Simple Energy - Senior Engineer/Associate Manager - Strategic Sourcing

About Simple Energy

Simple Energy specializes in the manufacture of smart electric two-wheelers. We are a team of 300+ engineers coming together to make smart, supercharging, and affordable two-wheelers. The company was founded in 2019 and is based in Bangalore, India.

Job description: Sr. Engineer/ Associate Manager Strategic SourcingAs a Mechanical Strategic Sourcing, you will architect and execute the sourcing strategy for all mechanical components (sheet metal & fabrication, Off-the-Shelf, Plastic & Rubber, ) that power our next-gen electric twowheelers. In this high-impact role, you'll combine deep technical know-how in mechanical systems with worldclass supplier management to drive cost, quality, innovation, and speed-to-market.

Our mission is to build the future of mobility that is electric and connected. We at Simple energy are working towards accelerating by making them more accessible, affordable, secure and comfortable and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Location: Yelahanka, Bangalore

You will:

To be successful, you will be expected to:

- Strategic Category Leadership

- Develop and own the end-to-end sourcing strategy for mechanical components.

- Long Term and Short term Strategy

- Conduct quarterly category reviews to align cost-reduction, risk-mitigation, and innovation goals.

- Knowledge about Mechanical commodities Manufacturing Process, APQP

- Supplier Identification & Qualification

- Map global and domestic supplier landscapes; lead RFI/RFP/RFQ processes.

- Identification, Selection & Qualification of Supplier

- Establish qualification protocols, audit plans, and scorecards to ensure supplier capabilities and compliance.

Cost Management & Negotiation:

- Drive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) reduction initiatives-targeting 8-10% annual savings.

- Lead high-stakes negotiations on contract terms, volume discounts, and tooling investments.

- Part Costing

- ZBC/Should Cost

- Contractualization

- Drive Cost reduction initiatives.

- New Product Development

- DFx Process

- DFMEA, PFMEA

- Part Development - Proto, Mass Production

- Proto & Mass Production Tool & Fixture Development

- Capacity Calculation & Set up Capacity as per requirement.

Vendor Management:

- Supplier Identification, Selection and Approval

- Supplier Audit for Qualifying the supplier

- Develop and manage relationships with suppliers, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality components.

- Identifying Improvement plan along with supplier to meet SEPL requirement

- Maintain SRM

- QBR's with supplier based on parameters

- Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Partner with NPD, Quality, Manufacturing, and Engineering to balance design for cost, manufacturability, and performance.

- Fast-track prototype tool builds, pilot runs, and scale-up sourcing for high-volume launches.

Risk & Quality Assurance:

- Implement supplier risk assessments (financial, geo-political, capacity) and develop mitigation plans.

- Set and monitor quality KPIs (PPM, defect trends, on-time delivery) with continuous improvement roadmaps.

Innovation & Sustainability:

- Scout for advanced materials, manufacturing technologies (e.g., high-pressure die casting, additive manufacturing) to drive product differentiation.

- Champion sustainability-evaluate suppliers on carbon footprint, circularity, and compliance with global environmental standards.

You must have any or a combination of any of the following skills:

- Bachelor's/Master's in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.

- 10+ years of end-to-end strategic sourcing experience in Tier-1 Automotive, EV, or Heavy Machinery sectors.

- Deep expertise in mechanical component technologies-sheet metal fabrication, machining.

- Strong commercial acumen: adept at building cost models, negotiating multi-year contracts, and managing tooling investments.

- Hands-on experience with ERP/SAP procurement modules and supplier-performance management systems.

- Strategic Thinking: Translate business goals into category roadmaps and sourcing playbooks.

- Data-Driven Decision-Making: Leverage cost-benchmarking, should-cost analyses, and spend analytics.

- Leadership & Collaboration: Inspire cross-functional teams and influence C-suite stakeholders.

- Communication: Articulate complex technical and commercial concepts clearly-both verbally and in writing.

- Adaptability: Thrive in a fast-paced startup environment; pivot quickly as product roadmaps evolve.

Why Simple Energy?

- Opportunity to work with one of India's most innovative EV startups.

- High-growth, fast-paced environment with significant autonomy.

- Competitive compensation and performance-linked incentives.

- A chance to shape the future of mobility in India.