Amber Kinetics, Inc. is looking for a Sourcing Engineer to be responsible for vetting, selecting, and managing suppliers for all the materials, parts, & equipment required for the development of prototype flywheel energy storage systems. The qualified candidate would be responsible for both strategic & reactive sourcing needs in a dynamic research & development environment. In order for success in this position, the candidate’s skillset and knowledge base would include supplier quality evaluation, industrial & prototype fabrication processes, commercial procurement, logistics, and effective communication across multiple disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Growing, maintaining, and managing a list of vendors/suppliers in the areas of mechanical (metal) parts fabrication, raw material suppliers, machining equipment, sensors & electronic equipment
• Act as the primary point of contact for all engineering supply related issues, escalating imminent shortages, pricing issues or other risks to prototype build and test schedules
• Coordinate with inventory to plan appropriate material & parts needs to support engineering operations while considering cash flow and warehouse inventory space
• Coordinate with the various internal technical teams to understand the material & fabrication needs for engineering projects, keeping up with changing demand and design requirements as directed by business/project plan
• Visit suppliers & vendors to conduct quality audits and build relationships
• Make vs buy analysis for parts and lease vs buy analysis for equipment
• Facilitate the quoting process with engineering staff for prototype parts and assemblies, including negotiation of favorable commercial terms & conditions for pricing, logistics, minimum order qty, and lead time
• Support logistical and freight operations, working with shippers and forwarders, creating necessary documents needed for domestic and international importing and exporting
• Responsible for coordinating the transition of the bill of materials to supply chain following the prototyping stage
• Managing contracted electronics manufacturing services (EMS) for PCB/PCA assembly, wire harness assembly and box build
• Sourcing and tracking inventory of critical electronics components and managing consignment to manufacturers

Required Experience and Skills

• B.S./B.A. in a technical field from an accredited university
• 3-5 years of experience in materials management, purchasing and planning experience in a prototype manufacturing or related environment
• Experience with NetSuite, and ERP systems
• Capable of reading technical drawings
• Strong communication skills across multiple disciplines. In particular, the ability to present complex technical ideas clearly
• Must be highly self-motivated and driven to get results even when no-one is watching
• Detail-oriented mindset, with demonstrated record of meticulous documentation and record-keeping
• Some travel required

Desired Experience and Skills

• Experience with sourcing high-strength steel is a plus
• Experience in the energy and energy storage industry
• Knowledge of local vendors

Personal Qualities

At Amber Kinetics, Inc. we value respect, collaboration, accountability, and quality. We offer a healthy work-life balance, engineering decision making and encourage opportunities for personal and technical growth, and the chance to pioneer new technologies and architectures to solve consequential problems.

Amber Kinetics' vision is a flywheel in every country to mitigate climate change and reduce poverty. We design and manufacture safe, environmentally sustainable energy storage solutions based on advanced flywheel technology. Our mission is to give customers the most compelling energy storage solution for a cleaner, safer, and more reliable energy infrastructure.

We offer competitive compensation and a healthy work-life balance located in Union City, CA. Amber Kinetics, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

**Compensation and Benefits **

• Salary and equity package commensurate with experience
• 401k matching plan
• Medical, Dental, and Vision