What we’re looking for We’re expanding our operations team with a Supply Chain Manager to own the discovery, qualification, and onboarding of new CNC machine shops and additive manufacturing shops across the United States. Vendra’s customer demand is growing - particularly in aerospace & defense - and we need to continuously expand and improve our network of high-quality U.S. manufacturers with available capacity. This is a high impact, “boots on the ground” role that directly influences Vendra’s ability to scale. What you’ll do • Expand Vendra’s U.S. CNC Machining and Additive Manufacturing Supplier Network • Build a strong pipeline of qualified 3-, 4-, and 5-axis shops • Build a strong pipeline of polymer and metal additive manufacturing suppliers • Target suppliers aligned with aerospace, defense, and high-spec hardware requirements • Evaluate supplier capabilities, capacity, and specialization (materials, tolerances, part size, finishing, etc.) • Travel to visit key shops and build long-term relationships • Own Supplier Qualification & Onboarding • Evaluate suppler capability and quality through reviews and test parts • Assess quality systems (ISO 9001, AS9100, documentation controls, etc.) • Validate ability to meet traceability, documentation, and compliance requirements (ITAR/EAR, certs, FAIRs, etc.) • Ensure suppliers are fully production-ready before receiving high-value RFQs and orders • Build and Optimize Vendra’s Supplier Network • Understand real-time supplier capacity, technical strengths, and constraints across our network • Identify capability gaps (large-format machining, tight GD&T performance, specific materials or finishes, etc.) • Collect and analyze supplier performance metrics (on-time delivery, quality, quoting speed, communication, program complexity, etc.) • Feed structured performance data back into Vendra’s supplier matching system to improve how RFQs are routed and matched to the best-fit shop What success looks like (in order of importance) • Supplier quality and on-time delivery remain extremely high as we scale • Vendra consistently has the capacity to support customer demand without bottlenecks • New CNC shops are onboarded quickly and become reliable production partners • We have strong geographic and capability coverage across the U.S. • Our supplier base becomes a long-term strategic advantage What the ideal candidate looks like • 2-5 years of experience in supply chain, sourcing, manufacturing operations, or supplier management • Experience working directly with CNC machine shops or precision manufacturers • Strong understanding of machining processes, tolerances, materials, and finishes • Comfortable reviewing technical drawings and assessing manufacturability • Experience qualifying suppliers in regulated environments (aerospace/defense preferred) • Willingness to travel to visit suppliers in person Nice to have (not required) • Experience working with aerospace, defense, robotics, or advanced hardware companies • Familiarity with regulated manufacturing environments (ITAR/EAR, AS9100, traceability, FAI reports, etc.) • Background in mechanical engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, or industrial operations Why should you join Vendra? • We’re growing fast, and we’re a trusted manufacturing partner for companies like Anduril, Shield AI, Relativity Space, and K2 Space • You’ll be shaping the sales and customer trajectory to build a category-defining company in manufacturing • You’ll work in an environment where your contributions will have immediate, tangible impact on revenue and success • You will have tremendous growth opportunities because we want our early hires to lead future organizations