Global Sourcing Manager; Defense Procurement

Position: Global Sourcing Manager (Defense Procurement)
About Applied Intuition

Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy.

Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company's solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.;
San Diego;
Ft. Walton Beach, Florida;
Ann Arbor, Michigan;
London;
Stuttgart;
Munich;
Stockholm;
Bangalore;
Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at

We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments.

About the role

We are looking for high-impact procurement professionals who thrive in rapidly evolving environments where speed and communication are critical. Procurement Managers drive successful commodity sourcing strategies with a long-term view, developing relationships across industries to establish a strong supplier foundation. This role requires intense internal collaboration to deliver results that meet key business, technical, cost, and schedule requirements.

Procurement Managers own short- and long-term deal structuring, maximizing the value of an engagement across cost, contract, and product. This role will evolve alongside the state of artificial intelligence in the Procurement industry, as new tools shape the way we engage with key systems and stakeholders.

At Applied Intuition, you will:

* Develop a long-term strategy and secure cross-functional buy-in

* Create and execute RFx strategies

* Lead strategic sourcing for the "Physical AI" stack, including high-performance GPU clusters, edge-compute modules, and specialized sensors (LiDAR, thermal, and radio) required for autonomous defense platforms

* Partner with Engineering from the "breadboard" prototyping phase to ensure that selected hardware components meet the SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost) requirements of ruggedized defense

* Develop processes in compliance with FAR, DFARS, and corporate policies

* Ensure readiness and compliance for DCMA Purchasing System Reviews (CPSR)

* Build strong relationships while negotiating with industry-leading suppliers

* Reduce cost and increase value

* Manage internally and externally by influence

* Lead process improvement projects to maximize efficiency of impact

We're looking for someone who has:

* 10+ years in strategic sourcing, commodity management, global supply management, or similar field

* 2+ years leading Physical AI or Robotics Commodity Procurement:
Proven experience sourcing high-performance compute (GPUs/FPGA), edge-processing units, or advanced sensing suites (LiDAR, Radar, EO/IR).

* Expertise with FAR, DFARS, DCMA audits, and CPSR

* Strong sense of urgency and a strategic mindset

* Insatiable curiosity and a keen attention to detail

* Highly efficient executive-level communication skills

* Exceptional negotiation skills

* Ability to cut through ambiguity to make concrete and sound decisions

* Thorough understanding of complex contract structures

* Ability to rapidly prioritize and execute in a fast-paced environment

* Experience in DoD, aerospace, and/or defense contracting environments

* Bachelor's Degree in supply chain, finance, business, or similar field

Nice to have:

* MBA

* Experience with the Google suite of tools (e.g. Google Sheets, Google Docs)

* Experience using Slack on a professional level

* Experience working in a rapidly evolving startup environment

Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base…