Sr. Global Category Manager - Motors and Actuators, Electromechanical Strategic Sourcing Team

Job description

Are you inspired by invention? Is problem solving through teamwork in your DNA? We apply advances in robotics and software to solve real-world problems that delight our customers in ways we can't even imagine yet.

Amazon's Robotic Delivery & Packaging Innovation (RDPI) organization is located in the greater Boston area, the epicenter of robotics innovation, with development hubs also in Seattle and Europe. Our diverse teams come from all over the world to design, test, and build our dynamic fleet of robots, manipulation systems, and packaging automation solutions. We design autonomous movement and mobility, artificial intelligence and machine learning, manipulation, simulation, robotic management software, predictive analytics, and much more.

The RDPI Supply Chain organization sources and manufactures a portfolio of robotics and automation technologies and is responsible for designing the supplier base, supporting and recommending the selection of technologies and components, and getting the right solution to the right place at the right time to support our network of global fulfillment and transportation solutions.

The Strategic Sourcing team is seeking an experienced Sr. Global Category Manager for Motors and Actuators (Robotics Applications) with a strong technical background in electric motor manufacturing, precision motion systems, and actuator integration for robotic platforms. This role requires deep expertise in global supplier management, new supplier introduction, supplier development, and executing sourcing decisions to support new product introduction and long-term commodity strategy.

The ideal candidate for this position will be a self-managed and driven sourcing strategist with hands-on experience in servo motors, BLDC motors, integrated motor-drive systems, robotic linear and rotary actuators, and precision gear reduction technologies. You should have a proven ability to engage in Value Analysis and Value Engineering (VAVE) and Design for Excellence (DFx) exercises with suppliers, development teams, and manufacturing engineering teams, provide independent technical feedback to design groups, and support design decisions.

Experience mapping and aligning design and motion technology roadmaps, creating sourcing strategies, and the business acumen to support engineering teams in applying high-performance, high torque-density motion technologies through a strong supplier base, without capacity constraints, while achieving design standardization, harmonization, and cost reduction goals is essential.

The Sr. Global Category Manager plays an important role in ensuring their respective categories and suppliers meet the technical and commercial specifications necessary for RDPI to satisfy its internal Manufacturing Operations, Supplier Quality, Supply Chain, and Hardware Engineering customers.

Key job responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Strategy

- Serve as technical subject matter expert for assigned categories, leveraging engineering background to develop deep understanding of technology, architecture, and manufacturing processes

- Translate complex technical specifications into clear sourcing strategies, considering efficiency, availability, scalability, and risks

- Define and execute sourcing strategies aligned with product roadmaps and business goals

Supplier Management & Cost Optimization

- Identify, evaluate, negotiate, and manage strategic supplier relationships and complex contracts

- Drive global initiatives, designing multi-region supply chain for cost optimization, risk mitigation, and lead-time reduction

- Own supplier performance management through scorecards and business reviews with senior stakeholders

- Travel to supplier sites domestically and internationally (approximately 25%)

Cross-functional Leadership

- Lead large-scale initiatives spanning multiple teams and geographies

- Collaborate with engineering, operations, and program teams to define technical requirements and ensure sourcing strategies meet cost, quality, and capability targets

A day in the life

Amazon offers a full range of benefits that support you and eligible family members, including domestic partners and their children. Benefits can vary by location, the number of regularly scheduled hours you work, length of employment, and job status such as seasonal or temporary employment. The benefits that generally apply to regular, full-time employees include:

1. Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

2. Maternity and Parental Leave Options

3. Paid Time Off (PTO)

4. 401(k) Plan

If you are not sure that every qualification on the list above describes you exactly, we'd still love to hear from you! At Amazon, we value people with unique backgrounds, experiences, and skillsets. If you’re passionate about this role and want to make an impact on a global scale, please apply!