Avalanche Energy · 21 hours ago
Supply Chain and Subcontracts Manager
Seattle, WA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
5+ years expAvalanche Energy is a Washington-based startup focused on developing compact fusion systems. They are seeking a Senior Supply Chain & Subcontracts Manager to build and operate supplier and subcontract execution capabilities across R&D programs, ensuring effective management and coordination between suppliers and internal teams.
Electrical DistributionEnergyRenewable EnergySolar
Hiring Manager
Brian Riordan
Responsibilities
Own end-to-end execution of key subcontracts and supplier relationships, with accountability for scope, schedule, cost, quality, and deliverables
Serve as the primary interface between suppliers and internal subject matter experts, coordinating technical reviews, approvals, and decision-making across engineering, program, operations, and compliance stakeholders
Act as the central coordination hub for supplier execution, ensuring the right reviewers are engaged at the right time and that questions, decisions, and actions are driven to closure without slowing progress
Develop, review, and enforce Statements of Work (SOWs) with clear technical requirements, defined deliverables, acceptance criteria, and change control mechanisms
Establish and operate subcontract and supplier management best practices, including: RFI tracking and closure, Action and decision logs, Risk and issue logs (RAIL), Schedule baseline development and supplier schedule monitoring
Lead supplier selection and evaluation processes, including RFI/RFQ development, down-select criteria, technical and commercial evaluation, and documentation
Partner closely with engineering and program leads to translate technical needs into enforceable, executable supplier scopes
Build and deploy foundational supplier and subcontract management infrastructure, including: Standardized templates and tools, Document control and approval workflows, Supplier onboarding requirements, Change management processes for scope, cost, and schedule modifications
Ensure compliance with government contract requirements, including flow-down clauses, supplier documentation, and execution practices for federally funded programs
Define supplier quality expectations and acceptance processes for complex engineering procurements, including inspection planning and acceptance test criteria
Develop training materials and coach internal teams on supplier-facing execution rigor, raising the overall bar for subcontract and supplier management across the company
Identify execution risks early, surface tradeoffs clearly, and drive timely resolution in coordination with internal stakeholders and external suppliers
Qualification
Required
5+ years of experience in supplier management, subcontracts management, strategic sourcing, or procurement execution in a technical environment
Demonstrated experience managing suppliers or subcontractors delivering complex technical work (engineering, hardware, research, manufacturing, or infrastructure)
Experience writing, reviewing, and enforcing Statements of Work with defined deliverables and acceptance criteria
Strong execution skills, including schedule tracking, issue management, and performance management
Ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, program management, and operations teams
High attention to detail and ability to enforce process rigor without creating unnecessary friction
Experience with supplier quality practices such as quality plans, inspections, and non-conformance handling
Preferred
10+ years of experience in supplier management, subcontracts management, or procurement execution in technical or engineering-heavy environments
Experience supporting government-funded programs (DARPA, DOE, DoD, NASA, SBIR/STTR, or grants) and managing compliance flow-downs
Familiarity with cost-type contracts (e.g., cost-plus) and subcontract cost management
Experience building supplier management systems, templates, and processes from scratch in a scaling organization
Experience with complex infrastructure builds or high-dollar capital equipment procurement
Technical background or familiarity with hardware domains relevant to Avalanche programs, such as vacuum systems, power electronics, magnets, cryogenics, or high-voltage systems
Benefits
Excellent medical, dental, and vision benefits.
10 paid holidays and a company-wide December holiday break.
Generous paid vacation and sick time.
Small, tight-knit team with low barriers to action.
Exposure to a wide variety of technical and operational challenges for hands-on professional growth.
Meaningful equity in the form of stock options.
Company
Avalanche Energy
Avalanche Energy is a fusion energy startup that develops micro-fusion reactors for distributed energy and mobility.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$55MKey Investors
Washington state Department of CommerceLowercarbon CapitalPrime Impact Fund
2025-07-23Grant· $10M
2023-04-24Series A· $40M
2022-11-01Seed
Leadership Team
Robin Langtry
CEO
Brian Riordan
Co-Founder and COO
Recent News
2026-01-12
2025-07-23
Company data provided by crunchbase