Mechanical Commodity Manager, Senior

Driven by our vision of the affordable, reliable, net-zero carbon grid of the future, Mainspring has developed a new category of power generation — the linear generator — that delivers local, scalable, and fuel-flexible power to help accelerate the transition to the net-zero carbon grid.

The unique combination of attributes offered by Mainspring’s linear generator enables applications on both the commercial and utility sides of the meter for the $816B global electricity equipment market. We serve a wide range of Fortune 500 customers across markets and industries as well as top-tier utilities and other gridside providers.

We are looking to build relationships with people who share our values:

Pragmatic Optimism. Building a new category of world-class power generation requires the optimism of ambition and creativity, balanced with practicality to solve problems efficiently. The challenges that arise are opportunities for growth.

Excellence without Ego. We bring expertise and commitment to creating the best customer experience, from sales to deployment and service, just as we apply deep technical rigor to building and delivering world-class products. We strive for excellence and behave as leaders with the humility to acknowledge our challenges, both collectively and as individual contributors.

Proactive Collaboration. The integration and cross-disciplinary nature of Mainspring’s business requires intentionally seeking out others who bring different skills, perspectives, and priorities. Our culture of inclusion and respect extends beyond our team to interactions with our partners and customers.

Mainspring is based in Menlo Park and has partnered with top-tier investors and utilities such as Khosla Ventures, Bill Gates, NextEra, and American Electric Power. More information can be found at

Responsibilities

Mainspring is rapidly advancing production scaling for their Linear Generators, necessitating a Senior Mechanical Commodity Manager to lead supply chain development. This role focuses on sourcing qualified, cost-effective industrial mechanical component suppliers globally, including CNC machining, castings, forgings, sheet metal, mechanical assembly, thermal spray coatings (such as Atmospheric Plasma Spray or High-Velocity Air-Fuel), heat-treated parts and weldments. Leveraging existing supplier knowledge and collaboration with cross-functional teams, the Senior Commodity Manager optimizes costs and ensures quality and schedules. Key responsibilities encompass crafting a sourcing strategy for cost efficiency, business continuity, compliance, and quality, while driving supply chain metrics and nurturing supplier relationships.

This pivotal position involves negotiating contracts, leading strategic initiatives, and establishing a global sourcing strategy to secure a consistent supply aligned with demand. Collaboration with various teams to integrate product features into designs is crucial. Additionally, the role requires overseeing Design for Manufacturability (DFM) projects, conducting cost analysis, and evaluating processes for quality and cost efficiency. In this role, you will:

1. Cultivate supplier relationships for reliable and aligned supply
2. Identify new manufacturing partners globally and promote supply chain diversity
3. Negotiate contracts for quality, delivery, and cost adherence
4. Strategize and execute product-focused supply chain plans
5. Set and monitor quality, delivery, and policy standards with suppliers
6. Manage relationships for cost-effective, dependable supply of complex components
7. Optimize pricing and vendor strategies across component lifecycles
8. Enhance quality and cost efficiency through collaborative process evaluation
9. Drive cost improvements and efficiency through DFM and should-cost analysis
10. Perform comprehensive cost analyses for managed commodities
11. Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing teams for effective design integration and continuous improvement

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering or related field, including Supply Chain.

Over 10 years of global sourcing experience in mechanical components within a supply chain organization, demonstrating proficiency in supplier evaluation, contract negotiation, and global supply base management.

Experience in lean manufacturing and automated assembly processes; Six Sigma and LEAN Certification a plus.

In-depth knowledge of multiple mechanical assembly and manufacturing processes.

Demonstrated expertise in achieving favorable pricing through negotiation and building strong supplier relationships.

Proficient in developing Master Service Agreements (MSAs) independently, showcasing strong organizational and negotiation skills.

The Bay Area salary wage for this role is $157k-$185k + pre-IPO stock options + benefits. This position is on-site in Menlo Park, CA. The salary will be adjusted based on the experience of the employee.