Senior Manager, Service Materials & Infrastructure

Job Summary

The Senior Manager, Service Materials & Infrastructure is the strategic architect and operational leader of our Global Service & Support inventory position, service demand planning, and our internal supply chain. You don’t just manage inventory; you orchestrate a scaling global support network to ensure maximum fleet uptime for Apptronik’s advanced commercial humanoid robots.

This is a growth-horizon role: While your immediate focus is establishing world-class local inventory controls, systems integrity, and warehouse infrastructure, you are inherently building the blueprint for our future. As Apptronik scales, this role is designed to expand organically alongside our global footprint, offering the clear opportunity to architect and inherit broader fulfillment and international logistics operations over time. You possess the executive presence to bridge tactical floor operations with corporate financial planning, transforming the inventory function from a reactive support cell into a high-yield operational engine.

The GSS Mindset

• Customer-First: We prioritize the human experience. Every build, fix, material allocation, or workflow is measured by its direct impact on the people and partners who rely on our technology.
• The Ultimate Partner: We act as the essential bridge between the "messy reality" of the field, global logistics, internal engineering, and third-party partners, establishing radical trust and cross-departmental alignment.
• Operational Evolution: We find joy in creating order where none exists. We possess the strategic foresight to build systems, write playbooks, and scale structural processes that evolve ahead of company growth.
• Dynamic Adaptability: We thrive in a high-growth environment. We are steady shepherds of chaos, navigating fast-paced technological shifts and ambiguous supply chains with patience, discipline, and a relentless focus on systemic solutions.
• The Culture Catalyst: We bring a "solution-first" energy to every interaction, serving as cultural ambassadors who elevate the morale, accountability, and standards of everyone around us.

Key Accountabilities

Inventory Control & Systems Integrity

• Service Demand Planning: Own the configuration, completion, and management of our service demand planning cycle. Engage with critical stakeholders in Supply Chain, Production, and Finance to ensure we have a suitable horizon for parts availability.
• Data Rigor & Single Source of Truth: Transition manual or fragmented inventory tracking into automated systems (Salesforce, Business Central), reducing spreadsheet-based tracking gaps.
• Audit & Cycle Count Leadership: Design and execute cycle counting and full physical inventory audit methodologies across all nodes to enforce precise data matching between digital systems and physical reality.
• Serialization & High-Value Asset Governance: Own the tracking and traceability matrix for high-value subsystems, custom mechatronic modules, and specialized service kits.

Strategic Material Optimization

• Predictive Demand Forecasting: Partner with GSS Leadership and Corporate Supply Chain to architect predictive demand models for critical spare parts and Field-Replaceable Units (FRUs), mitigating material starvation before it impacts customer operations.
• Global Material Positioning: Formulate and execute regional safety stock and inventory allocation strategies across global depots (including TX, CA, NY, London) to guarantee high parts availability aligned with localized fleet sizes.
• RMA & Reverse Logistics Governance: Establish and optimize closed-loop reverse logistics workflows. Oversee the return, tracking, and staging of defective components for engineering teardowns, refurbishment, or failure analysis to maximize asset recovery and ensure our operating system (Salesforce) is configured for success.

Global Warehouse Infrastructure & 5S Excellence

• Multi-Site Layout & Capacity Planning: Architect, standardize, and scale physical warehouse and parts-cage configurations across all deployment sites.
• Executive-Level 5S & Safety Ownership: Champion a 5S visual management system. Maintain a pristine, "tour-ready" showpiece environment capable of serving as an operational showcase for investors and enterprise customers.
• Compliance & Operational Readiness: Ensure compliance with local warehouse safety and trade compliance/customs documentation for all international shipments.

Fulfillment & Logistics Management

• End-to-End Distribution Architecture: Oversee pick, pack, and ship operations, ensuring material is securely prepared for transit and tracking.
• Carrier & Vendor Optimization: Collaborate with the Operations team to help improve international shipping carriers and third-party logistics (3PL) networks to manage inbound/outbound transit metrics, customs clearance protocols, and freight lanes to minimize cycle times.

Organizational Leadership & Team Scalability

• Team Development: Recruit, lead, and mentor a high-performing inventory team. Direct resources, establish clear performance benchmarks, and foster a unified culture of extreme ownership and process discipline.
• Cross-Functional Liaison: Act as the primary inventory stakeholder for Production, Engineering, Operations, and GSS. Translate constraints into actionable material forecasts for procurement and senior leadership.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in International Business, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Engineering, Business Administration, or equivalent high-level industrial/military experience.
• Experience: 8–10+ years of progressive experience in inventory management, global warehouse control, post-sales service supply chains, or materials planning within a high-tech hardware domain (Robotics, Aerospace, Automotive, or Defense).
• Leadership: 4+ years of demonstrated experience directly managing, building, and scaling operational, technical, or materials control teams
• Systems Fluency: Operational knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), and CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, SAP, Microsoft Business Central, or NetSuite). Proven track record transitioning operations from manual processes to automated workflows.
• Logistics Coordination: Strong understanding of international trade, import/export controls, customs documentation, and regional 3PL management.
• Strategic Execution: Proven ability to navigate high-stakes ambiguity, balance operational budgets, and build structured, repeatable processes out of zero-to-one engineering environments.