Director of Supply Chain, Stratospheric ISR
Operations
Tucson, AZ, USA
170000 - 190000 USD a year
Director of Supply Chain, Stratospheric ISR
Tucson, AZ
Company Overview
Ondas is building a new kind of intelligence company, one designed for a world where speed, autonomy, and decision advantage matter more than ever. By combining multi-domain platforms, advanced sensing, secure networks, and AI-enabled analytics, Ondas helps defense, government, and critical infrastructure customers transform complex mission data into decision-ready insights when and where they matter most.
Ondas Sentinel is Ondas’ U.S.based defense division, purpose-built to deliver U.S.made, U.S.delivered capabilities for the Department of Defense and allied ministries of defense. The division brings together advanced autonomous systems, mission technologies, and intelligence solutions that help customers create persistent awareness, operate with confidence, and make faster decisions in complex and contested environments.
The Stratospheric ISR business unit within Ondas Sentinel is focused on one of the most unique mission areas in aerospace and defense: manufacturing and operating high-altitude stratospheric balloon systems. Few companies in the world can do this work at operational scale. That means our teams are not simply maintaining existing systems; they are building new capabilities, solving first-of-their-kind challenges, and helping define what persistent
Job Description
The Director of Supply Chain leads the supply chain function for Ondas Sentinel’s Stratospheric ISR business unit. Reporting to the VP Products, this role owns the end-to-end supply chain operating model that supports delivery of flight-ready stratospheric systems, including strategic sourcing, supplier management, procurement execution, materials planning, inventory control, supplier quality coordination, logistics, material flow, and supply chain risk management.
The Director of Supply Chain is accountable for building a disciplined, scalable, and responsive supply chain that supports production schedules, program commitments, cost objectives, quality expectations, compliance requirements, and operational readiness. This role partners closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality & Safety, Programs, Finance, Contracts, Mission Control, Launch & Recovery, and Business Development to ensure suppliers, materials, procurement plans, and inventory strategies are aligned to customer priorities and business unit growth.
The ideal candidate is an experienced supply chain leader with a strong background in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, high-reliability hardware, or another complex technical environment. Success in this role requires strong sourcing and supplier leadership, practical materials management experience, ERP/MRP discipline, operational rigor, cross-functional partnership, and the ability to translate program and production needs into executable supply chain plans.
This role is based on-site in Tucson, Arizona and requires regular engagement with supply chain, manufacturing, engineering, quality, program management, and flight operations teams. Travel may be required to support suppliers, customers, other company locations, program reviews, and operational readiness activities.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the supply chain function for the Stratospheric ISR business unit, ensuring clear ownership of sourcing, procurement, supplier performance, materials readiness, logistics, inventory, cost, and supply chain risk.
- Develop and execute the supply chain strategy in support of production, program, and business unit priorities, including sourcing plans, supplier roadmaps, long-lead material strategies, inventory plans, logistics plans, and procurement operating rhythms.
- Own materials readiness for flight-ready stratospheric systems, ensuring critical materials, components, assemblies, tooling, ground support equipment, supplier deliverables, and logistics needs are available to support manufacturing and program schedules.
- Drive supplier performance, including supplier selection, qualification, onboarding, scorecards, delivery performance, quality coordination, cost management, issue resolution, and risk mitigation for critical materials and components.
- Lead procurement execution, including purchase requisitions, purchase orders, supplier follow-up, expediting, demand alignment, open order management, and coordination with Finance and Contracts on commercial terms and compliance expectations.
- Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality & Safety, Programs, Mission Control, Launch & Recovery, Finance, Contracts, and Business Development to align supply chain priorities with customer commitments and business unit objectives.
- Establish and manage supply chain operating cadences and KPIs across supplier delivery, material availability, inventory accuracy, inventory turns, purchase order health, cost performance, supplier quality coordination, logistics execution, and risk recovery plans.
- Strengthen planning and inventory management systems, including ERP/MRP discipline, bills of material accuracy, demand planning, safety stock, cycle counting, warehouse processes, kitting, material flow, and configuration-controlled material management.
- Support quality, safety, compliance, and audit readiness by partnering with Quality & Safety and Contracts on supplier documentation, inspection readiness, nonconformance resolution, corrective action, traceability, and applicable government or defense requirements.
- Build, lead, and develop supply chain team members, creating a culture of accountability, standard work, continuous improvement, cross-functional collaboration, practical problem solving, and disciplined execution.
- Develop budgets, staffing plans, supplier investments, cost-reduction opportunities, procurement tools, process improvements, and supply chain maturity roadmaps to support growth of the Stratospheric ISR business unit.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business, Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
- 12+ years of progressive supply chain, procurement, materials, operations, or product delivery leadership experience, including experience leading teams in a complex technical production environment.
- Demonstrated success leading supply chain operations in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems, high-reliability hardware, or a similarly demanding operating environment.
- Strong understanding of strategic sourcing, procurement execution, supplier management, supplier quality coordination, materials planning, logistics, inventory control, warehouse operations, kitting, and material flow.
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems, production planning, bills of material, demand planning, inventory accuracy, cycle counting, purchase order management, and configuration-controlled manufacturing environments.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional execution across Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Engineering, Programs, Quality, Finance, Contracts, and Operations, with the presence to communicate tradeoffs, risks, and priorities clearly.
- Experience building or operating within a disciplined quality and compliance environment, including supplier documentation, traceability, nonconformance management, corrective action, audit readiness, and document control.
- Strong commercial and analytical skills, including supplier negotiations, cost management, working capital awareness, KPI development, data-driven problem solving, and supply chain risk mitigation.
- Practical continuous improvement mindset and experience using Lean, Six Sigma, SIOP, Sales & Operations Planning, or similar methods to improve material availability, delivery performance, inventory health, cost, and reliability.
- Experience with government, defense, aerospace, or mission-critical customer environments preferred, including familiarity with program commitments, compliance expectations, FAR/DFARS concepts, ITAR-sensitive environments, and operational risk management.
- Preferred experience with soft goods, films, laminates, high-altitude platforms, large-scale assembly, integration, testing, or other supply chain methods relevant to stratospheric or aerospace systems.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance, as required by program needs.
What We Offer
With direct leadership of the supply chain function for the Stratospheric ISR business unit, you will help build the sourcing, materials, supplier, logistics, and inventory foundation behind persistent, high-altitude sensing systems and shape how the business executes for customers.
You will work side by side with experts in emerging technology, gaining exposure to cutting edge ideas and projects that are shaping the future. We offer a comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance because we believe in taking care of the you as a person, not just a team member.
Our Tucson workplace is designed to support collaboration, focus, and well-being, with an on-site environment that keeps supply chain, manufacturing, engineering, quality, and program teams closely connected to the mission.
We believe in creating a dynamic and inclusive workplace where creativity thrives, and every voice is heard. Our commitment to all team members is built upon five core cultural pillars: Engage, Lean In, Create, Care, and Own. Together, these pillars form the foundation of our employee experience while adhering to the highest standards of ethical and sustainable practices.
Some Final Notes
The description gives you a sense of what the position involves but is not an exhaustive list. We are a growing and evolving team, which means your responsibilities may shift or expand over time as new opportunities arise. Flexibility and curiosity are part of what makes our work exciting!
At Ondas Sentinel, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate belonging and diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. We welcome applications from every background and life experience because we know our differences make us stronger.
