Staff Global Supply Manager, Exterior Lighting at Lucid Motors

Southfield, MIFull-timePurchasing - DirectPosted 13 days ago

About the Role

<div class="content-intro">About Lucid At Lucid, we are creating exceptional mobility experiences through innovation to drive the world forward. Built on Lucid’s proprietary technology and software-defined vehicle architecture, our award-winning vehicles bring our “Compromise Nothing™” approach to the global automotive market. That means refusing to choose between performance and sustainability, design and engineering, ambition and integrity. In Lucid Air and Lucid Gravity, we have designed and built vehicles that have redefined their segments, combining exceptional range, performance, design, and expansive space in a single experience.  We achieve this through deep vertical integration, with design, engineering, and production happening in-house across our global offices and manufacturing facilities. Our teams come from industries around the world, united by a shared commitment to excellence. By refusing to settle, you can help redefine what’s possible and shape the future of mobility.</div>The Role We are seeking a Staff Global Supply Manager to lead the commercial strategy and supplier execution for exterior lighting systems. This is a high-visibility individual contributor role with broad ownership across sourcing, negotiation, supplier management, product development, launch, and ongoing cost performance. The successful candidate will bring significant automotive lighting purchasing experience, operate with a high degree of autonomy, and work as an embedded commercial partner to a fast-moving engineering team. A technical background in lighting systems, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, optics, or manufacturing is highly desirable. You Will <ul> <li>Own the global sourcing and commercial strategy for exterior lighting components and systems, including headlamps, rear combination lamps, center high-mounted stop lamps, auxiliary lamps, and related electronics, modules, tooling, and engineering services.</li> <li>Act as the lead commercial interface between suppliers and cross-functional partners in Engineering, Supplier Quality, Finance, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Program Management.</li> <li>Embed with the engineering team to influence supplier selection, design-to-cost decisions, technical trade-offs, sourcing timing, and program execution from concept through launch and series production.</li> <li>Develop sourcing strategies, lead RFQ activities, analyze complex supplier quotations, build fact-based cost models, and present clear sourcing and negotiation recommendations to senior leadership.</li> <li>Lead commercial negotiations covering piece price, tooling, engineering and development costs, capital investment, intellectual property, warranty, capacity, productivity, and contractual terms.</li> <li>Apply lighting-specific market knowledge and should-cost analysis to identify cost drivers and challenge supplier assumptions related to optics, electronics, LEDs, PCBs, thermal management, housings, lenses, coatings, assembly, testing, and tooling.</li> <li>Identify, evaluate, and develop a competitive global supply base capable of meeting demanding requirements for technology, quality, cost, capacity, timing, and launch readiness.</li> <li>Own supplier relationships and commercial performance, including executive engagement, escalation management, recovery plans, claims resolution, engineering changes, and continuous cost improvement.</li> <li>Drive prototype and production part availability, tooling readiness, capacity confirmation, and commercial closure in support of development builds and production launch milestones.</li> <li>Anticipate commercial and supply risks, develop mitigation plans, and independently resolve ambiguous or time-critical issues while maintaining alignment with internal stakeholders.</li> <li>Create concise, decision-oriented updates for leadership and represent Supply Chain in high-visibility program, technical, and business reviews.</li> <li>Travel approximately 15-25% to support supplier assessments, negotiations, program reviews, and launch activities.</li> </ul> You Bring <ul> <li>Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Engineering, or a related field. A technical degree or equivalent technical experience is strongly preferred.</li> <li>8+ years of progressive experience in automotive purchasing, supply chain, commercial management, or a closely related field, with significant direct responsibility for buying automotive exterior lighting components or systems.</li> <li>Demonstrated success leading complex RFQs, supplier selections, negotiations, contracts, and commercial decisions for automotive lighting programs.</li> <li>Strong understanding of the automotive lighting supplier landscape, cost structure, development process, tooling, validation, industrialization, and launch requirements.</li> <li>Working knowledge of relevant lighting technologies and manufacturing processes, such as LED systems, electronics and controls, optical systems, injection molding, metallization, coating, lens and housing tooling, thermal management, assembly, and end-of-line testing.</li> <li>Ability to understand technical drawings, specifications, change content, test requirements, and engineering trade-offs, and translate them into commercial implications and executable supplier actions.</li> <li>Advanced analytical capability, including quotation analysis, should-cost modeling, total-cost evaluation, scenario analysis, and executive-level recommendation development.</li> <li>Proven ability to work autonomously, prioritize across competing demands, make sound decisions with incomplete information, and drive closure in a dynamic environment.</li> <li>Exceptional negotiation, influence, communication, and stakeholder-management skills, with the confidence to engage suppliers, technical teams, and senior leaders.</li> <li>Automotive product launch experience and a record of resolving supplier, timing, capacity, quality, or commercial issues without losing program momentum.</li> <li>Proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint; experience with ERP and sourcing systems such as SAP or equivalent.</li> </ul> Preferred Qualifications <ul> <li>Degree or professional experience in electrical, mechanical, optical, manufacturing, or automotive engineering.</li> <li>Experience with advanced lighting technologies, integrated electronics, software-enabled lighting features, or lighting control modules.</li> <li>Experience sourcing globally and managing suppliers across multiple regions and cultures.</li> <li>Experience in a high-growth, start-up, EV, or similarly fast-paced product-development environment.</li> </ul> <div>At Lucid, we don’t just welcome diversity - we celebrate it! Lucid Motors is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, and any other characteristic protected under applicable State or Federal laws and regulations.</div><div class="content-conclusion"><div> Compensation & Benefits: Lucid offers a comprehensive and competitive <a id="menur13jl" class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="https://mylucidbenefits.com/" target="_blank">benefits package</a> including medical, dental, and vision insurance; life and disability coverage; paid time off; paid holidays, paid sick leave; and a 401(k) retirement plan. Hourly/non-exempt employees accrue up to 120 hours paid time off, and salaried/exempt employee accrue up to 160 hours paid time off.  Eligible employees may also participate in Lucid’s equity program and/or a discretionary annual cash incentive program. Incentive and equity awards, if applicable, are determined based on individual performance, role scope, market considerations, and overall company results, in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.   Equal Opportunity: At Lucid, we believe diversity strengthens everything we build. Lucid Motors is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing an inclusive workplace for all. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal laws and regulations.  Accessibility: Lucid Motors is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need any accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact us at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">TA-Operations <@> lucidmotors.com</a>. This email address is designated solely for accommodation requests and is not monitored for job applications or resume submissions. To be considered for employment, all applications must be submitted through the Lucid Motors Careers website. Candidate Data Privacy: By submitting your application, you understand and agree that your personal data will be processed in accordance with our <a href="https://lucidmotors.com/media/document/candidate-privacy-notice.pdf">Candidate Privacy Notice</a>.  To all recruitment agencies: Lucid Motors does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to Lucid Motors. Lucid Motors is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.    </div></div>

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