Supply Chain Program Manager

Job description

Before the detail, here's the challenge you'd help us solve. We build the embodied intelligence that moves real vehicles safely, and the ecosystem a billion machines will run on in the future. Very few people in AI can say this. Every role here, whatever the team, plugs into that. Here’s what this particular role covers. SUPPLY CHAIN PROGRAM MANAGER 🛠️ About our Supply Chain Team The Supply Chain Program Manager is a critical cross-functional role responsible for owning end-to-end supply chain execution across assigned programs and product builds at Wayve, including prototype development, new product introduction (NPI), and fleet launches. You’ll serve as the primary Supply Chain lead for your programs, ensuring program deliverables, supplier compliance and seamless coordination across Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing and external partners. You’ll work cross-functionally with Engineering, Planning, Sourcing, Logistics, Finance, Legal and Suppliers, while partnering closely with global upfitters and third-party integration partners across the US, UK and other regions to keep vehicle and program timelines on track. 🧠 Your day-to-day You’ll own end-to-end material readiness across assigned programs, translating engineering requirements and demand into actionable procurement plans and identifying supply risks early in the product lifecycle. You’ll operate as the strategic liaison between hardware engineering and procurement, coordinating internal teams, suppliers, upfitters and integration partners to keep builds moving. You’ll combine strategic program ownership with hands-on execution—tracking materials, resolving readiness issues, managing supply chain risk and using KPIs to drive continuous improvement. 🧩 What you’ll be working on: - Acting as the primary Supply Chain lead for assigned programs and internal product builds, including prototypes, NPI and subassemblies. - Owning end-to-end material readiness to support program milestones across R&D, Engineering, Operations and Manufacturing. - Collaborating with Engineering, Planning, Sourcing, Logistics, Finance and Suppliers to align supply chain activities with program timelines. - Acting as the strategic liaison between hardware engineering and procurement teams, including managing demand aggregation. - Translating engineering BOMs and aggregated Technical Program Manager demand into procurement plans. - Identifying long-lead items and critical-path components early in the product lifecycle, tracking material status throughout build phases and proactively escalating gaps and risks. - Collaborating with Supply Chain Team Leads to ensure direct purchasing, indirect purchasing and logistics suppliers meet legal, environmental, regulatory and ethical sourcing requirements, including TISAX and ISO standards. - Partnering with Legal and Compliance to ensure appropriate supplier agreements, NDAs and risk controls are in place. - Developing contingency plans for supply disruptions and actively managing supply chain risks. - Serving as the primary program manager for upfitter and partner relationships, maintaining stakeholder alignment and driving activities against vehicle timelines and quality standards. - Proactively identifying and resolving issues affecting vehicle build readiness while coordinating internal teams and external partners. - Maintaining clear communication cadences with upfitters and stakeholders, tracking milestones and escalating risks as needed. - Defining, tracking and reporting supply chain KPIs, including material availability, total cost savings and inventory cycle count accuracy. - Establishing program-level dashboards and reporting cadences that provide leadership and cross-functional stakeholders with visibility into performance. - Analysing KPI trends to identify root causes of underperformance and drive corrective actions with suppliers and internal teams. - Using KPI insights to continuously improve supply chain processes, reduce waste and increase overall program efficiency. 🙌 You should apply if: - You have 10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain program management, NPI and hardware operations. - You have a strong understanding of BOM management, material planning and procurement processes. - You have demonstrated experience managing cross-functional programs across Engineering, Operations and Supply Chain. - You bring strong analytical, problem-solving and risk-management skills. - You have excellent communication and stakeholder-management capabilities. - You are able to travel internationally as needed. - Experience in the automotive, consumer, hardware or robotics industries is preferred. - Familiarity with supplier compliance frameworks, including TISAX, ISO standards and ethical sourcing requirements, is preferred. 🌱 Not ticking every box? That’s totally okay! If you’re passionate about autonomy and keen to learn, we encourage you to apply even