Hardware Program Manager Jobs in Diamond Bar, CA

Your Mission

GITAI moves fast through vertical integration. We keep core technical ownership in-house, build directly with our engineering teams, and use external suppliers only where they help us move faster without giving up control of the mission. Your mission is to drive the supply chain execution layer for technical hardware programs. This means turning engineering and program needs into supplier actions, material readiness, delivery commitments, and commercial terms that protect GITAI. This is not a purchasing admin role. It is also not a pure internal program management role. You will work close to engineering, program leadership, suppliers, and operations to make sure critical parts, materials, services, and supplier deliverables are ready when the program needs them. The VP of Program Management will own upstream program context, supplier direction, and major program priorities. Engineers will own technical direction and design decisions. You will own supplier-facing execution: RFQs, quote comparison, T&C review, purchase orders, delivery follow-up, supplier escalation, material readiness, and commercial risk. This role supports U.S. government defense programs, including space defense work. It requires strong judgment, practical negotiation skill, and the ability to operate from the position of a fast-moving startup without the leverage of a large prime contractor.

What You'll Drive

• Own supplier-facing execution for assigned space defense programs, including RFQs, purchase orders, supplier follow-up, delivery tracking, and commercial issue resolution.
• Turn engineering and program needs into executable supplier actions, while keeping technical ownership, schedule control, and mission risk inside GITAI.
• Negotiate supplier terms that protect GITAI, including payment terms, delivery terms, cancellation terms, IP-related terms, warranty, liability, inspection, acceptance, and other commercial risks.
• Review supplier quotes, T&Cs, order documents, and commercial proposals to identify risks before they become program problems.
• Work with engineering and program leadership to understand technical context, urgency, supplier tradeoffs, and what must be protected in each transaction.
• Push suppliers to move quickly while keeping them engaged. Know when to press, when to trade, when to compromise, and when to escalate.
• Support procurement activity in export-controlled and government program environments, including ITAR/EAR awareness, controlled technical information, and supplier access risks.
• Support defense program execution by tracking flow-down requirements, deliverables, acceptance terms, compliance risks, and supplier commitments.
• Maintain clear visibility into open POs, supplier commitments, delivery risk, lead times, commercial blockers, and next actions.
• Help build supplier execution practices that are strong enough for defense work but light enough for a vertically integrated startup that needs speed.

What We're Looking For

• A degree in engineering, supply chain management, manufacturing, operations management, or a closely related field is required.
• Experience in procurement, supplier management, contracts, supply chain, or commercial execution in a hardware, aerospace, defense, robotics, or deep tech environment.
• Experience working at an early-stage startup, ideally Series B or earlier, where teams were small, processes were incomplete, and supplier negotiation required judgment, persistence, and creativity rather than large-company leverage.
• Experience supporting U.S. government, defense, aerospace, or Space Force-related programs.
• Working knowledge of ITAR, EAR, export-controlled environments, controlled technical data, supplier access risks, and foreign person restrictions.
• Experience negotiating supplier-facing terms, including T&Cs, PO terms, payment terms, delivery terms, cancellation terms, and commercial risk allocation.
• Ability to work with engineers, understand technical program context, and translate program needs into supplier actions without becoming a bottleneck or a pass-through messenger.
• Good judgment on when supplier support accelerates vertical integration and when it creates dependency, loss of control, compliance risk, or downstream program risk.
• Clear and direct communication with suppliers and internal teams. You should be able to state the issue, the risk, the tradeoff, and the next action.
• Comfort with ambiguity, changing requirements, short timelines, incomplete process, and high program urgency.
• U.S. citizenship is required. Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance if required for the program.
• Strong plus: experience with FAR, DFARS, government contract flow-downs, SBIR, OTA, prime/subcontractor relationships, defense suppliers, prototype procurement, NPI procurement, CNC, PCBA, harnesses, machined parts, test hardware, or specialized engineering services.

Location & Employment Details

• Location: Torrance, CA (onsite). This is a full-time onsite role based at GITAI's office in Torrance, CA. This position requires working onsite five days per week. Remote or hybrid work is not expected for this role. Occasional travel to supplier sites may be required as needed to support supplier engagement, negotiations, delivery follow-up, inspections, or other program needs.
• Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt
• Compensation: Base salary for this role is expected to range from $110,000 to $145,000 per year. Final title, compensation, and equity will depend on the candidate's experience with technical procurement, supplier negotiation, defense programs, export-controlled environments, and ability to drive supplier execution and material readiness for engineering-driven hardware programs.
• Typical Work Hours: Monday to Friday, approximately 9:00am - 6:00pm (onsite). Flexibility is expected based on mission schedules and program needs.

Benefits

• Health Insurance - Platinum medical plan with 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees; 90% for dependents
• 401(k) Plan - Company match up to 3.5%, with traditional and Roth options
• Equity - Stock option eligibility depending on role
• Relocation Support - Available for qualifying positions
• Time Off - 12 paid holidays per year, 12 days of paid vacation per year, and paid sick leave (in accordance with applicable law)
• Office Perks - Free snacks and drinks, plus regular team events

No agency submissions, please.