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June 25, 2025

Senior Category Sourcing Manager, Networking OEM

Senior • On-site

$133,200 - $220,200/yr

Seattle, WA , +1

DESCRIPTION

AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. In other words, we’re the people who keep the cloud running. We support all AWS data centers and all of the servers, storage, networking, power, and cooling equipment that ensure our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, with thousands of variables impacting the supply chain — and we’re looking for talented people who want to help.

You’ll join a diverse team of software, hardware, and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles. You’ll collaborate with people across AWS to help us deliver the highest standards for safety and security while providing seemingly infinite capacity at the lowest possible cost for our customers. And you’ll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.

The Networking team is looking for a results-oriented individual to own technical sourcing activities for OEM networking hardware and software. This individual will own strategy and relationship development with multiple Networking OEM partners who supply switches, routers, optics, firewalls, and other critical networking infrastructure for AWS. This individual will partner closely with multiple network engineering teams to define the OEM hardware and software roadmap for the AWS network will create sourcing strategies to enable favorable material availability, cost, and support terms. Our Category Sourcing Managers are experts in their industries and drive the explosive growth of AWS by enabling disruptive technologies through responsible and strategic sourcing.

Key job responsibilities
- Develop OEM networking hardware and software sourcing strategies to deliver against business and engineering objectives and achieve sustainable relationships with strategic suppliers
- Partner closely with the network engineering teams to identify and strategize about hardware and feature set needs to drive a multi-year technology strategy
- Analyze industry trends and evolving technology to proactively identify supply base opportunities to minimize risk, protect continuity of supply, optimize cost, and utilize industry developments that benefit Amazon
- Influence suppliers' manufacturing processes, technology decisions, and policies in ways that are mutually beneficial and sustainable for both organizations by leveraging the growth of Amazon's spend.
- Negotiate and implement supplier agreements/contracts by working with cross-functional business partners and suppliers to reach agreement on contract terms and conditions. - Analyze and determine cost reduction opportunities by leveraging volumes, optimizing the supplier base and reducing total cost of ownership.
- Lead sourcing engagements and competitive bidding (RFI, RFQ, and RFP).
- Track internal metrics for executing projects and sourcing plans.
- Make optimal trade-offs between schedule, resources, and scope, and apply advanced technical and business knowledge to address major risks, challenges, and obstacles.
- Help develop long-term department strategies and significantly influence the cross-company project development and delivery processes and standards.
- Be a subject matter expert for the customers, technologies, and markets in which you engage
- Keys to success in this role include sound judgment and excellent written/verbal communication skills. The candidate should be able to extract insights from data and be able to communicate clearly appropriate triggers and actions.

A day in the life
You will be working closely with several business partners to manage the Networking OEM category on a day to day basis. This will include interactions with hardware development teams, network design and deployment engineering teams, rack integration, finance, legal, and others. You will also manage working and executive level supplier relationships with multiple Networking OEMs as well as rack integration partners. You will be heavily focused on roadmap planning and execution against a technology migration strategy. You will work with closely with two individuals from your immediate core category team (GSM and PLM) to drive and execute a well-rounded category strategy (GCM = You, GSM = Global Supply Manager, PLM = Product Lifecycle Manager). You will leverage your expertise to build supplier relationships and architect agreements to support AWS' growing network. You will make responsible sourcing decisions that consider customer security, time to market, technology benefit, quality and cost.

About the team
Diverse Experiences
AWS values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn’t followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don’t let it stop you from applying.

Why AWS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating — that’s why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.

Work/Life Balance
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why we strive for flexibility as part of our working culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve in the cloud.

Inclusive Team Culture
Here at AWS, it’s in our nature to learn and be curious. Our employee-led affinity groups foster a culture of inclusion that empower us to be proud of our differences. Ongoing events and learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon (gender diversity) conferences, inspire us to never stop embracing our uniqueness.

Mentorship and Career Growth
We’re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth’s Best Employer. That’s why you’ll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.

A Little About the Team
The Networking team is made up of global category managers (GCM), global supply managers (GSM), and product lifecycle managers (PLM) who manage the broad base of networking suppliers and internal amazon initiatives that help build the AWS cloud. We drive supply continuity, cost optimization, and technology introduction for networking hardware. We are located throughout multiple regional hubs in the united states and work with suppliers and business partners globally. We are a mix of industry experts and those aspiring to grow our industry expertise. We all bring something valuable to the table from our unique backgrounds; we highlight and celebrate our diverse backgrounds and leverage them to our collective benefit as a team.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

- 6+ years of developing, negotiating and executing business agreements experience
- 6+ years of professional or military experience
- Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, Quantitative, Technical or quantitative field
- 6+ years of experience working with engineering teams to develop technology roadmaps and supporting sourcing strategies
- 6+ years of experience working with executive business partners both internally and externally to drive alignment to strategies

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- MBA or advanced degree
- Background in OEM hardware and software procurement
- Experience in the Enterprise Networking, Hyperscale Networking, Cloud Computing/Storage or other IT Infrastructure industries
- Background in semiconductor industry with working knowledge of supply dependencies
- Experience working at, for, or with Hyperscale cloud provider
- Strong understanding of off-the-shelf and custom electronics equipment sourcing
- Must be able to present complex technology and business objectives in concise and understandable manner
- Must have backbone to push back on decisions that do not align with business objectives and propose alternate solutions

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $133,200/year in our lowest geographic market up to $220,200/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Amazon is a total compensation company. Dependent on the position offered, equity, sign-on payments, and other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. For more information, please visit https://www.aboutamazon.com/workplace/employee-benefits. This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our internal or external career site.