Job Context/Purpose
The Supply Chain Manager will be responsible for establishing, managing, and scaling the end-to-end supply chain function for aerospace and defense products. The role involves ensuring the timely availability of materials, components, equipment, and services required for R&D, prototyping, testing, low-rate production, and full-scale manufacturing. The individual will be responsible for balancing startup agility with aerospace-grade quality and compliance requirements while working closely with engineering, production, quality, finance, and program management teams to ensure uninterrupted execution of development and manufacturing programs.
Job Description – Supply Chain Manager
1. Basic Details
- Role: Supply Chain Manager
- Function: Supply Chain Management
- Sub-Function: To be defined
- Job Code: To be defined
- Joining Buffer: 1 Month
- Publishing Date: 23/10/2026
2. Job Context / Purpose
The Supply Chain Manager will be responsible for establishing, managing, and scaling the end-to-end supply chain function for aerospace and defense products.
The role involves ensuring the timely availability of materials, components, equipment, and services required for R&D, prototyping, testing, low-rate production, and full-scale manufacturing.
The individual will be responsible for balancing startup agility with aerospace-grade quality and compliance requirements while working closely with engineering, production, quality, finance, and program management teams to ensure uninterrupted execution of development and manufacturing programs.
3. Key Responsibilities
A. Procurement, Planning, Logistics & Program Execution
- Manage end-to-end procurement, material planning, inventory control, logistics, and supplier coordination.
- Ensure timely availability of materials, components, tooling, equipment, and services required for R&D, prototyping, testing, production, and field operations.
- Translate engineering Bills of Materials (BOMs), project schedules, and production plans into sourcing, inventory, and material requirement plans.
- Manage engineering changes and assess their impact on suppliers, inventory, costs, and project schedules.
- Develop and maintain forecasting, Material Requirements Planning (MRP), inventory optimization, and replenishment processes.
- Establish and manage warehousing, transportation, import/export, customs, freight, and material traceability processes.
- Support prototype builds, system integration, qualification activities, flight testing, production ramp-up, and manufacturing scale-up.
- Collaborate with engineering, production, quality, finance, and program management teams to align supply chain activities with project milestones, manufacturing priorities, budgets, and customer commitments.
- Provide procurement, lead-time, sourcing, logistics, and cost-planning inputs during project planning, proposal development, and program reviews.
B. Team Management & Coordination
- Work closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, finance, and program management teams to ensure smooth operational execution.
- Participate in program review meetings and provide regular supply chain status updates.
- Support proposal preparation by providing sourcing strategies, procurement inputs, and cost estimates.
- Ensure procurement and inventory plans are aligned with project schedules and manufacturing milestones.
- Build, develop, and lead the procurement and supply chain team as the organization scales.
- Establish procurement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), supplier onboarding processes, and inventory control procedures.
- Develop and implement Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), dashboards, and reporting systems for leadership reviews.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across procurement, inventory management, logistics, and supply chain operations.
C. Strategic Supply Chain Management
- Develop and execute supply chain strategies aligned with organizational growth, product roadmaps, and manufacturing plans.
- Establish, qualify, and manage a robust supplier ecosystem for aerospace, defense, mechanical, electrical, avionics, propulsion, payload, manufacturing, and testing requirements.
- Lead supplier identification, evaluation, audits, negotiations, onboarding, and performance management.
- Develop and maintain long-term strategic relationships with suppliers and vendors.
- Identify supply chain risks, single-source dependencies, component obsolescence, and long lead-time items.
- Develop and implement appropriate risk mitigation and business continuity plans.
- Drive localization and indigenization initiatives wherever commercially and technically feasible.
- Ensure supplier capabilities, quality standards, delivery commitments, and commercial terms align with organizational requirements.
4. Knowledge, Skills & Experience
A. Educational Qualifications & Certifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, or a related field.
- MBA/PGDM in Operations Management or Supply Chain Management is preferred.
- Additional professional certifications are preferred, including:
- APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP).
- APICS Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM).
- ISM Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM).
- CIPS Certifications.
- Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD).
- Postgraduate Diploma/MBA in Supply Chain Management or Operations Management.
- Equivalent recognized Supply Chain Management certification programs.
B. Experience Requirements
- 5–10 years of experience in supply chain management, procurement, sourcing, materials planning, manufacturing operations, or industrial logistics.
- Mandatory experience in hardware product development or manufacturing industries such as:
- Aerospace and Defense.
- Automotive.
- Electronics.
- Industrial Equipment.
- Robotics.
- Machinery.
- Heavy Engineering.
- Similar engineering-driven industries.
- Demonstrated experience in managing physical components, manufacturing supply chains, engineering BOMs, production planning, supplier qualification, inventory control, and hardware procurement.
- Experience supporting prototype development, engineering builds, testing programs, or production environments.
- Startup experience in deep-tech, aerospace, defense, robotics, or advanced manufacturing organizations is highly desirable.
- Candidates whose experience is primarily in software development, IT services, consulting services, business process outsourcing (BPO), staffing, or non-product service industries will not be considered suitable for this role.
C. Technical Competencies
- Procurement and strategic sourcing.
- Inventory management and optimization.
- Material Requirements Planning (MRP).
- Vendor development and qualification.
- Supplier evaluation and performance management.
- Contract negotiation and commercial management.
- Engineering Bill of Materials (BOM) management.
- ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Odoo, Zoho, or similar platforms.
- Import/export and logistics management.
- Cost analysis and procurement planning.
- Supply chain risk assessment and mitigation.
- Production and material planning.
D. Behavioral & Other Competencies
- Strong ownership mindset and accountability.
- High attention to detail.
- Structured problem-solving and analytical abilities.
- Excellent stakeholder management and coordination skills.
- Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
- Ability to perform effectively under tight schedules and delivery pressures.
- Ability to work in ambiguous and fast-paced startup environments.
- Strong communication and decision-making abilities.
- Proactive approach to identifying and resolving operational bottlenecks.
E. Specific Tools & Software Knowledge
- Working knowledge of ERP tools and systems.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Familiarity with procurement, inventory management, and supply chain reporting tools.
5. Internal & External Stakeholder Management
The Supply Chain Manager will coordinate with the following internal and external stakeholders:
A. Internal Stakeholders
- Project / Team Leads
- Coordinate procurement planning and material requirements.
- Report procurement bottlenecks, supply constraints, and delivery challenges.
- Provide regular updates on procurement and supply chain progress.
- Frequency: As required.
- Management Teams
- Coordinate to understand operational requirements and expected deliverables.
- Provide supply chain updates, operational inputs, and procurement-related support.
- Frequency: Regular.
- Testing Teams
- Support identification of applicable standards and external testing laboratories.
- Coordinate material and component requirements for testing and qualification activities.
- Frequency: Regular.
B. External Stakeholders
- Suppliers / Vendors
- Identify suitable suppliers for required components, materials, and equipment.
- Coordinate sourcing, technical requirements, quotations, negotiations, and deliveries.
- Frequency: Regular.
- Customs Office
- Coordinate import/export documentation, customs clearance, and related logistics activities.
- Frequency: As required.
- Partners
- Coordinate supply chain requirements and facilitate collaboration for project execution.
- Frequency: Regular.
6. Additional Requirements & Working Conditions
- Must be an Indian citizen.
- If selected, the candidate may be subject to a government security investigation.
- Must have sufficient physical mobility to access designated areas of interest, wherever necessary.
- The role will generally involve working in an office environment but may require working inside or outside the facility depending on operational requirements.
- Must be flexible to work beyond normal working hours whenever required.
- Must be willing to adjust work schedules to meet project deadlines, production requirements, testing schedules, and organizational priorities.
