Job Description

About the Role

Tesla's AI Hardware Purchasing team is seeking a highly motivated and experienced PCBA Supply Chain Manager (SCM) based in Korea to support the full lifecycle supply chain for our most critical AI compute and hardware platforms. This role sits at the intersection of hardware engineering, manufacturing operations, and vendor management — responsible for ensuring material availability, production readiness, and supply continuity across Tesla's AI and robotics product lines.

You will own the end-to-end supply chain execution for PCBA and AI compute hardware across:

• Autopilot & Full Self-Driving (FSD) compute systems
• Infotainment & in-vehicle compute platforms
• AI compute infrastructure
• Optimus Humanoid Robot systems

Responsibilities

Material Commit to Build (CTB)

• Own and drive material CTB readiness for all assigned PCBA programs, ensuring all components are committed and available ahead of build events (NPI, pilot, ramp, and mass production)
• Develop and maintain CTB dashboards and trackers, providing real-time visibility to program teams, engineering, and manufacturing on material risk and readiness status
• Lead weekly CTB reviews with cross-functional stakeholders including Program Management, Hardware Engineering, and EMS/ODM manufacturing partners
• Identify, escalate, and resolve material shortages, long lead-time components, and allocation risks that could impact build schedules
• Partner with EMS/CM and ODM partners to align on build plans, kitting schedules, and buffer strategies to protect production continuity
• Drive excess and obsolescence (E&O) mitigation strategies in coordination with engineering change management processes

Supplier Development — PCBA EMS/CM & Data Center ODM Vendors

• Lead qualification, onboarding, and development of PCBA EMS/CM vendors and Data Center vendors supporting Tesla's AI hardware and robotics programs
• Conduct manufacturing capability assessments and factory audits at EMS/CM and ODM facilities in the broader Asia-Pacific region, evaluating production capacity, process maturity, quality systems, and financial stability
• Develop and execute vendor improvement plans, driving corrective actions, process upgrades, and sustainable performance improvements across PCBA assembly and ODM system integration operations
• Own vendor scorecards and KPI tracking (quality, delivery, cost, responsiveness) and lead regular business reviews (QBRs) to drive accountability and continuous improvement
• Collaborate with Hardware Engineering and Quality teams on DFM (Design for Manufacturability) and DFS (Design for Supply) reviews, ensuring EMS/ODM partners are engaged early in the product development cycle
• Build and maintain strategic vendor relationships with key PCBA EMS/CM and ODM partners in Korea, supporting capacity reservation, technology roadmap alignment, and long-term partnership development
• Negotiate manufacturing service agreements, pricing structures, capacity commitments, and NRE terms with EMS/CM and ODM vendors
• Support new vendor bring-up for emerging PCBA and data center ODM partners to diversify Tesla's manufacturing supply base and reduce concentration risk

Production Planning

• Develop and manage production build plans aligned with program milestones, demand signals, and manufacturing capacity for NPI through mass production phases
• Collaborate with demand planning and S&OP teams to translate product forecasts into actionable material and capacity plans at EMS/CM and ODM partners
• Manage MRP/ERP-driven planning signals and work with vendors to ensure accurate lead times, MOQs, and safety stock levels are maintained
• Drive supply-demand balancing across multiple concurrent AI hardware programs, prioritizing build allocation during constrained supply environments
• Coordinate with EMS/CM and ODM partners on production scheduling, line capacity, and material pull signals
• Lead risk mitigation planning including buffer stock strategies, alternate sourcing, and expedite management for critical path items
• Support ramp readiness reviews and production launch gates, ensuring the manufacturing supply chain is fully prepared for volume transitions

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in supply chain, procurement, or operations roles within the electronics, PCBA manufacturing, or data center hardware industry
• Deep understanding of PCBA manufacturing processes and EMS/CM operations, including SMT assembly, system integration, test, and fulfillment
• Experience working with Data Center ODM vendors (e.g., server/rack-level system integrators) on hardware qualification, capacity planning, and production execution
• Proven experience managing material CTB processes in a fast-paced NPI or high-volume hardware manufacturing environment
• Strong background in vendor development, including factory audits, capability assessments, scorecards, and corrective action management
• Hands-on experience with production planning tools (SAP, Oracle, or equivalent MRP/ERP systems)
• Experience working with automotive-grade, compute, or high-reliability hardware programs preferred
• Excellent analytical skills with proficiency in Excel, SQL, or data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)
• Business-level Korean and English proficiency required; ability to communicate effectively with global Tesla teams
• Strong cross-functional communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to thrive in a high-velocity, ambiguous environment with competing priorities and aggressive timelines
• Willingness to travel domestically within Korea and internationally to supplier and manufacturing sites (~20–30%)