Supplier Program Manager
At Loft, we deliver innovative spacecraft platforms and satellite missions on schedule and within budget. The Supplier Program Manager role is central to our success, ensuring we meet commitments across the supplier ecosystem, mainly composed of:
• Major bus or satellite manufacturers (e.g Airbus)
• Optical payload suppliers
• Launch providers (e.g Space X)
• Ground station SaaS suppliers
The SPM prepares and executes complex contracts to implement Loft’s strategy.
Dynamic, fast-paced, international environment.
About This Role:
- Participate to evaluation, negotiation and closure of critical sub-contracts with Loft's strategic suppliers across space segment, launch, and ground & data services
- Manage contract changes (waivers/deviations, addenda, exercised options) and change control throughout the full contract lifecycle
- Maintain comprehensive and auditable records compliant with company, contractual, and export control requirements
- Review contracts to ensure they reflect applicable technical, quality, and regulatory requirements; flag non-conformances to Engineering and Legal
- Monitor and report sub-contractor performance against schedule, cost, and quality targets; feed results into team supplier performance framework (≥90% on-time delivery KPI)
- Identify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks; escalate issues whenever appropriate to Director of Strategic suppliers and relevant program stakeholders
- Develop strong relationships both internally (Program Execution, Engineering, Legal/Contracts, Finance) and externally (Vendors) to facilitate communication and alignment throughout contract execution
- Maintains a working understanding of the technical baseline and actively assesses supplier design maturity throughout development
- Coordinate deliverables, acceptance milestones and ensure suppliers are integrated into the program Integrated Master Schedule, risk reviews, MRs, and milestone gate readiness
- Support BD with supplier inputs for proposals and pricing; contribute to the long-term Approved Vendor List strategy
Must Haves:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related technical field, OR demonstrated hands-on engineering/technical work experience.
- 6+ years of proven experience in sub-contract management in spacecraft, aerospace, or complex technical programs
- Experience with procurement of multi millions contracts
- Hands-on experience with contract lifecycle management: drafting, negotiating, executing SoW/MSA or milestone-based contracts
- Excellent organizational and analytical skills; able to track multiple active contracts simultaneously
- Strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills — comfortable interfacing with both engineering teams and management team
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, international environment
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy; comfort with legal and commercial contract language
- Ability to work autonomously while keeping internal stakeholders informed
- Fluent in English
Nice to Haves:
- Speaking French
- Experience with export control frameworks: ITAR, EAR, French dual-use regulations (SBDU)
- Experience in the aerospace, space, or defense industry
- Familiarity with FAR/DFARS regulations and US Government contracting protocols
- Supply Chain or Project Management certification (ASCM, PMP, or equivalent)
- Proficient in ERP systems (NetSuite preferred) and Atlassian products (Jira, Confluence)
Some of Our Awesome Benefits:
- Equity, we want you to have an active role in our success
- Up to 35 days of Paid Time Off (vacations & RTT ) and flexible working hours, we want you to be at your best
- Health and life insurance, we care about your health
- Lunch Vouchers, because let’s be honest, we love food! (we even have a slack channel about it #loft-gourmand)
- Cross-office travel opportunities between San Francisco, Colorado, and Toulouse to learn from our differences
- Company and team off-sites and many other events to work & celebrate together
- Relocation assistance to Toulouse when applicable
Skills
As published by lever · 11 questions · 5 written answers
Basics
Resume/CV, Full name, Email, Phone, Current location, Current company, LinkedIn URL, Twitter URL, GitHub URL, Portfolio URL, Other website
Short answers (1)
- What is your notice period and when would you be available to start?
Pick from a list (5)
- This role requires at least 3 days a week in the office, are you able to easily commute to the location the role is based in? optional
- If not, would you be open to relocating? Please note, we do provide relocation assistance optional
- This role is based in our Toulouse office, do you have an existing right to work in France? Or do you require visa sponsorship? optional
- Will you now or in the future require employer sponsorship to work in the United States optional
- A resume in English is required for your profile to be reviewed by our international team. Have you included a resume in English? optional
Written answers (5)
- What are the top two skills a good sub-contract manager must have, and why? optional
- Describe a situation where you had to manage a major contract change with a strategic supplier — what was your approach and what was the outcome? optional
- Name one ‘red flag’ warning signal you’ve learned to look for when evaluating a supplier - what does it tell you? and how do you react? optional
- How did you hear about us? (LinkedIn, job board, recruiter outreach, employee referral, etc.) optional
- Any other information you would like us to know? optional