Supply Chain & Sourcing Manager

About the Role

Whisper Aero is seeking a driven, experienced Supply Chain & Sourcing Manager to lead end-to-end procurement, supplier industrialization, and material planning for our electric propulsor product line. In this role, you will balance hands-on tactical purchasing with strategic supply architecture, serving as the commercial and operational link between engineering design and external manufacturing partners.

Working collaboratively with Quality, Engineering, Program Management, and Finance, you will manage sourcing for flight-critical propulsion commodities: precision machined components, brushless electric motors, motor controllers/inverters, high-voltage battery modules, and specialized aerospace hardware. You will establish long-term supplier agreements, secure material availability for engine assembly lines, and build the AS9100 compliant supply chain required to scale production from initial development to serial production.

By maintaining a strategic focus on sourcing, you'll ensure that the organization not only meets its immediate procurement needs but also positions itself for long-term success in the marketplace. This is a unique opportunity to shape the supply chain strategy for a product that is poised to disrupt the market.

What You'll Do

Strategic Sourcing & Commercial Architecture

• Formulate and execute commodity sourcing strategies for our propulsor platforms, covering precision rotor blades, custom electric motors, power electronics/inverters, structural components, and wiring harnesses.
• Lead supplier selection, release competitive RFQs/RFPs, evaluate technical and commercial proposals, and negotiate comprehensive agreements, including Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), Master Service Agreements (MSAs), Statements of Work (SOWs), and Long-Term Agreements (LTAs).
• Develop should-cost models covering precision tooling, non-recurring engineering (NRE) charges, raw materials, and tiered piece prices to meet program cost targets.

Production Planning, Material Control & Tactical Execution

• Maintain ownership of Clear-to-Build (CTB) tracking across prototype builds, qualification test articles, ground durability testing, and flight-demonstration engine schedules.
• Execute the complete tactical procurement cycle: generating purchase orders (POs), tracking supplier confirmations, expediting critical-path components, managing receiving workflows, and reconciling invoices with Finance.
• Collaborate with Program Management to implement Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP/S&OP) processes, aligning material procurement plans with eQ250 build rates and customer delivery commitments.
• Identify component lead-time risks and execute shortage recovery plans, partnering with Engineering to identify qualified alternative components or arranging expedited logistics to protect program schedules.
• Maintain master data integrity within the company's ERP/MRP system, including item masters, multi-level Bills of Materials (BOM), standard lead times, order minimums (MOQs), and safety stock parameters.

Supplier Quality, Industrialization & Aerospace Compliance

• Partner with Quality and Design Engineering to assess supplier manufacturing readiness through Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews, tooling qualification, and on-site capability audits.
• Establish, evaluate, and maintain the Approved External Providers List (AEPL/AVL) in strict compliance with AS9100D quality standards.
• Implement supplier performance metrics, monitoring monthly on-time delivery (OTD), supplier non-conformance reports (SNCR), and corrective action request (SCAR) closure rates.
• Enforce quality requirement flow-downs across all purchasing documents, including, but not limited to, First Article Inspections (SAE AS9102), material test reports, heat-lot traceability, and counterfeit parts prevention protocols (AS5553/AS6174).
• Ensure strict adherence to U.S. export controls (ITAR and EAR) across all supplier technical data exchanges, purchase orders, and engineering drawings.

Logistics & Aerospace Material Movement

• Coordinate domestic and international freight operations for propulsion components, tooling, and test equipment, managing Less-Than-Truckload (LTL), Full-Truckload (FTL), and expedited air freight.
• Manage import/export compliance, customs clearance documentation, Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classifications, and INCOTERMS 2020 terms.
• Manage dangerous goods transport and compliance protocols for high-voltage aerospace battery systems, ensuring compliance with UN38.3 and Department of Transportation (DOT) hazardous material shipping regulations.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, engineering, operations management, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of progressive professional experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain management within aerospace, defense, aviation propulsion, electric vehicle powertrains, or high-reliability electromechanical hardware.
• Demonstrated experience managing end-to-end sourcing for complex hardware programs through a complete product lifecycle from early engineering development through tooling qualification to flight testing or serial production.
• Proven track record of negotiating commercial supplier agreements, including Master Service Agreements (MSAs), tooling contracts, and Long-Term Agreements (LTAs).
• Direct hands-on proficiency with modern ERP/MRP enterprise software (e.g., NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP, Oracle) and managing complex, multi-level Bills of Materials (BOM).
• Solid operational knowledge of INCOTERMS 2020, domestic freight management, and aerospace logistics execution.
• Demonstrated ability to balance hands-on tactical purchasing duties with strategic sourcing and capacity planning in an agile, fast-paced hardware development environment.
• U.S. Person status (U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident) is strictly required due to access to export-controlled defense technical data governed by ITAR and EAR.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct sourcing experience with electric propulsion commodities: high-power brushless DC electric motors, motor inverters/controllers, precision rotating assemblies, composite structures, or high-voltage aerospace battery packs.
• Working knowledge of aerospace quality management systems (AS9100D), SAE AS9102 First Article Inspection reports, and formal supplier auditing processes.
• Familiarity with civil and defense aerospace certification pathways, airworthiness processes (FAA Part 23/33 or MOSAIC rules), or military standard hardware specifications.
• Professional supply chain or operations certification (e.g., ASCM/APICS CPIM or CSCP, ISM CPSM) or Lean Six Sigma certification.
• Prior supply chain or procurement experience within a venture-backed aerospace startup, rapid prototyping facility, or advanced technology development group.