Procurement & Supply Chain Manager

About AIM AIM Intelligent Machines is pioneering the future of heavy equipment automation. Our technology enables a single operator to monitor and control multiple machines simultaneously — dramatically improving productivity, reducing labor costs, and reshaping what is possible in construction, mining, and industrial operations. Through cutting-edge AI, computer vision, and robotics, AIM is solving critical challenges in equipment autonomy and remote operations. We build systems that augment human capability — allowing people to do more with less, safely and efficiently. We are deploying autonomous machines in the real world today, and scaling fast. About the Role AIM is deploying autonomous machines at a pace that requires purpose-built supply chain infrastructure — not just good vendor relationships. We are looking for a Procurement & Supply Chain Manager who thrives in fast-moving, hardware-intensive environments and who will own the end-to-end sourcing and materials function for our growing deployment program. You will be the connective tissue between our hardware engineering team and the physical components that make our machines work. That means chasing down part numbers before they are needed, mapping supplier risk before it becomes a shortage, and building the procurement systems that let AIM move from dozens of units to hundreds without breaking stride. This is a high-ownership, high-impact role. You will not be handed a mature supplier program or a fully staffed team. You will build it — and in doing so, you will directly shape AIM's ability to deliver on its deployment commitments. What You Will Do Component Sourcing - Own sourcing across the full AIM hardware BOM: structural steel and mounting hardware, wiring harnesses, printed circuit boards, compute modules, sensors, and ancillary electronics - Partner closely with our hardware engineering team to stay ahead of spec changes, new part requirements, and evolving BOMs — you chase them, they don't chase you - Qualify and maintain approved vendor lists with secondary sources for all high-risk or single-sourced components - Run a dual-track supplier strategy across the hardware lifecycle: maintain fast-turn, low-volume relationships for engineering development (1–3 unit turns with short lead times) while simultaneously building production-scale supplier relationships with negotiated pricing — so that when a part moves from prototype to production, the transition is frictionless and the commercial terms are already locked Inventory & Demand Planning - Own inventory posture against forecasted deployment demand — model lead times against committed delivery dates and flag exposure before it becomes a crisis - Build and maintain a procurement calendar tied to program milestones - Implement safety stock policies that balance cash efficiency with deployment reliability Supplier Relationships & Negotiation - Develop and own strategic relationships with key suppliers — pricing, allocation priority, terms, and continuity - Proactively identify geopolitical, concentration, and lead-time risk across the supply base and propose mitigation before exposure becomes a problem - Lead contract negotiations for volume commitments, payment terms, and NDA/IP protections where applicable Kit Assembly & Contractor Management - Identify and manage third-party contractors for kit pre-assembly work, reducing reliance on internal headcount for repetitive staging tasks - Define quality standards, acceptance criteria, and assembly specs for outsourced kitting operations Logistics & Expediting - Maintain relationships with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and shipping agents to support domestic and international deployments - Manage expediting for time-critical shipments; build import/export compliance capability appropriate to AIM's footprint What We Are Looking For Required - 5+ years in procurement, supply chain, or materials management in a hardware-intensive company - Demonstrated experience sourcing across multiple component categories — ideally spanning both mechanical/structural hardware and electronics - Track record of building or significantly improving procurement processes, not just executing against established ones - Experience managing supplier relationships and negotiating volume contracts - Comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-moving environments where the process does not yet exist - Experience managing the procurement transition from development to production: knowing when to prioritize fast-turn, low-volume fulfillment for engineering iteration versus when to shift into production-scale supplier relationships with negotiated pricing — and keeping both tracks active simultaneously Strongly Preferred - Startup or early-stage experience — you have built functions, not just filled them - Experience procuring compute hardware, embedded systems, or specialized electronics (AI accelerators, edge compute, PCBs) - Familiarity with heavy equipment, industrial automation, construction tech, or adjacent hardware industries - Experience managing third-party kit assembly or contract manufacturing partners - International shipping, customs, and freight experience How You Will Stand Out - You don't wait to be asked — you've already identified the supply chain risk we haven't noticed yet and have a plan ready - You know the difference between a development supplier and a production supplier — and you cultivate both simultaneously. When engineering needs 2 units in a week, you have a path. When that same part hits production volumes, the pricing is already negotiated. - You operate at the intersection of technical fluency and commercial judgment — engineers trust you, and suppliers respect you - You find creative workarounds when the standard sourcing path fails — substitutions, alternative suppliers, creative logistics - You've built procurement infrastructure from scratch and have the organizational scar tissue to prove it - You treat inventory accuracy and demand visibility as a competitive weapon, not a back-office chore Why Join AIM? - Solve a real, massive problem — autonomous earthmoving at scale is one of the hardest and most consequential engineering challenges being tackled today - Run your workstream with a high degree of ownership — this is a function you will build, not inherit - Have a direct voice on product and operational direction as the company scales through a pivotal deployment phase - Company-funded medical, dental, vision, 401k, and life insurance - Gourmet food and perks; strong onsite collaboration at AIM's offices, labs, and proving grounds on the east side of the Greater Seattle area - Opportunity to travel to unique deployment sites across the Americas, Australia, Africa, and more