About this role
Amazon Leo is Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite network. Our mission is to deliver fast, reliable internet connectivity to customers beyond the reach of existing networks. From individual households to schools, hospitals, businesses, and government agencies, Amazon Leo will serve people and organizations operating in locations without reliable connectivity. Export Control Requirement: Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Key job responsibilities Own executive-level supplier relationships for critical space hardware, driving contract execution, delivery performance, cost, quality, capacity, and long-term strategic partnerships. Monitor and resolve supply chain challenges, including material availability, manufacturing capacity, and logistics constraints, to ensure predictable, on-time delivery across multiple production sites. Drive supplier performance against contractual commitments, proactively identifying risks and leading recovery plans to maintain program schedule and business objectives. Lead supplier readiness for production by ensuring manufacturing processes, tooling, capacity, and operational maturity support high-rate production of large composite space structures. Develop and execute supplier strategies that improve supply chain resilience, including identifying, qualifying, and onboarding additional suppliers, expanding manufacturing capacity, and reducing single-source dependencies. Partner with engineering, quality, manufacturing, and operations teams to resolve complex technical and production challenges while ensuring alignment with Amazon Leo program objectives. Lead strategic sourcing and supplier development initiatives, evaluating emerging suppliers, manufacturing capabilities, technology roadmaps, and investment opportunities to support future program growth. Drive continuous improvement initiatives across supplier operations, improving yield, throughput, cycle time, manufacturing efficiency, and overall delivery predictability. Lead commercial negotiations and work closely with business leaders, engineering, legal, program management, and supply chain teams to develop and negotiate term sheets, NDAs, MOUs, Statements of Work (SOWs), development agreements, and other contracting instruments to support program objectives. Build and manage supplier risk registers, identify mitigations, and communicate status to leadership. Establish metrics and governance structures for supplier performance, including supplier scorecards, cadence for executive reviews, and joint improvement plans. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define and deliver against procurement and supplier development roadmaps aligned with program milestones. Identify and onboard alternative suppliers to reduce risk and ensure continuity of supply in the face of capacity constraints or disruptions. Lead supplier qualification, design for manufacturability, and concurrent engineering activities to ensure smooth transitions from development to production. Drive supplier capability development, including process improvement, equipment upgrades, and training programs to meet program requirements. Ensure compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and export control standards in all supplier engagements. Manage budget and cost-out initiatives across the supplier base, tracking savings and value generation. Guide and mentor a team of supplier managers and procurement professionals to achieve program objectives and develop talent. Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement across the supplier network. Demonstrate strong communication and influence skills to navigate a matrixed organization and secure senior leadership alignment. Provide strategic thought leadership on supplier ecosystem development and manufacturing capability expansion to support long-term program growth. Support program management with risk assessments, scenario planning, and contingency strategies to maintain schedule and cost targets in the face of supply chain volatility. Identify and evaluate new manufacturing technologies and capabilities that could enable cost reduction, faster time-to-market, and improved quality for space hardware. Ensure alignment with sustainability and corporate responsibility goals in supplier selection and management. Collaborate with external partners, industry groups, and regulatory bodies to stay ahead of market trends and supplier landscape shifts relevant to space hardware and manufacturing. Drive end-to-end supplier lifecycle management, from supplier selection and onboarding to performance management and eventual offboarding if necessary. Manage relationships with external vendors, contract manufacturers, and logistics providers to optimize total cost of ownership and delivery performance. Build a robust contingency plan for supply chain disruptions, including alternative sourcing, dual sourcing strategies, and safety stock planning in coordination with program management. Establish and maintain documentation, including SOWs, contracts, and change orders, ensuring proper approvals and version control. Maintain an up-to-date understanding of space hardware market dynamics, supplier capabilities, and technology trends to inform strategic decisions. Lead cross-functional workshops and supplier alignment sessions to resolve design-for-manufacturing issues and expedite qualification activities. Ensure that supplier performance data is analyzed to identify root causes and implement sustainable improvements. Drive internal and external collaboration to support rapid procurement cycles and production ramp with minimal risk. Lead the development of supplier development plans, including timelines, milestones, and resource requirements. Develop and track supplier KPIs and SLA adherence to ensure predictable program outcomes. Maintain a forward-looking supplier pipeline to support long-term program goals and diversification of the supplier base. Ensure alignment with security, privacy, and IP management requirements in all supplier interactions. Build a culture of safety, ethics, and compliance across the supplier network. Manage escalations and issue resolution with suppliers, including corrective action plans and root cause analyses. Represent the organization in executive-level supplier reviews and procurement governance forums. Maintain knowledge of export control and trade compliance requirements and ensure supplier activities comply. Collaborate with legal to draft and negotiate complex agreements and resolve contractual disputes. Drive improvements in supplier onboarding time, approval cycles, and documentation quality. Maintain a strong working relationship with internal customers to ensure procurement strategies meet program needs. Develop and implement supplier performance improvement programs, including capability development, process optimization, and supplier diversification strategies. Lead post-award supplier negotiations to optimize terms, pricing, and risk allocation. Identify opportunities for long-term strategic partnerships and joint development initiatives with key suppliers. Maintain a network of industry experts and potential suppliers to support program growth. Ensure alignment with overall business strategy and portfolio objectives. Drive change management as processes evolve, ensuring smooth adoption across teams. Create and sustain a high-performance culture focused on safety, quality, and reliability in supplier operations. Ensure proper governance, risk management, and compliance across supplier relationships. Develop dashboards and reporting mechanisms for leadership to monitor supplier performance and program health. Lead supplier development for next-generation manufacturing technologies and materials to enable future program capabilities. Build and maintain successful relationships with engineering, program management, and operations to drive supplier-driven value creation. Provide thought leadership on sourcing strategy, supplier segmentation, and capacity planning in support of space hardware programs. Establish risk-based supplier selection criteria and evaluation processes to ensure robust supplier portfolios. Identify and mitigate potential supply chain bottlenecks before they impact program milestones.