Staff Supply Chain Manager - Optics

About Neurophos

The demand for new data centers and AI compute is rapidly outpacing the planet's energy capacity. Digital solutions are hitting a power wall as we approach the physical limits of traditional silicon. Conquering this bottleneck means rethinking the fundamental architecture of inference compute. The industry's current path can't meet the need, so we're taking a different approach.

Instead of traditional electronic circuits, we use silicon photonics and an active, programmable metasurface to perform matrix multiplications at the speed of light. Our optical cells are 10,000x smaller than traditional photonic components, enabling unprecedented density. By using photonics instead of electricity, our chips become more efficient as they scale. This architecture will deliver up to 100 times the energy efficiency of existing solutions while significantly improving performance for large-scale AI inference.

We’ve assembled a world-class team of industry veterans and recently raised a $110M Series A led by Gates Frontier. Participants include M12 (Microsoft’s Venture Fund), Carbon Direct Capital, Aramco Ventures, Bosch Ventures, Tectonic Ventures, Space Capital, and others.

Join us and shape the future of computing!

Location: Austin, TX or Sunnyvale, CA. Full-time onsite position.

Reports To: VP, Optics

FLSA Status : Exempt

Position Overview

Neurophos is seeking a Staff Supply Chain Manager – Optics to build and manage the supply base for optical components and sub-assemblies in our optical processing unit (OPU). These include precision lenses and collimators, microlens arrays, diffractive optics, beam splitters, and optomechanical parts. You will take this supply base from prototype quantities through low-rate initial production to volume. You will link our optical engineering team with our suppliers, turning specifications into parts that arrive on time, in spec, and at the right cost.

Key Responsibilities

Sourcing strategy and supplier base

- Own the sourcing strategy for optical components and sub-assemblies, including make/buy decisions with engineering and manufacturing.
- Identify, assess, and qualify suppliers worldwide; set up second sources for critical parts and manage single-source, capacity, and geopolitical risk.
- Run RFQs and negotiate pricing, long-term agreements, capacity reservations, NRE, and tooling.
- Lead the transition of parts from development partners to production suppliers, including statements of work and transfer plans.

Supplier quality and engineering interface

- Work with optical engineering to turn specifications and tolerances into supplier-ready drawings and acceptance criteria, and feed supplier design-for-manufacturing input back to the design team.
- Set up first-article inspection, supplier qualification, and incoming inspection with the metrology team; drive supplier corrective actions.
- Run supplier scorecards and business reviews on quality, delivery, cost, and responsiveness.

Planning and operations

- Build demand and supply plans and lead-time models for the production ramp; manage long-lead custom optics and raw materials such as optical glass, crystals and substrates.
- Manage purchase orders, inventory, and consigned material at contract manufacturers.
- Own should-cost models, cost-reduction roadmaps, and the optics procurement budget.
- Build and lead a team of buyers and supplier engineers.

Qualifications

- BS in Engineering (Optics, Physics, Mechanical or Materials), Supply Chain Management or a related field.
- 8+ years in supply chain, sourcing, or supplier development for precision optics or photonics.
- Working knowledge of optical manufacturing: grinding and polishing, molding, thin-film coatings, lithographic and wafer-level micro-optics, and optical assembly.
- Able to read optical drawings (ISO 10110) and understand surface form, wavefront error, surface quality, and coating specifications.
- Track record of bringing custom optical components from prototype to volume production while reducing cost.
- Experience negotiating supply, long-term, and quality agreements.
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems.
- Willingness to travel up to 25%, including internationally.
- Comfortable using AI tools in your day-to-day work. We are building AI into how we design, source, and build optics.

Preferred Skills

- MS or MBA.
- Established network in the optics supply base across Asia, Europe, and North America.
- Sourcing micro-optics, microlens arrays, or diffractive optics.
- Semiconductor or wafer-level supply chain experience.
- Export control, tariff, and trade compliance knowledge.
- Managing contract manufacturers and consigned material.
- APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM or CSCP).

What We Offer

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in an innovative startup redefining the future of AI hardware. Work on game-changing technology at the intersection of photonics and AI as part of a collaborative, brilliant team. You’ll contribute to a platform that redefines computational performance and accelerates the future of artificial intelligence. Come help us bring this transformative technology to the world.
 
## Benefits

Join a team that invests in your future and your well-being. At Neurophos, we offer:

- 100% coverage of base health plan premiums for you and your dependents, plus HSA contributions.
- Unlimited PTO. No rigid vacation banks, just a focus on delivery.
- 401(k) matching and stock option opportunities to ensure our success is your success.
- Full suite of voluntary benefits, including Dental, Vision, Life, Hospital, Critical Illness, and Accident insurance.
- Personalized Benefits. Choose the plans that fit your life and take the cash back for those that don’t.

Compensation

Austin, TX: $170K – $195K • Offers Equity

Sunnyvale, CA: $200K – $225K • Offers Equity