Director of Supply Chain

Role overview

This onsite leadership position is based in Denver, Colorado and sits within the Operations and Supply Chain function. The company is building advanced fusion energy solutions using inertial fusion research and new laser architecture, with the goal of accelerating clean power deployment and supporting decarbonization. The organization brings together specialists in deep-tech, fusion science, and manufacturing, backed by major investors, to advance a scalable path toward fusion power.

In this role, you will lead the company’s end-to-end supply chain direction and execution. You will be responsible for helping ensure the right materials are available at the right time, while balancing cost, quality, and schedule across research and development, pilot efforts, and future commercial manufacturing. The position requires close partnership with Engineering, Manufacturing, Program Management, and Finance to support fast development while putting in place processes that can scale into a repeatable production environment.

The employer is seeking a supply chain leader who can combine strategic judgment with disciplined execution to help shape the future of energy.

Key responsibilities

• Direct and carry out the full supply chain strategy, covering sourcing, purchasing, materials planning, inventory management, logistics, and supplier performance.
• Build, coach, and grow a strong supply chain team, including hiring, capability development, and performance management.
• Develop and sustain a resilient supplier network that can support advanced R&D, low-volume and highly complex builds, and later production ramp-up.
• Create sourcing approaches for critical parts, long lead-time items, and sole-source or capacity-constrained materials, including make-versus-buy evaluation and mitigation planning.
• Work with Engineering on design-for-supply, design-for-cost, and design-for-manufacturability decisions early in development, weighing economics, schedule, and risk.
• Own materials readiness and planning for projects and builds, aligned with master schedules and program milestones.
• Improve key supply chain processes, systems, and tools such as PLM-to-ERP transfers, purchasing workflows, inventory control, and supplier quality processes.
• Lead supplier negotiations and contract discussions while balancing cost, timing, quality, and long-term strategic value.
• Define and monitor performance metrics such as on-time delivery, inventory turns, cost performance, supplier quality, and lead-time reduction, then drive corrective actions when needed.
• Manage supply chain exposure through formal risk tracking, alternate sourcing, strategic buffers, and active issue resolution.
• Communicate risks, tradeoffs, and decision options to senior leadership so priorities can be set quickly and effectively.
• Ensure the supply base follows relevant regulatory, export control, and safety requirements.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or a closely related discipline is required.
• At least 10 years of progressive supply chain or procurement experience, including leadership of technical and complex supply chains.
• Ability to influence and make system-level decisions in uncertain conditions while balancing cost, schedule, risk, and scalability.
• Experience supporting hardware development programs, ideally in both low-volume/high-complexity and high-volume/low-complexity manufacturing settings.
• Strong practical knowledge of sourcing strategy, supplier development, materials planning, inventory control, and cost management.
• Proven success leading cross-functional work and influencing outcomes in fast-moving, ambiguous environments.
• Experience creating processes and building organizations from an early stage through growth and scale.
• Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, a U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or asylee.

Preferred background

• Experience in aerospace, energy, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, or similarly regulated and precision-focused industries.
• Practical experience with ERP, PLM, and modern procurement or supplier management systems.
• A history of successfully moving supply chains from prototype stages into production.

Compensation

The expected base salary range for this position is $175,000 to $210,000 per year. Final compensation may vary depending on role-related knowledge, skills, education, experience, and other job-related factors. The range is provided in line with applicable Colorado and California pay transparency requirements.

Benefits

The company offers a comprehensive benefits package to support health, wellbeing, and long-term growth. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; basic and supplemental life insurance; short- and long-term disability coverage; paid parental leave for birth or adoption; and a 401(k) plan with company match up to 6%.

Eligible employees also receive equity participation. Paid time away is handled through a flexible paid time off approach rather than a fixed vacation balance. Employees additionally receive paid sick time, 13 company holidays, and an annual paid company shutdown.

Benefits are available to regular employees, including part-time and fixed-term employees, as well as interns, with eligibility varying by benefit.

Equal opportunity and hiring practices

The employer maintains an equal opportunity and affirmative action approach to hiring and advancement. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, performance, and ability. The workplace is intended to support trust, fairness, teamwork, and appreciation of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to protected characteristics under applicable federal, state, and local laws, including race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or ethnicity, age, disability, genetic information, and military or veteran status. Applicants with criminal histories are also considered in a manner consistent with applicable law.

The company may use AI tools to assist with parts of the hiring workflow, such as application review, resume analysis, response assessment, and identification of potential inconsistencies or verification signals. These tools support the recruitment team but do not replace human judgment, and final hiring decisions are made by people. Applicants can request additional information about how data is processed.