Supply Chain Program Manager - AI Hardware

Job Description

The Tesla AI Hardware Supply Chain team is seeking a Program Manager to support our next generation of AI-focused platforms, with a primary emphasis on hardware for autonomous vehicles, humanoid robots, and AI servers. In this role, you will function as a key liaison between the Supply Chain organization and internal stakeholders, including Tesla’s Executive Team, Engineering, Sales, and Manufacturing. This position places significant weight on AI hardware integration, where you will collaborate closely with software developers to develop supply chain program automation tools. These tools will optimize sourcing strategies, new program introduction launch schedules and readiness, cost-saving opportunities, and the full project lifecycle—from design concept and validation, to launch and mass production, through to excess, obsolescence, and service support. Program Managers will work hand-in-hand with Supply Chain Managers and Supplier Industrialization Engineers across all relevant commodities, applying advanced program/project management skills to ensure the timely and efficient execution of Tesla’s high-impact AI hardware portfolio.

Job Responsibilities

• Represent the Supply Chain organization in meetings with Tesla’s Executive Team, providing updates on AI hardware program status, highlighting potential risks, and outlining proposed solutions and mitigation steps with a strong focus on hardware-software integration
• Define, implement, and drive execution of project requirements, workflows, and plans, emphasizing automation tools co-developed with software teams to streamline AI hardware supply chain processes
• Analyze the complete supply chain for AI hardware projects by defining and measuring performance criteria (e.g., milestone adherence for robot prototypes, sourcing progress for server GPUs, cost savings in vehicle autonomy modules, and operational efficiency) to support strategic decision-making
• Manage project timelines and resources for AI hardware initiatives, ensuring risk mitigation actions are identified and in place to guarantee successful launches of autonomous vehicle systems, humanoid robot platforms, and AI server infrastructures
• Continuously monitor and measure project processes and activities to prevent delays, with proactive identification of risks in AI hardware sourcing, such as supply disruptions for specialized components in robotics or server farms
• Develop robust systems to track progress of critical manufacturing equipment readiness across our global supply chain, tailored to AI hardware needs like high-precision assembly for humanoid joints or scalable production for AI servers
• Develop and maintain dashboards to track program status and communicate key AI hardware metrics to the broader organization, including Engineering, Finance, and Manufacturing
• Serve as the owner of RFQs and contract management—ensuring Non-Disclosure Agreements, General Terms & Conditions, Piece Price Agreements, and other contracts are negotiated, agreed upon, and documented before initiating business, with a focus on AI hardware IP protection
• Drive negotiations for piece price and product development to meet Tesla’s best-landed-cost expectations while upholding Supplier Industrialization standards for Best-In-Class quality in AI hardware components
• Collaborate closely with software developers to build and refine supply chain automation tools that cover the end-to-end project cycle: from initial design concepts and validation testing, to mass production scaling, and managing excess inventory, obsolescence planning, and long-term service support for AI-driven products

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, or Operations Management, or equivalent experience
• At least 5 years of project/program management or strategic supply chain experience in a fast-paced, highly fluid environment; strong preference for experience in manufacturing organizations, particularly with AI hardware, electronics, or automotive/robotics sectors
• Demonstrated, applied experience delivering complex programs and projects, ideally involving hardware-software integration for autonomous systems, robotics, or data center infrastructure
• Superior analytical skills and the ability to use data and metrics to justify business decisions; knowledge of SQL (mySQL, Postgres, etc.) is a plus for developing automation dashboards
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and senior leadership on AI hardware initiatives
• Experience developing succinct, crisp executive summaries and presenting to leadership, with comfort discussing technical aspects of AI supply chains
• Exude executive presence and demonstrate ease presenting in front of Supply Chain leadership and Tesla’s Executive Team on behalf of the organization, particularly regarding high-stakes AI projects
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment to achieve business objectives, including close partnerships with software development teams
• Demonstrated ability to establish business process issues and drive process improvements, such as automating supply chain workflows for AI hardware lifecycle management
• Open-minded self-starter with the ability to adapt, improvise, and problem-solve in dynamic AI technology landscapes