Government Supply Manager

About us

At Viasat, the work you do helps people stay connected in ways that matter, from everyday moments to critical missions across air, land, sea, and space.

We’re a place for people who are curious, bold, and motivated by meaningful work. Here, you'll have the opportunity to make an impact, explore new possibilities, and grow your career in ways that align with your interests and goals. When you're ready to take on something new, you'll find leaders who support your development and help you turn your ambition into action.

What you'll do

The Supply Chain organization is responsible for strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier performance, and supply continuity across a global network of suppliers and programs. Our team works in close coordination with engineering, manufacturing, operations, and finance to deliver operational excellence, minimize risk, and enable business growth.  

Operating across North America, Europe, and Asia, we manage a diverse global supply base supporting everything from commercial off-the-shelf components to highly complex integrated systems and services. We move with urgency, hold a high bar for execution and accountability, and continuously challenge ourselves and our suppliers to improve performance, scalability, and resiliency.

We value ownership, collaboration, and problem-solving, and we foster a team culture that is both high-performing and supportive.

We are looking for a highly driven Government Supply Manager to help manage and scale the procurement of fully assembled, finished electronic products with contract manufacturers.  The Government Supply Manager is responsible for leading all sourcing, contracting, and supplier management activities, which include driving supply continuity, cost competitiveness, and production readiness across complex technical programs.

The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking with relentless execution and thrives in environments with high ambiguity, aggressive timelines, and rapidly evolving priorities. You will work closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, finance, planning, and suppliers to solve difficult supply chain problems and enable production at scale. This role requires strong ownership, urgency, and follow-through, as well as the ability to proactively identify supply chain risks before they impact the business.

Successful candidates are highly organized, action-oriented problem solvers who thrive in fast-paced environments, communicate clearly, and consistently drive issues to resolution.

The day-to-day

Manage Supplier Selection, Negotiations, and Award

• Own end-to-end procurement strategy spanning development, certification, and manufacturing stages  
• Identify, qualify, and onboard contract manufacturers capable of meeting government program requirements (quality, security, compliance, scalability)
• Lead competitive sourcing events (RFIs, RFPs, RFQs) and evaluate suppliers based on technical capability, cost, capacity, and compliance readiness
• Develop dual-source or contingency strategies for high-risk or sole-source components
• Negotiate pricing, timelines for delivery, and supply agreements such as program-specific agreements (PSAs)  

Supply Assurance

• Build and maintain relationships with suppliers while holding them accountable to delivery and performance commitments
• Manage supplier delivery, cost, quality, and lead time performance
• Detect supply chain risks early.   Build and implement mitigation plans to avoid production disruptions.  
• Resolve supplier issues impacting production schedules or program milestones, including resolving material shortages, late deliveries, allocation issues, and supplier escalations to prevent production impact
• Understand quarterly forecast requirements and translate them into a supply plan with outlined risks and mitigation plans. 
• Monitor supply commitments against build schedules and demand forecasts. Translate demand signals into supplier capacity and ramp plans.
• Develop and execute recovery plans for constrained or underperforming suppliers
• Identify single-source, capacity, and long lead-time risks and implement mitigation plans
• Conduct supplier business reviews and drive corrective actions where performance gaps exist

Drive Supplier Readiness and Product Lifecycle Optimization

• Participate in program reviews, build readiness meetings, and engineering change discussions
• Support new product introduction (NPI) activities, including supplier onboarding, qualification, and production ramp readiness
• Influence design-for-manufacturability and design-for-supply-chain decisions to reduce cost and risk
• Work with engineering teams to improve component availability, manufacturability, lead times, and cost
• Coordinate with planning and program teams to align material availability with production schedules
• Support engineering changes, alternate part qualifications, and redesign efforts when supply issues arise
• Support transition from prototype to low-rate initial production (LRIP) to full-rate production
• Ensure contract manufacturers are prepared for scale, including tooling, staffing, and process maturity
• Monitor supplier readiness against program ramp schedules
• Manage lifecycle changes, including engineering revisions and end-of-life transitions

Drive Execution with Speed & Ownership

• Track and drive closure of critical supply chain actions, open shortages, and escalations
• Make timely decisions in fast-moving environments with incomplete information
• Escalate issues appropriately while maintaining ownership of resolution plans
• Balance tradeoffs between cost, delivery, quality, inventory, and supply risk
• Communicate status, risks, and recovery plans clearly to stakeholders and leadership

Improve Supply Chain Processes & Operational Performance

• Identify and implement process improvements to improve efficiency, visibility, and scalability
• Use ERP, MRP, and supplier performance data to drive prioritization and decision-making
• Develop reporting and tracking tools for shortages, vendor efficiency, and operational risks  
• Support long-term sourcing, dual-source, and supply continuity strategies
• Track cost and drive cost reduction initiatives
• Drive automation and standardization where possible to improve team efficiency and execution

Government Compliance & Contracting

• Ensure all procurement activities comply with applicable federal acquisition regulations (e.g., FAR/DFARS where applicable)
• Partner with contracts, legal, and compliance teams to structure contracts and awards that meet government audit and reporting requirements
• Maintain documentation for traceability, cost transparency, and supplier accountability
• Support audits, program reviews, and government reporting requests
• Serve as the primary procurement interface for government program stakeholders when required

What you'll need

• 7+ years of directly applicable Supply Chain experience
• Experience managing suppliers in a manufacturing, technology, aerospace, or complex operational environment
• Solid understanding of Federal and Defense contracting requirements (DFAR/FAR/ITAR)
• Familiarity with MS Office, ERP/MRP systems, and supply planning tools
• Bachelor’s Degree with a focus in Business, Supply Chain, or related experience
• US Citizenship
• Ability to travel up to 25%
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance

What will help you on the job

• Experience collaborating alongside contract manufacturers.  
• Excellent communication skills, including verbal, written, and presentation skills, including the ability to influence all levels of internal stakeholders.
• Self-starter who can adapt, improve processes, and find solutions.  
• Experience managing supply constraints, shortages, or production escalations
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities in dynamic settings  
• Proven experience with detailed data analysis leading to recommendations and decisions.
• Experience supporting high-rate manufacturing or production ramp environments
• Technical understanding of mechanical, electrical, or electromechanical components
• Experience with NPI
• Experience in aerospace, defense, autonomous systems, or space industries
• Ability to negotiate strong pricing, business, and legal terms
• Ability to logically manage issues and conflicts with suppliers
• Ability to foster a collaborative work environment, influence others, and to act as a change agent
• Ability to adapt and embrace change in a constantly evolving business landscape
• Flexibility to learn and to work in a variety of commodities

Salary range

$99,000.00 - $156,000.00 / annually. For specific work locations within San Jose, the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, the base pay range for this role is $123,000.00- $184,000.00/ annually



At Viasat, we consider many factors when it comes to compensation, including the scope of the position as well as your background and experience. Base pay may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Additional cash or stock incentives may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position offered. Learn more about Viasat’s comprehensive benefit offerings that are focused on your holistic health and wellness at https://careers.viasat.com/benefits.
EEO Statement

Viasat is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, genetics, age, or veteran status or any other applicable legally protected status or characteristic. If you would like to request an accommodation on the basis of disability for completing this on-line application, please click here.