About this role
To secure the high-speed optical connectivity required for next-generation AI systems, OpenAI needs a leader who can manage complex supply chains and forge resilient supplier partnerships. The Hardware organization develops silicon and system-level solutions designed for advanced AI workloads, working closely with software and manufacturing partners to co-design hardware tightly integrated with AI models.
Operating as the Hardware Strategic Sourcing Manager for Optics, this individual will own sourcing strategy and supplier partnerships for fiber and optical interconnect components across infrastructure platforms. Responsibilities include leading RFIs and RFPs, negotiating commercial agreements, building detailed cost models, and establishing multi-source strategies for critical optical components.
Candidates who succeed in this environment possess deep familiarity with the optical interconnect supply chain and thrive when collaborating across engineering, finance, legal, and operations teams. The ideal professional brings extensive strategic sourcing experience in hardware manufacturing and the ability to translate rigorous technical requirements into scalable commercial strategies.
What you will do
- Develop and execute a comprehensive sourcing strategy for fiber and optical interconnect components supporting high-bandwidth AI systems and infrastructure.
- Identify, evaluate, qualify, and manage suppliers across the fiber and optical interconnect ecosystem.
- Lead RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs while establishing evaluation criteria and coordinating technical and commercial assessments.
- Partner with engineering teams to evaluate supplier capabilities across optical performance, insertion loss, signal integrity, and reliability.
- Negotiate supplier agreements covering pricing, tooling, capacity, lead times, quality requirements, and long-term supply commitments.
- Develop and maintain detailed cost models and pricing frameworks covering total cost of ownership and manufacturing yields.
- Establish sourcing and capacity strategies that address long lead times, constrained manufacturing capacity, and component lifecycle risks.
What you need
- Ten or more years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier management, or supply-chain leadership within optical communications or advanced hardware manufacturing.
- Demonstrated experience sourcing fiber-optic components, optical cable assemblies, passive optical assemblies, or similar high-volume hardware-integration categories.
- Strong familiarity with the fiber and optical interconnect supply chain and associated manufacturing processes.
- Experience evaluating optical and interconnect suppliers against technical requirements such as bandwidth, signal integrity, and thermal performance.
- A proven track record of leading competitive sourcing processes and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
- Expertise in should-cost modeling, open-book pricing, and total cost of ownership for hardware components.
Benefits
- Offers Equity
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
What is the location and compensation for this role?
The position is based in San Francisco with a salary range of $226K to $378K alongside offered equity.
What kind of components and infrastructure will I be sourcing?
You will own sourcing across optical fiber cable assemblies, internal optical harnesses, fiber shuffles, optical backplane assemblies, passive optical assemblies, fiber-array units, fiber-to-chip interfaces, and detachable connectors.
Which internal teams will I collaborate with regularly?
You will work closely with electrical, optical, systems, mechanical and packaging engineering, quality, rack integration, data-center deployment, manufacturing, supply chain, finance, legal, and program management teams.