Job Description
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About the Company
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Architect Motors is a San Francisco-based company on a mission to democratize personal transportation in the developing world with a purpose-built electric motorcycle. We benefit from the agility of a startup without the uncertainty of traditional venture capital, backed by stable, long-term funding. Our Leadership are alumni of MIT & McKinsey and bring extensive EV development and production expertise to the table. With ten years of hands-on experience across emerging markets, we’re uniquely positioned to deliver world-class electric mobility that’s both accessible and sustainable.
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About the Role
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We’re building a new, affordable, electric motorcycle for emerging markets with a unique technology backed finance program — and your role will be to help turn our engineering programs into scalable, production-ready products. As our Global Supply Manager, you will own key supplier and manufacturing relationships in China across three primary areas: sourcing and production for internally developed hardware, management of OEM motorcycle and component suppliers, and future ODM programs for new vehicle platforms. This is a hands-on startup role that may require wearing multiple hats from supplier management, and sourcing, to joint-supplier technical program management, and manufacturing execution. You will work closely with our engineering team and Chinese suppliers to drive programs from development through production, while ensuring that what is designed and built in China works in the realities of our target markets — particularly Mexico.
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NOTE: Professional fluency in Mandarin is strongly desired for this role.
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Responsibilities
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- Own key relationships with Chinese OEMs, ODMs, contract manufacturers, and component suppliers across cost, quality, schedule, and technical execution.
- Manage sourcing and production for our internally developed hardware, including electronics, PCBAs, and controllers.
- Manage OEM motorcycle and major component suppliers from development through production, including engineering changes, tooling, validation, quality, and delivery.
- Lead sourcing and partner management for future ODM vehicle programs from supplier selection and commercial negotiation through development, validation, pilot builds, and production ramp.
- Serve as the primary bridge between Architect Motors engineering teams and Chinese suppliers, driving clear resolution of technical, commercial, quality, and production issues.
- Close the loop between China-based development and manufacturing and on-the-ground operations in Mexico, including local assembly, quality feedback, service issues, localization, and production requirements.
- Support homologation and certification efforts by translating market-specific requirements into clear supplier deliverables and coordinating documentation, testing, samples, and required product changes.
- Lead RFQs, supplier selection, cost negotiations, should-cost analysis, tooling/NRE negotiations, and ongoing cost-reduction initiatives.
- Drive NPI and production readiness, including critical-path tracking, supplier validation, tooling, long-lead items, build readiness, yield, and corrective actions.
- Build scalable supplier and manufacturing processes while remaining willing to step in directly to solve operational problems when required.
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Qualifications
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- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, or a related field.
- Professional fluency in Mandarin Chinese and English, with the ability to conduct technical and commercial discussions with suppliers in both languages.
- 5–7+ years of experience in supply chain, sourcing, manufacturing, technical operations, or supplier management within automotive, EV, robotics, consumer hardware, or another complex physical-product industry.
- Experience managing suppliers from development and sourcing through NPI and volume production.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, BOMs, engineering drawings, specifications, tooling, quality systems, and engineering change management.
- Experience negotiating supplier pricing, tooling, NRE, lead times, payment terms, and other commercial agreements.
- Strong technical aptitude and ability to work effectively across electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams.
- Demonstrated ability to independently drive complex programs across engineering teams, suppliers, and manufacturing partners.
- Strong analytical skills and comfort working with cost models, BOM analysis, production data, schedules, and supplier performance metrics.
- High ownership, strong attention to detail, and comfort operating in a fast-moving startup environment.
- Willingness to travel regularly to China and periodically to Mexico for supplier development, engineering builds, factory audits, and production support.
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Preferred Skills
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- Experience working directly with motorcycle, automotive, EV, or powersports OEMs and ODMs.
- Experience developing or launching complete vehicles or similarly complex electromechanical products.
- Experience managing custom electronics, embedded systems, battery systems, wiring harnesses, or other vehicle subsystems.
- Experience supporting manufacturing transfers, localization, or assembly operations across multiple countries.
- Familiarity with automotive homologation, certification, or regulatory requirements in Mexico or other international markets.
- Familiarity with supplier quality processes such as APQP, PPAP, 8D, FMEA, control plans, and production validation.
- Experience with should-cost analysis, value engineering, or structured cost-reduction programs.
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Pay range and compensation package
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The reasonably expected base salary for this role is $170,000-230,000, depending on experience and qualifications. Architect also offers comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) plan with company match, and flexible unlimited paid time off.
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Equal Opportunity Statement
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Please Note: In accordance with California law, Architect Motors does not discriminate or retaliate against employees or applicants for discussing or disclosing their own or others’ compensation. Architect Motors is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, gender expression, medical condition, or veteran status. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. To request an accommodation, please contact careers@architectmotors.com. A valid driver’s license is not required for this position.
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Privacy Notice for Applicants: Architect Motors is committed to protecting your privacy. Our Applicant Privacy Notice, available at architect.com/privacy/applicants, describes the categories of personal information we collect from job applicants and the business purposes for which we use it. We encourage you to review it.
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