Strategic Sourcing Specialist

As a Strategic Sourcing Specialist at Anduril Industries, you'll engage in various responsibilities, including reviewing technical and contractual requirements, leading cross-functional team meetings, and managing pricing negotiations. You'll also conduct supplier selection for innovative products, collaborate on product development, and play a pivotal role in cost management efforts, all contributing to the optimization of the defense supply chain.

To qualify for the Strategic Sourcing Specialist role at Anduril Industries, candidates should possess at least a bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or supply chain. Additionally, a minimum of 6-10 years of relevant experience in strategic sourcing within a defense manufacturing context is required. Applicants with domain expertise in value engineering and a strong understanding of collaborative supplier engagement will stand out.

Anduril Industries places a strong emphasis on employee development for their Strategic Sourcing Specialist roles. The company provides a professional development stipend to support continual learning and skill enhancement. Moreover, employees have access to top-tier benefits, including mental health resources and workshops, fostering a holistic approach to professional and personal growth.

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist at Anduril Industries can expect travel obligations of up to 50%. This travel may include onsite visits to suppliers for negotiations, performance reviews, and technical discussions, ensuring strong partnerships that facilitate innovation and efficiency in sourcing and procurement.

Anduril Industries offers an impressive range of benefits to its Strategic Sourcing Specialists, including platinum healthcare coverage, generous time off policies, and 401(k) retirement plans. Additionally, the company provides family planning and mental health resources, ensuring that all employees have the support they need for both their personal and professional lives.

In your response, highlight specific examples of how you successfully selected suppliers based on technical capabilities, qualifications, and alignment with project needs. Include any metrics or outcomes that showcase the results of your supplier selection process.

Discuss your negotiation strategies, emphasizing your approach to building relationships and understanding suppliers' perspectives. Provide a scenario where your negotiation efforts led to significant cost savings or enhanced supplier collaboration.

Explain your methods for analyzing costs throughout the supply chain and managing pricing strategies. Discuss tools you’ve utilized, such as cost modeling and value engineering, to maximize total cost of ownership while minimizing unnecessary expenditures.

Share your organizational strategies and tools that help you manage competing priorities. Highlight your experience in setting clear timelines, reviewing project scopes, and engaging with teams to stay on track, ensuring deadlines and objectives are consistently met.

Provide a concrete example where you analyzed supplier capabilities and identified potential risks such as obsolescence or failure to meet specifications. Discuss the actions you took to mitigate these risks, showcasing your proactive approach to sourcing.

Discuss any relevant experience you have with value-stream mapping in optimizing supply networks. Provide an overview of your methods and how you’ve used this technique to enhance lead times and flexibility within the supply chain.

Mention specific resources such as trade publications, industry conferences, or professional networks that you engage with. Discuss how staying informed about emerging trends influences your sourcing strategies and decision-making processes.

Detail your experience working with various departments, such as engineering and manufacturing, during sourcing activities. Emphasize how collaboration contributed to project success and streamlined communication across teams.

Discuss the criteria you consider important when evaluating supplier performance, such as delivery timelines, quality metrics, and collaboration effectiveness. Mention any tools or systems used to track and measure supplier performance.

Reflect on your qualifications and experiences that align with the role’s responsibilities at Anduril Industries. Emphasize your understanding of defense procurement processes and your commitment to driving innovative solutions in a rapidly evolving industry.