to assess supplier capabilities, footprint, cost structure, and performance to ensure alignment with product and volume roadmaps.
• Develop and implement supplier scorecards, KPI dashboards, and quarterly business reviews.
• Drive cost reduction programs through design-for-cost, value engineering, supply chain optimization, and competitive sourcing.
• Monitor supplier financial health, capacity, material constraints, labor conditions, and cost drivers.

NPI, NTI & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with Hardware Engineering, Technical Program Management, Manufacturing Engineering, and Quality to ensure seamless NPI execution.
• Lead commercial readiness for NPI builds, including NRE negotiation, material liability, tooling, capex, and change management.
• Provide early cost insights during design (mechanical, electrical, PCB, and system-level BoM).
• Drive trade-off decisions balancing cost, quality, performance, and schedule.

Operational & Program Management

• Support teammates for any escalations related to assigned suppliers (quality, pricing variance, build schedules, material availability, flexibility, liability exposure).
• Support escalation for yield, capacity, material shortages, and delivery issues.
• Ensure suppliers adhere to agreed upon pricing, quality standards, and operational KPIs.
• Lead structured review processes—weekly operations reviews, QBRs, and executive supplier meetings.

Financial & Cost Ownership

• Own cost models, cost reduction roadmaps, quarterly price reviews, and PPV management.
• Build and maintain should-cost models for assigned components and suppliers.
• Partner with Finance on budgeting, accruals, forecast alignment, and capital planning.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain, sourcing, commercial management, or contract manufacturing.
• 5+ years managing Tier 1 sheet metal and mechanical component manufacturers, including direct engagement with Asia-based CMs (China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand).
• Deep understanding of cost structures, BoM fundamentals, value engineering, and cost optimization.
• Experience with data center, consumer electronics, high-volume hardware, or advanced electromechanical system manufacturing.
• Strong background in NPI, NTI, factory bring-up, and early supplier engagement.
• Proven ability to negotiate complex commercial agreements (MSA, SOW, pricing frameworks, warranty, service terms).
• Strong program management skills — owning cross-functional actions, driving timelines, and influencing stakeholders.
• Experience building and managing supplier scorecards, performance metrics, and corrective action processes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cost reduction programs and develop robust should-cost analyses.
• Ability to communicate clearly and influence at all levels—from engineers to executive leadership.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity, rapid-growth environments, and fast-paced hardware development cycles.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration with Engineering, TPM, Quality, Operations, and Finance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with networking hardware, AI infrastructure hardware, or cloud-scale electromechanical systems.
• Knowledge of PCB/PCBA manufacturing, mechanical tooling, liquid-cooling, and precision manufacturing processes.
• Exposure to supply chain risk management, dual sourcing, and global capacity strategy.
• MBA or advanced technical degree in engineering or supply chain a plus.

Why us

Our company offers all the advantages of working at a startup, combined with the expertise of a seasoned team that has successfully built startups into thriving companies. Here, you'll have the unique opportunity to collaborate and learn from top-tier engineers, while working on mission-critical projects. If you're excited to learn, solve hard problems at the forefront of computer systems, and help shape a fast-growing company, this is the place for you.