At Vatn Systems, we design and manufacture next generation Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) that are transforming what’s possible in maritime defense and exploration. Our vehicles combine precision hardware, advanced sensors, and sophisticated software to operate in the most demanding underwater environments.

We’re seeking a senior leader to architect and execute our supply chain strategy as we scale from prototype to full rate production. As Director of Supply Chain, you’ll drive procurement vision, supplier development, planning systems, and inventory strategy across our fast evolving product portfolio. You’ll serve as the connective tissue between engineering, operations, and manufacturing, building resilient supply chains for underwater systems that can’t fail.

This is a mission critical role for a strategic thinker who thrives in ambiguity, scales fast, and wants to shape the supply function of a venture backed defense company from the ground up.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Build and lead Vatn’s supply chain strategy across all direct and indirect categories, balancing cost, lead time, quality, and risk in support of aggressive growth goals
• Own supplier development, from evaluating new partners to onboarding, performance management, and dual sourcing strategies
• Establish scalable procurement and planning infrastructure, including policies, KPIs, tools, and organizational capability to support process through R&D full rate production
• Lead material planning and demand forecasting across multiple product lines and programs, ensuring synchronized execution between engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing
• Drive make or buy analysis in partnership with engineering and leadership, based on total landed cost, core competency, risk, and scalability
• Serve as the business owner for ERP procurement and MRP configuration, including design and optimization of master data, BOM accuracy, and transactional integrity
• Lead cross functional problem solving on supplier quality, capacity constraints, cost reduction, and critical material shortages
• Build and mentor a high performing supply chain team, including planning and procurement functions
• Present sourcing and material risk strategies to executive leadership and investors, using data driven insights to drive decision making

Required Qualifications:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain, sourcing, or operations leadership within high complexity hardware environments (e.g. defense, aerospace, robotics, or automotive)
• Demonstrated success scaling a supply function from R&D to production, with clear examples of systems, processes, or teams you’ve built
• Deep understanding of manufacturing BOMs, planning parameters, and supplier lead times
• Strong technical acumen with the ability to engage engineering teams on design for supply topics
• Familiarity with ERP systems (NetSuite preferred), MRP logic, and planning tools; able to lead system implementations or reconfigurations
• Strong analytical toolkit, including the ability to manipulate large datasets and extract actionable insights; experience with SQL or similar tools is a plus
• Executive level communication skills with the ability to influence up, down, and across
• Ability to travel up to 25%

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, supply chain, operations, or related technical field; MBA or advanced degree a plus
• Experience in defense manufacturing or other highly regulated industries
• Familiarity with Lean principles, Six Sigma, or ISO quality standards
• Prior startup experience or experience standing up supply functions in greenfield environments