Vendor Managment

Description

About DriveNets

DriveNets is a leader in cloud-native networking software and hardware, enabling the world's largest network operators to build scalable, high-performance infrastructure. Our Global SC & HW Operations team is the engine behind hardware delivery — from BOM to customer — spanning engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, and quality across a global partner ecosystem.

The Role

DriveNets is scaling its hardware product portfolio and supply ecosystem at speed. The Vendor Manager is the end-to-end owner of the relationship between DriveNets and its FG / component and sub-system vendors — covering ODM and future strategic suppliers. The person in this role sits at the intersection of business, supply chain, and engineering: onboard new vendors, negotiate commercial terms, align forecasts, track delivery, govern quality, and ensure vendor capabilities keep pace with DriveNets product roadmap.

The Vendor Manager is the single point of accountability for everything that crosses the boundary between DriveNets and a given vendor, spanning commercial governance, supply continuity, quality oversight, and NPI execution.

What You'll Do

• Vendor Onboarding — Technical & Business
• Lead the full onboarding process for new component and subsystem vendors
• Define and execute onboarding frameworks: qualification, technical alignment, internal and external commercial setup, quality baseline, and NPI readiness
• Work with Engineering & Quality to validate vendor technical capabilities against DriveNets product specifications and qualification criteria
• Align internally with SW and WH groups for product compatibility and product qualification
• Coordinate supplier quality audits, PPAP / FAI processes, and production readiness reviews prior to first commercial shipment
• Commercial & Business Management
• Own the end-to-end commercial relationship with each managed vendor: pricing, capacity commitments, payment terms, and contractual governance
• Negotiate NDA, supply agreements, pricing frameworks, and volume commitments in alignment with DriveNets procurement policy
• Drive Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with vendor leadership; collaborate with Engineering and Quality on DriveNets position and follow-up actions
• Act as the primary escalation point for all commercial disputes, delivery deviations, and business continuity issues
• Forecast, Supply & Delivery Alignment
• Receive forecast / MPS from planning and drive delivery execution with Vendor against committed timelines
• Manage vendor forecast windows: rolling 12-month forecast, firm orders, and consigned material commitments
• Track vendor delivery performance against plan; proactively identify shortages, lead time shifts, or capacity constraints and escalate with mitigation options
• Own vendor liability management: monitor consigned inventory levels, authorize write-off decisions, track aging stock
• Quality & Technical Governance
• Track quality performance for each managed vendor: FPY, DPPM, field return rate, CAPA closure; coordinate between vendor HW operation Quality and Engineering teams
• Interface with Engineering & Quality Director on technical deviations, 8D/CAPA processes, and engineering change management (ECOs)
• Participate in NPI planning for new products; coordinate vendor involvement in EVT, DVT, and PVT builds
• RMA & Field Returns
• Manage RMA / field returns to vendor: initiate return authorization, coordinate failure analysis, and track corrective action and replacement shipment
• Ensure vendor root cause analysis (8D) is completed and actions are fed back into production process
• NPI & Product Roadmap Alignment
• Be the vendor interface during new product introductions: translate DriveNets product requirements into vendor-deliverable specifications
• Track NPI milestones at vendor level (proto, qualification, MP ramp); escalate risks to Operations and Engineering
• Align vendor development roadmaps with DriveNets product roadmap; flag gaps in vendor capability or timeline early
• Supply and Sourcing of NC/AI HW Products
• Own the end-to-end supply and sourcing strategy for DriveNets Network Cloud (NC/AI) hardware products, including system-level procurement and assembly coordination with ODM and CM partners, drive vendor selection.
• Manage commercial and supply relationships with suppliers responsible for NC/AI HW product builds; hold vendors accountable to delivery, price, cost reduction, and quality targets across the product lifecycle
  
  

• 6+ years of experience in vendor management, strategic sourcing, or supply chain in a hardware technology company; proven experience managing external vendors end-to-end: commercial, technical, quality, and supply dimensions
• Background in networking, or high-speed electronic components, experience in Networking switch company is an advantage
• Hands-on experience with NPI / product cycles at the vendor level: qualification, EVT/DVT/PVT support
• Experience in contract negotiation: supply agreements, pricing frameworks, capacity commitments
  
  

• Understanding of hardware BOMs, component specifications, and qualification processes
• Familiarity with quality management tools: 8D, CAPA, DPPM, yield analysis, and supplier audit methodology
• Familiarity with ERP systems (SAP, Priority, or equivalent; NS -advantage)
• Technical background in electronics / mechanical engineering, advantage
• AI orientation, usage of AI tools
  
  

• Strong commercial acumen: able to negotiate, structure agreements, and manage vendor P&L impact
• Engineering literacy: can read specs, understand technical trade-offs, and work as a credible counterpart to engineering teams
• Cross-functional influencer: earns trust with Engineering, Supply Chain, Product, and Finance without formal authority over them
• Structured communicator: comfortable presenting vendor status in escalation forums and cross-functional reviews