Global Commodity Manager

About the role

The is responsible for owning the end-to-end procurement and supply chain execution for our first-of-a-kind modular subsea geothermal power plants. This role owns the strategic selection and management of suppliers across mechanical, electrical, and custom-fabricated components to ensure build and deployment readiness. The hire will translate complex engineering designs into actionable sourcing plans, driving vendor negotiations and lead time reductions while mitigating risk across the entire bill of materials. They will maintain rigorous real-time visibility into part status, long-lead items, and inventory strategy to proactively unblock builds before they occur. Operating with high ownership and urgency, this role will resolve supplier issues, manage purchase orders, and expedite critical components to meet demanding deployment schedules. The position requires close collaboration with engineering and integration teams to align technical requirements with build plans and supplier capabilities. Success in this role means enabling predictable, cost-effective builds that support our modular manufacturing scale and our mission to deliver baseload power from subsea volcanoes. This is a hands-on, action-oriented role where problem-solving and operational excellence directly determine the pace of our energy deployments.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Own procurement across mechanical, electrical, and custom components for subsea energy systems.
• Build and manage supplier relationships including machine shops, PCBA contract manufacturers, and component vendors.
• Expand and qualify new suppliers to increase speed, capacity, and redundancy for critical builds.
• Drive RFQs, pricing negotiations, and lead time reduction across vendors to protect project schedules.
• Track full BOM status for upcoming builds and deployments with rigorous data integrity.
• Identify long-lead items and develop mitigation plans early to prevent deployment bottlenecks.
• Maintain clear, real-time visibility into part status, risks, and delivery timelines for all hardware programs.
• Coordinate closely with engineering and integration teams to ensure build readiness and design alignment.
• Manage purchase orders, expedite critical components, and resolve supply issues before they impact milestones.
• Support make vs buy decisions and vendor selection for new designs to balance cost, risk, and schedule.
• Improve procurement and planning processes for speed, reliability, and scalability as we grow.
• Maintain organized documentation across suppliers, quotes, and orders to ensure auditability and traceability.
• Support inventory strategy for critical components and spares to optimize working capital and availability.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to forecast demand, align production plans, and manage capacity.
• Champion continuous improvement in supplier performance, quality, and on-time delivery metrics.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in supply chain, procurement, or planning for hardware programs with demonstrated impact.
• Proven experience managing suppliers for machined parts, fabrication, and/or PCBA in production or prototype environments.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes including machining, fabrication, and electronics assembly.
• Experience owning BOMs and tracking part readiness for complex builds across multiple vendors.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple vendors and priorities under tight timelines while maintaining clarity.
• Strong negotiation skills with a track record of driving favorable pricing and lead times without compromising quality.
• High ownership mindset with a bias toward action, problem-solving, and follow-through in ambiguous situations.
• Ability to operate independently with minimal structure in a fast-paced, rapidly evolving startup environment.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail to manage complex BOMs and supplier interactions.
• Clear communication skills to effectively collaborate with both engineers and vendors at all levels.
• Willingness to engage in hands-on sourcing activities, including visiting machine shops and supplier facilities when necessary.
• Commitment to maintaining strict confidentiality regarding proprietary designs, deployments, and business information.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities, evolving designs, and urgent deployment needs.
• Alignment with our mission to deliver modular, scalable, and environmentally responsible energy solutions.

Nice to have

• Experience in aerospace, energy, robotics, or other hardware startups that move from prototype to scale.
• Familiarity with low-volume, high-complexity builds and environments with frequent design changes.
• Experience working with machine shops, weld/fab vendors, and PCBA contract manufacturers.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and interpret technical requirements to validate supplier capabilities.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems or lightweight planning tools to manage BOMs, routing, and schedules.
• Track record of scaling supplier networks and improving supply chain performance metrics over time.
• Experience managing long-lead, high-risk components such as subsea sensors, custom power electronics, and specialized materials.

Practical notes

Global fieldwork travel to deployment sites along oceanic ridges is required, including locations such as the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii. Employees must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship and must be based in the Seattle, WA area. This role is full-time and requires availability during standard business hours with flexibility for occasional after-hours support during critical deployments.