Sr. Global Category Manager - Motors and Actuators, Electromechanical Strategic Sourcing Team

Amazon Amazon · Big Tech · Seattle, WA · Supply Chain/Transportation Management

This role is for a Sr. Global Category Manager focused on Motors and Actuators for Amazon's Robotics Delivery & Packaging Innovation (RDPI) organization. The position requires deep technical expertise in electric motors, precision motion systems, and actuator integration for robotic platforms, along with strong global supplier management, negotiation, and strategic sourcing skills. The candidate will translate complex technical specifications into sourcing strategies, manage supplier relationships, drive cost optimization and risk mitigation, and collaborate with engineering and operations teams to ensure technical and commercial requirements are met. The role involves technical leadership, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration within a high-volume, global manufacturing environment.

What you'd actually do

  1. Serve as technical subject matter expert for assigned categories, leveraging engineering background to develop deep understanding of technology, architecture, and manufacturing processes
  2. Translate complex technical specifications into clear sourcing strategies, considering efficiency, availability, scalability, and risks
  3. Identify, evaluate, negotiate, and manage strategic supplier relationships and complex contracts
  4. Drive global initiatives, designing multi-region supply chain for cost optimization, risk mitigation, and lead-time reduction
  5. Lead large-scale initiatives spanning multiple teams and geographies

Skills

Required

  • developing, negotiating and executing business agreements
  • developing strategies that influence leadership decisions at the organizational level
  • managing programs across cross functional teams, building processes and coordinating release schedules
  • technology transformation initiatives
  • supply chain, commodity management, and supplier management in a high-volume, global manufacturing environment
  • technical subject matter expert for assigned categories
  • understanding of technology, architecture, and manufacturing processes
  • translating complex technical specifications into sourcing strategies
  • identifying, evaluating, negotiating, and managing strategic supplier relationships and complex contracts
  • driving global initiatives for cost optimization, risk mitigation, and lead-time reduction
  • supplier performance management
  • leading large-scale initiatives spanning multiple teams and geographies
  • collaborating with engineering, operations, and program teams
  • defining technical requirements
  • ensuring sourcing strategies meet cost, quality, and capability targets

Nice to have

  • interpreting data and making business recommendations
  • identifying, negotiating, and executing complex legal agreements

What the JD emphasized

  • strong technical background in electric motors' manufacturing, precision motion systems, and actuator integration for robotic platforms
  • deep expertise in global supplier management, new supplier introduction, supplier development, and executing sourcing decisions
  • hands-on experience in servo motors, BLDC motors, integrated motor-drive systems, robotic linear and rotary actuators, and precision gear reduction technologies
  • proven ability to engage in Value Analysis and Value Engineering (VAVE) and DFx (Design for Excellence) exercises with suppliers, development and manufacturing engineering teams, provide independent technical feedback to design groups, and support design decisions
  • Experience mapping and aligning design and motion technology roadmaps, creating sourcing strategies, and business acumen to support engineering teams in applying high-performance, high torque-density motion technologies through a strong supplier base —without capacity constraints — while achieving design standardization and harmonization, and cost reduction goals is essential
  • technical and commercial specifications necessary for RDPI to satisfy its internal Manufacturing Operations, Supplier Quality, Supply Chain, and Hardware Engineering customers
  • 6+ years of developing, negotiating and executing business agreements experience
  • 6+ years of experience in supply chain, commodity management, and supplier management in a high-volume, global manufacturing environment