Technical Procurement Lead, Space Defense Programs

About the role

GITAI is a space robotics company working to reduce the cost of work in space by 100x. Space is no longer defined only by the cost of launch. Satellites, space stations, lunar infrastructure, and defense systems are becoming more capable and more ambitious. But getting hardware to space is only the first step. The harder problem is doing useful work once it is there. GITAI develops robotic systems for orbital, lunar, and defense applications. Our robots are designed for tasks such as assembly, inspection, maintenance, construction, and surface operations in environments where human labor is expensive, dangerous, or impractical. To move fast and drive cost down, we keep hardware, software, testing, and integration close together. This allows our team to learn from real tests, shorten development cycles, and reduce dependency on slow external handoffs. We are still early. The systems, the company, and the market are all being built at the same time. The work is difficult, and many answers are still not written down. If this difficult challenge pulls you in, and you want to move it forward with your own hands, GITAI is the right place for you. Your Mission GITAI moves fast through vertical integration. We keep core technical ownership in-house, build directly with our engineering teams, and use external suppliers only where they help us move faster without giving up control of the mission. Your mission is to make procurement a force multiplier for that model. This is not a role for someone who simply buys off-the-shelf solutions or hands problems to vendors. You will help GITAI secure the parts, materials, services, manufacturing capacity, and supplier commitments needed to accelerate internal development, prototyping, testing, and delivery. The VP of Program Management will own upstream program context, supplier direction, and major program priorities. Engineers will own technical direction and design decisions. You will own the concrete procurement and commercial execution layer: supplier engagement, RFQs, T&Cs, purchase orders, delivery follow-up, commercial risk, and supplier commitments. This role supports U.S. government defense programs, including space defense work. It requires strong judgment, practical negotiation skill, and the ability to operate from the position of a fast-moving startup without the leverage of a large prime contractor. What You'll Drive Own procurement execution for assigned space defense programs, including RFQs, purchase orders, supplier follow-up, delivery tracking, and commercial issue resolution. Turn engineering and program needs into executable supplier actions, while keeping technical ownership, schedule control, and mission risk inside GITAI. Negotiate supplier terms that protect GITAI, including payment terms, delivery terms, cancellation terms, IP-related terms, warranty, liability, inspection, acceptance, and other commercial risks. Review supplier quotes, T&Cs, order documents, and commercial proposals to identify risks before they become program problems. Work with engineering and program leadership to understand technical context, urgency, supplier tradeoffs, and what must be protected in each transaction. Push suppliers to move quickly while keeping them engaged. Know when to press, when to trade, when to compromise, and when to escalate. Support procurement activity in export-controlled and government program environments, including ITAR/EAR awareness, controlled technical information, and supplier access risks. Support defense program execution by tracking flow-down requirements, deliverables, acceptance terms, compliance risks, and supplier commitments. Maintain clear visibility into open POs, supplier commitments, delivery risk, lead times, commercial blockers, and next actions. Help build procurement practices that are strong enough for defense work but light enough for a vertically integrated startup that needs speed.

Requirements

• A degree in engineering, supply chain management, manufacturing, operations management, or a closely related field is required.
• Experience in procurement, supplier management, contracts, supply chain, or commercial execution in a hardware, aerospace, defense, robotics, or deep tech environment.
• Experience working at an early-stage startup, ideally Series B or earlier, where teams were small, processes were incomplete, and supplier negotiation required judgment, persistence, and creativity rather than large-company leverage.
• Experience supporting U.S. government, defense, aerospace, or Space Force-related programs.
• Working knowledge of ITAR, EAR, export-controlled environments, controlled technical data, supplier access risks, and foreign person restrictions.
• Experience negotiating supplier-facing terms, including T&Cs, PO terms, payment terms, delivery terms, cancellation terms, and commercial risk allocation.
• Ability to work with engineers, understand technical program context, and tran

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