Global Supply Manager - Special Projects

Divergent is a technology company that has architected, invented, built, and commercialized an end-to-end factory system called the Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS) that comprehensively uses machine learning to optimally engineer, additively manufacture, and flexibly assemble complex integrated vehicle structures and subsystems. Products created using DAPS are superior in performance, lower in cost, rapidly customizable to meet mission and customer-specific requirements, faster to market, and scalable on demand to high volume production. Divergent is a qualified Tier 1 supplier to global automotive OEMs, and Divergent is now expanding to support mission critical needs in the Aerospace and Defense sector. Join us to be a part of this transformative journey, where your impact will shape the future of technology and production.

Purpose

The Global Supply Manager - Special Projects will be responsible for managing global supplier relationships, executing sourcing initiatives, and ensuring the supply of mission-critical components for special projects and programs.

This role requires deep collaboration with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Program Management, and Finance to support an aggressive product development and production ramp roadmap. The GSM operates with considerable independent judgment, executing sourcing and supplier strategies aligned to departmental objectives, while ensuring that commercial decisions support engineering performance, total cost of ownership, and program timing. This individual will play a critical role in building a scalable procurement function that supports the company's rapid growth and global expansion. The successful candidate will be both a strategic thought partner to functional leaders and a hands-on operator capable of driving sourcing initiatives, optimizing spend, and developing supplier partnerships that align with Divergent's long-term objectives.

The Role

1. Strategic Sourcing & Commodity Ownership

• Develop sourcing strategies for assigned categories, including:

Components: Gas fluid handling and pneumatics, electrical and mechanical assemblies, motors, bearings, valves, COTS, etc.

Material processing: machining, grinding, coatings, non-destructive testing (Visual, Ultrasonic, Radiographic), etc.

Indirect: facility equipment, services, consumables, MRO

• Analyze global supply markets to identify capable suppliers for performance, cost, scalability, and risk
• Lead supplier selection process from RFx through sourcing award, including should-cost analysis, total landed cost modeling, and commercial/technical tradeoff recommendations
• Define and improve sourcing SOPs for assigned categories in partnership with Purchasing leadership
• May support development of multi-year commodity strategy and supplier roadmap for assigned categories (S5)
• Serve as category subject matter expert, advising cross-functional partners on supply market dynamics and risk exposure (S5)

2. Program Support & NPI Procurement

• Act as the sourcing lead for internal product development, supporting program platform milestones (concept through SOP)
• Translate project BOMs and schedules into actionable procurement plans across prototype, pilot, and production phases
• Support engineering in managing design iterations with suppliers and ensuring manufacturability and scalability

Track and manage part readiness for critical build events

• Independently identify supply risks and implement mitigation plans to protect program timing
• Lead complex cross-functional readiness reviews for high-visibility build events (S5)

3. Supplier Management & Technical Collaboration

• Serve as the primary commercial interface for global suppliers; ensure accountability across pricing, lead time, quality, and risk
• Drive supplier development and qualification processes in collaboration with Quality and Engineering teams
• Work with suppliers on value engineering, lead time optimization, capacity ramp, and risk mitigation
• Manage long-lead items, sole-source suppliers, and supplier tooling with high rigor
• Lead structured supplier performance reviews and corrective action follow-up
• Influence executive-level supplier discussions related to capacity, long-term agreements, or strategic partnerships (S5)

4. Cost Management & Negotiation

• Build and maintain cost models for key components based on process knowledge, materials, labor, and margin benchmarks
• Conduct cost reduction initiatives, VA/VE sessions, and alternate source qualification efforts
• Lead negotiations on pricing, payment terms, tooling amortization, and IP protection
• Track actual vs. forecasted material costs; report on sourcing variances and mitigation plans
• Lead complex negotiations involving long-term agreements or capacity reservations with limited oversight (S5)
• Provide strategic cost modeling insights to support product-level or commodity-level margin improvement initiatives (S5)

5. Cross-Functional Integration

• Partner with:

Hardware & Product Engineering: Support design-for-supply, technical feasibility reviews, and change management

Manufacturing & Integration: Align sourcing with line build sequencing and materials flow

Hardware Program Managers: Communicate part status against schedule, mitigate delivery risk

Finance: Ensure procurement budgets and capital forecasts are aligned and reconciled

Legal: Support supplier contract development, including MSAs, NDAs, and licensing/IP terms

• Act as a resource to peers and junior team members on sourcing best practices
• May inform cross-functional sourcing strategy discussions at the product or platform level (S5)

Basic Qualifications

• Ability to lawfully access information and technology that is subject to US export controls 
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related technical field; advanced technical degree or MBA is a plus
• 4+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, or supply chain management in high-tech hardware environments (capital equipment, automotive, aerospace, robotics, additive manufacturing)
• Demonstrated experience managing technically complex, high-value component categories (e.g., motion systems, optics, sensors, high-precision mechanicals)
• Proven success managing suppliers through NPI, rapid development, and low-to-mid volume production
• Strong contract negotiation skills and experience with long-lead procurement strategies, tooling agreements, and commercial risk mitigation
• ERP and PLM fluency (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Arena, Windchill)
• Data fluency-able to synthesize and report supply KPIs, BOM cost trends, and supplier performance metrics
• Demonstrated ability to operate with significant autonomy and influence decisions within and between teams (S5)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience sourcing in highly regulated environments (ISO 9001, AS9100, IATF 16949)
• Familiarity with additive manufacturing, aerospace product development, industrial automation, or digital fabrication
• Technical ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, CAD models, BOMs, and material/process specs
• International sourcing experience and cross-border logistics exposure
• Recognized internally as an advanced individual contributor or category expert within a defined technical domain (S5)

Work Environment

• This position is based onsite in our Torrance, CA office.

Compensation

At Divergent, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at levels S04 - S06 as evaluated through our interview process. 

• S05/Sr. GSM: $109,240 - $150, 210
• S06/Lead GSM: $126,160 - $173,470

Pay Range

$109,240—$173,470 USD

What We Offer:

• Holistic Compensation Package: Enjoy a world-class compensation package that includes a competitive salary, equity plan, and discretionary results-based incentive bonus opportunities, ensuring you're truly valued for your contributions.
• Wellness and Time Off: Embrace a healthy lifestyle with paid vacation, sick time, and company holidays, including a year-end shutdown to recharge. We support growing families with paid parental leave, recognizing the importance of bonding time.
• Comprehensive Health and Wellness: Prioritize your well-being with our comprehensive health and wellness benefits, offering both HMO and Premium PPO options. Additionally, benefit from company-sponsored life insurance and short and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind.
• Investment in Growth: We're committed to your professional development. Take advantage of reimbursement opportunities for learning and development initiatives, empowering you to continuously expand your skill set and reach peak performance.
• Collaborative and High-Performing Environment: Join our collaborative, dynamic, and high-performing team within a fast-paced, mission-driven company. Together, we're disrupting the traditional manufacturing industry, fostering innovation, and integrating people and technology to reduce our footprint. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Divergent is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected characteristic. Divergent provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act.

EEO Poster 

In order to adjust to changes in our business, it may become necessary to add, remove or modify certain duties and responsibilities, or to reassign you to another job position. From time to time you may be asked to work on special projects or to assist with other work. Your cooperation and assistance in performing such additional work is expected. 

E-Verify: Right to Work

Our company participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is a program that electronically confirms a candidate's eligibility to work in the United States after completing the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). The information provided on the Form I-9 is compared to the records contained in the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases. This helps employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees.

Eligibility to Work Poster (English) | Eligibility to Work Poster (Spanish)

Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO)

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO), we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

No agencies, no solicitations, and no calls please.