About the Role:

We are hiring a Supply Chain Manager for Drone Manufacturing to own procurement and supply chain operations for our UAV platform and related subsystems. This role requires technical understanding across composites, electronics, mechanical components, and engines, combined with strong problem-solving skills to navigate the complexity of sourcing for a vertically integrated drone platform in a startup environment.

Location: KIADB HiTech Defence & Aerospace Park, Bengaluru (on-site)

Experience: 3–5 years in manufacturing or supply chain management, with exposure to composite, electronics, or aerospace/defense industries

Reports to: Operations & Supply Chain Manager / COO

Responsibilities:

Supply Chain Planning & Procurement

- Own procurement for the complete drone platform: composite materials and airframe components, avionics and electronics (flight controllers, sensors, actuators), propulsion systems (engines, fuel systems), and mechanical subsystems.
- Forecast material requirements based on engineering schedules, production timelines, and inventory levels.
- Identify, qualify, and manage suppliers across all component categories: composite fabricators, electronics OEMs, sub-system integrators, and specialty vendors.
- Issue purchase orders, track delivery schedules, and escalate delays or quality issues immediately.
- Negotiate pricing, lead times, and terms with suppliers while maintaining quality and reliability standards.

Technical Component Knowledge & Problem Solving

- Maintain working technical understanding of composite materials (carbon fiber, fiberglass, resins), layup specifications, and manufacturing processes for airframe components.
- Understand electronics and avionics: flight controllers, GNSS receivers, IMU/inertial measurement, RF systems, power distribution, and wiring harnesses.
- Understand mechanical and propulsion subsystems: fuel systems, pumps, actuators, bearings, fasteners, and engine-related components.
- When a preferred supplier fails to deliver or goes out of stock, identify alternate sources, validate technical equivalence, and execute a swap rapidly.
- Escalate technical feasibility questions to engineering early; work with engineers to refine specifications if a component becomes unavailable.
- Identify cost-reduction opportunities through design changes, alternate materials, or recent suppliers, coordinating with engineering on feasibility.

Supply Chain Risk Management





- Maintain dual-source or alternate-source strategies for critical components to reduce single-source risk.
- Track component lead times, inventory levels, and obsolescence risk; flag items approaching end-of-life.
- Monitor geopolitical, regulatory, and market factors that could disrupt supply (export controls, tariffs, currency fluctuations, shipping disruptions).
- Develop contingency plans for materials or components with long lead times or single-source constraints.
- For international sourcing, manage import documentation, customs clearance, and compliance with export-control regulations (SCOMET where applicable).

Manufacturing & Integration Support

- Coordinate with manufacturing and assembly teams on material arrival, quality inspection, and readiness for use.
- Support build-to-order sequencing: ensure materials arrive in the right sequence to minimize on-hand inventory and work-in-process delays.
- Troubleshoot supply-chain-related manufacturing delays: missing components, quality issues, or material discrepancies.
- Support field-test campaigns: ensure spare parts, consumables (batteries, fuel), and replacement components are available for flight trials.

Vendor Management & Quality

- Maintain vendor scorecards tracking delivery reliability, quality performance, and responsiveness.
- Conduct vendor audits or coordinate with quality teams to verify supplier capability and compliance.
- Manage vendor relationships to resolve disputes, negotiate volume discounts, and maintain strategic partnerships.
- Maintain organized vendor records: contracts, certifications, quality agreements, and performance history.

Documentation & Compliance

- Maintain accurate procurement records, BOMs, and supplier documentation for traceability.
- Support compliance requirements for defense procurement: ensure vendors meet applicable standards and certifications.
- Provide supply-chain cost data to finance and program management for budget tracking and unit-cost analysis.

Required Qualifications:

- B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical, Aerospace,



Electronics, or a related discipline, or equivalent hands-on manufacturing/supply-chain experience.
- 3–5 years in manufacturing supply chain, procurement, or operations, with exposure to composite, aerospace, defense, or electronics industries.
- Working technical understanding of composite materials, manufacturing processes, and component specifications.
- Demonstrated experience managing procurement across multiple component categories (materials, electronics, mechanical, sub-systems).
- Strong problem-solving skills with a track record of finding alternate sources and solutions under time pressure.
- Proficiency in procurement systems and ERP software (Tally, SAP, or equivalent).
- Comfort negotiating with suppliers and managing vendor relationships.
- Experience sourcing both domestically and internationally.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Prior experience sourcing for defense, aerospace, or drone/UAV manufacturing.
- Familiarity with Indian defense procurement processes and export-control regulations (SCOMET, ITAR-free sourcing).
- Experience with composite material suppliers and quality standards for airframe components.
- Knowledge of avionics, flight-control systems, or propulsion component sourcing.
- Experience in a startup or fast-growing manufacturing environment.
- Exposure to flight-test or field operations and the supply-chain demands of testing campaigns.

Attributes:

- Systems thinker who understands how components integrate into a complete platform.
- Relentless problem-solver who sees supply-chain obstacles as engineering challenges to solve, not excuses to delay.
- Detail-oriented but big-picture focused: can track a single capacitor's lead time and also see the overall program delivery risk.
- Comfortable with ambiguity and rapid change; manufacturing requirements and timelines will shift frequently in a startup environment.
- High work ethic and willingness to support manufacturing, engineering, and field operations beyond standard SCM scope when needed.

Green Aero Propulsion is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or any other status protected by law. We're committed to a workplace where everyone is valued and respected. All hiring decisions are made on merit, qualifications, and business need.

📌 SCM Engineer: Drone Manufacturing (Bengaluru)
🏢 Green Aero Propulsion
📍 Bengaluru