Purchasing/Material Planner - Contractor

About Tempo

Based in San Diego, California, Tempo develops thermochemical energy storage (TCES) systems designed for energy-intensive industries. The platform enables industrial operators to shift energy use over time by sourcing power when it is most cost-effective and enables the electrification of high-temperature industrial heat at a cost advantage to using fossil fuels. By storing electricity thermochemically, the system delivers a continuous stream of combustion-free, high-temperature air at up to 1,200°C.

Tempo is backed by leading climate and energy investors, including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Khosla Ventures, and Prelude Ventures.

For more information, visit www.tempoenergy.com.

Job Description

The Purchasing / Material Planner sits at the center of Tempo's supply chain execution — turning quotes into purchase orders, keeping the master tracker current across every program, and making sure the right materials get to the right place at the right time. This role is highly cross-functional, working daily with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and finance to keep programs on schedule and cost targets on track. This role is classified as a 1099 Independent Contractor position. As a consultant, you will not be a W-2 employee of the company. You will be responsible for your own self-employment taxes, insurance, and equipment. This role does not include company-sponsored benefits, paid time off, or unemployment/workers' compensation coverage.

Key Responsibilities

RFQ and PO Execution

• Prepare and issue RFQs to suppliers, collect and compare quotes, and support supplier selection.
• Place purchase orders and track them through supplier acknowledgement, confirming pricing, lead times, and terms.
• Follow up with suppliers to resolve discrepancies and keep POs moving.

Program Tracking

• Maintain the master supplier/part tracker spanning tooling, manufacturing, testing, and shipments.
• Flag schedule risks and supply constraints early, and keep stakeholders informed.
• Keep tracker data accurate and current as programs evolve.

Sample and Material Logistics

• Coordinate shipments of samples and materials between Tempo and its suppliers.
• Arrange and track supplier-to-supplier shipments.
• Troubleshoot logistics issues (customs, carriers, damaged or delayed shipments) to keep material flowing.

Cost/BOM Data Maintenance

• Maintain supplier quotes and pricing history to support cost analysis.
• Maintain accurate BOM inputs and ensure data ties out across systems.
• Support cost roll-ups and should-cost comparisons.

Documentation

• Keep RFQs, drawings/revisions, and supplier documentation current and organized.
• Maintain commercial records (quotes, POs, terms, agreements) for audit and reference.
• Ensure documentation aligns with the latest engineering revisions.

Requirements/Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, or materials planning (hardware or manufacturing environment preferred).
• Strong organizational skills and comfort owning a high volume of moving pieces across multiple programs at once.
• Proficiency with spreadsheets (Excel/Google Sheets); ERP or PLM system experience a plus.
• Clear written and verbal communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Comfortable reading engineering drawings and BOMs.
• A proactive, detail-oriented approach — you catch problems before they become delays.
• Experience in energy, hardware, or industrial manufacturing.
• Familiarity with international shipping/logistics and customs documentation.
• Exposure to cost modeling or should-cost analysis.

Physical Demands (if any)

• Sitting and standing: Extended periods at a desk performing computer-based design, simulation, and documentation work, balanced with time at a lab bench or in the shop during hardware build and testing
• Lifting and carrying : Lift and carry equipment, test fixtures, or hardware assemblies up to 50 lbs.; heavier items handled with mechanical assistance or team lift
• Hand dexterity: Frequent use of hands for assembly, fabrication, instrumentation hookup, and operation of test and shop equipment
• Visual acuity: Ability to read engineering drawings, inspect hardware, and identify dimensional and surface quality features during fabrication and testing
• PPE compliance: Ability to wear and work effectively in required personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, heat-resistant gloves, safety shoes, and other appropriate gear in high-temperature lab and shop environments
• Safety acumen: Demonstrated understanding of lab and shop safety protocols, including hazard recognition and risk mitigation in environments involving high-temperature equipment, energized systems, and fabrication machinery
• Travel: Occasional travel (estimated <5%) for tool or material pickup

Working at Tempo

Tempo is a lean organization working on exciting challenges, and the people who thrive here share a few things in common beyond their technical skills.

• Clear, direct communication: You professionally say what you mean, lead with empathy, use tact, ask when you're unsure, and keep the people around you informed without being asked. At a company our size, communication gaps are expensive, and good communicators add to success and efficiency!
• Low-ego helpfulness: You're willing to jump in on work that isn't strictly yours, whether that's helping a teammate debug something, lending a hand in the shop, or flagging an issue you noticed outside your lane. No one here succeeds in a silo.
• Intellectual curiosity: You're genuinely interested in how things work, not just your piece of it, but the broader system. Tempo sits at the intersection of chemistry, mechanical engineering, power electronics, and software; the more you understand about the whole, the more valuable you become.
• Business awareness: You understand that your work exists in a business context. You think about cost, timeline, and tradeoffs—not just technical elegance—and you make decisions accordingly.
• Comfort with ambiguity: Processes here are still being built. You can make progress without a perfect playbook, and you know when to ask for direction versus when to use your judgment and move forward.
• Accountability: You own your outcomes, including the misses. When something goes sideways, the instinct here is to fix it and learn from it, not to explain why it wasn't your fault.

The pay range for this 1099 contract position is $45.00 to $57.00 per hour. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, location, and relevant education or training. Please note that as a 1099 independent contractor role, this position does not include company equity or traditional employee benefits.

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Tempo reserves the right to modify, add, or remove responsibilities as business needs evolve. Employees may be asked to perform duties outside of those listed above from time to time.

Tempo is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.  Tempo participates in E-Verify. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check including employment and education check.

Tempo does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate profiles from external recruiters, staffing agencies, or third-party search firms. Submission of unsolicited resumes by any external agency — whether to a Tempo employee, hiring manager, or any other representative — does not constitute or imply an agreement for placement fees, and Tempo will not be responsible for any fees related to unsolicited submissions under any circumstances. Any candidate submitted without a prior, fully executed, written fee agreement between the agency and Tempo's Human Resources department will be deemed the sole property of Tempo. Tempo reserves the right to pursue and hire such candidates without obligation to the submitting agency.