Strategic Sourcing Manager, Memory Storage & CPUs

Details

OpenAI’s Hardware organization builds AI-native silicon and systems optimized for advanced AI workloads. The Strategic Sourcing Manager, Memory Storage & CPUs will define and manage vendor and partner engagements for the hardware design team, designing sourcing strategies, negotiating agreements, and managing supplier relationships to enable OpenAI’s compute, networking, and storage expansion.

This role is based in San Francisco, CA and uses a hybrid work model (3 days in the office per week). Relocation assistance is offered for eligible new employees. The role reports to the Head of Partnerships & Strategic Sourcing and partners closely with engineering, finance, legal, security, and business systems teams.

To comply with U.S. export control laws and regulations, candidates for this role may need to meet certain legal status requirements as provided in those laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Devise and implement sourcing strategies for hardware and related services (including cloud) aligned with financial, operational, and technology goals.
• Lead RFPs, supplier evaluations, and partner selection with clear criteria and structured engagement models.
• Manage end-to-end supplier relationships, including contract negotiations, renewals, and performance management against defined KPIs.
• Partner with engineering, finance, legal, and security teams to ensure sourcing decisions meet technical requirements, budgets, compliance, and risk considerations.
• Drive efficiency through process design and sourcing systems, ensuring data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Partner with business system teams to define ERP, MRP, and PLM system requirements.
• Build long-term partnerships and identify opportunities for strategic investments across the hardware supply landscape.

Requirements

• 10+ years in technology procurement, with depth in hardware and cloud services at fast-growing technology companies.
• Technical credibility to engage engineering teams on technical requirements and translate them into sourcing strategies (memory, storage, CPUs, system-level considerations).
• Proven supplier and stakeholder management experience: negotiating custom agreements and maintaining trust-based supplier partnerships.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills: developing long-term sourcing strategies, managing cost/risk tradeoffs, and producing actionable analytics.
• Experience leading RFPs, supplier evaluations, contract negotiations, and supplier performance management.
• Experience partnering cross-functionally (engineering, finance, legal, security) and defining business system (ERP/MRP/PLM) requirements.
• Mission-driven focus aligned with OpenAI’s mission.

Benefits

• Salary range: $295,000 — $445,000 (base). Offers equity and potential performance-related bonuses for eligible employees.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
• Pre-tax accounts (Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, commuter expenses).
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
• Paid parental leave, paid medical and caregiver leave, flexible PTO, paid company holidays, and sick/safe time.
• Mental health and wellness support; employer-paid basic life and disability coverage.
• Annual learning and development stipend.
• Daily meals in offices and meal delivery credits as eligible.
• Relocation support for eligible employees.
• Background checks administered in accordance with applicable law.

Additional notes

• The role involves work closely tied to AI infrastructure and hardware supply chains (memory, storage, CPUs) and requires collaborating with technical teams.
• OpenAI is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.