Source and procure munitions commodities from defense suppliers, including supplier qualification, quotation analysis, negotiation, purchase orders, and long-term agreements. Manage strategic supplier relationships and supply continuity while partnering with engineering, program management, legal, and finance. Ensure compliance with ITAR, EAR, DFARS, and government contracting requirements, mitigate supply chain risks, and identify cost, lead-time, and process improvements.
Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
We're looking for an Associate Sourcing Specialist to help bring innovative products to life by leading supplier purchasing initiatives and building high-performing supplier partnerships. Working across cross-functional teams, you'll help ensure critical materials and components are available to support development, production, and long-term success in a highly regulated and capacity-constrained environment.
What you'll do:
- Own the sourcing and procurement of munitions commodities across defense suppliers.
- Identify, qualify, onboard, and manage suppliers capable of meeting cost, quality, delivery, and technical requirements for prototype, development, and production builds.
- Request and evaluate supplier quotations, perform cost analyses, negotiate pricing and lead times, and execute purchase orders and long-term agreements where appropriate.
- Partner cross-functionally with engineering, program management, legal, and finance to align sourcing strategies with program and business objectives.
- Build and manage strategic supplier relationships, including sole-source and limited-source vendors, to ensure continuity of supply.
- Ensure compliance with ITAR, EAR, DFARS, and other applicable U.S. government regulations and export controls.
- Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including geopolitical, capacity, and regulatory risks specific to munitions.
- Continuously identify opportunities for cost savings, lead time reduction, process improvements, and supplier consolidation.
Required qualifications:
- Education & Experience: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience, including exposure to defense or munitions programs or Aerospace Programs.
- Defense & Munitions Expertise: 2-5 years of experience with munitions or defense-related commodities in strategic sourcing, purchasing, or supply chain.
- Regulatory Knowledge: Demonstrated expertise in ITAR, EAR, DFARS, and U.S. government contracting requirements, including experience working with export-controlled materials and compliance frameworks.
- Analytical Acumen: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple suppliers and priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Security Clearance (if applicable): Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance, depending on program requirements.
#LI-BG1
#LB
Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
###
Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
Shield Waltham, Massachusetts, USA Office
500 Totten Pond Road, Waltham, MA, United States, 02451
Similar Jobs at Shield
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Defense Technology
Supports supplier development for machined aerospace parts by auditing supplier processes, improving cost, lead time, quality, and delivery performance, resolving root causes, monitoring metrics, managing supply-chain risks, and supporting new product introduction. Provides technical guidance on drawings, GD&T, manufacturing processes, specifications, and quality standards while conducting supplier audits and corrective actions.
Top Skills:
5 Whys8DCadCatiaErp SystemsExcelGd&TNxPlm SystemsSolidworks
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Defense Technology
Provides administrative and executive support to Finance leadership, including complex calendar management, meeting coordination, presentation preparation, confidential information handling, travel and event logistics, expense reporting, and executive support. The role also supports C-suite activities, board meetings, visitors, and the broader executive assistant community through backup coverage and mentorship.
Top Skills:
ConcurGoogle WorkspaceMicrosoft Office SuiteMicrosoft TeamsPowerPointWebexZoom
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Defense Technology
Owns military and SkillBridge recruiting programs from intake through conversion. Responsibilities include managing eligibility, matching fellows to teams, coordinating compliant onboarding with HR, Legal, and Security, converting fellows to full-time employees, translating military qualifications into civilian role fit, building veteran talent partnerships, representing the company at military hiring events, and tracking recruiting pipeline and conversion metrics.
Top Skills:
Applicant Tracking System (Ats)EarItar
What you need to know about the Boston Tech Scene
Boston is a powerhouse for technology innovation thanks to world-class research universities like MIT and Harvard and a robust pipeline of venture capital investment. Host to the first telephone call and one of the first general-purpose computers ever put into use, Boston is now a hub for biotechnology, robotics and artificial intelligence — though it’s also home to several B2B software giants. So it’s no surprise that the city consistently ranks among the greatest startup ecosystems in the world.
Key Facts About Boston Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 269,000; 9.4% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Toast, Klaviyo, HubSpot, DraftKings
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics, software, aerospace
- Funding Landscape: $15.7 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Summit Partners, Volition Capital, Bain Capital Ventures, MassVentures, Highland Capital Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: MIT, Harvard University, Boston College, Tufts University, Boston University, Northeastern University, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, National Bureau of Economic Research, Broad Institute, Lowell Center for Space Science & Technology, National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories
