Senior ML Engineer, Generative AI

As the global leader in high-speed connectivity, Vantage Compute is committed to a people-first approach. Our teams enjoy a culture focused on prioritizing a flexible work environment that empowers individual growth, well-being, and belonging. We’re a technology company that leads with our humanity—driving our business priorities alongside meaningful social, community, and societal impact. As the Director of Commodity Management for Optical Systems, you will own and execute category sourcing strategies and supplier management plans for critical optical components and sub-systems that enable Vantage Compute ’s system product portfolio. Reporting to the Senior Director, you will lead cross-functional sourcing initiatives, drive supplier performance to cost/quality/delivery targets and ensure supply readiness for new product introductions (NPIs) and production demand. This role requires strong knowledge of optical technologies and the supplier ecosystems, excellent negotiation skills, and the ability to collaborate with and influence Product Management, R&D, Operations, and Quality partners to deliver measurable outcomes in cost optimization, continuity of supply, and risk reduction. How you will make an impact: Category Strategy & Execution: Develop and execute sourcing and supplier strategies for assigned optical commodities (e.g., lasers, modulators, passives, amplifiers, transceivers), aligned to business priorities and product roadmaps. Supplier Performance Leadership: Provide leadership and governance for supplier performance management across the commodity portfolio. Lead the Global Commodity Management team to deliver supplier performance outcomes (cost, quality, delivery, and responsiveness) using scorecards, performance improvement plans, and regular supplier business reviews; identify trends and systemic issues, align priorities across stakeholders, and lead structured escalations with suppliers when business risk arises. Negotiation & Contracting: Lead negotiations for pricing, lead times, NCNR, capacity commitments, and commercial terms within MPAs, new awards, LTAs, and VMI/consignment constructs; ensure agreements support continuity of supply and total cost objectives. NPI & Supply Readiness: Partner with R&D, Product Management, and Operations to ensure supplier capability, qualification, and ramp plans support NPI timelines and volume transitions (proto → pilot → production). Cost Optimization: Accountable for delivering annual cost reduction for the commodity portfolio. Drive measurable results through cost modeling, should-cost analysis, benchmarking, value engineering, and roadmap-driven cost-down initiatives while maintaining performance and reliability requirements. Risk Management & Resiliency: Identify supply chain risks (single/sole source, capacity constraints, geopolitical exposure, obsolescence) and implement mitigation plans (dual sourcing, inventory strategies, alternate technologies, supplier development). Shortage & Allocation Leadership: Provide leadership and governance for shortage response when demand exceeds supply. Lead cross-functional prioritization and allocation decisions, align stakeholders on recovery strategies (capacity, expedites, alternate sources/parts, and inventory actions), and drive clear executive-level communications and escalations to protect customer commitments. Market & Technology Insight: Monitor optical component market dynamics, technology trends, and supplier roadmaps; provide recommendations to leadership to inform sourcing decisions and partner selection. Cross-Functional Leadership: Lead cross-functional sourcing teams with Product Management, R&D, Component Engineering, Material Management, Operations, and Quality. Drive executive-ready business reviews; communicate trade-offs, decisions, and progress with clear data-driven narratives. Operational Excellence: Improve procurement processes, data quality, and governance; leverage tools/analytics to increase visibility, cycle-time, and predictability. People Leadership: Lead and develop a team of individual contributors (commodity managers and analysts). Set clear objectives and KPIs, coach performance, remove execution barriers, and ensure consistent, high-quality delivery of sourcing strategies across the portfolio. Team Operating Rhythm: Establish a regular cadence for business reviews, savings tracking, supplier performance reviews, risk reviews, and NPI readiness checkpoints; ensure disciplined follow-through and transparent reporting. Talent Development: Recruit, onboard, and develop high-performing talent; conduct performance management, succession planning, and skills development aligned to organizational needs. The must haves: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred. Strong working knowledge of optical components/systems and manufacturing, active/passive optical components, and optical communication systems (e.g., WSS,