Location: Ra'anana
DriveNets is a leader in cloud-native networking software and hardware, enabling the world's largest network operators to build scalable, high-performance infrastructure. Our Global SC & HW Operations team is the engine behind hardware delivery — from BOM to customer — spanning engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, and quality across a global partner ecosystem.
The Role
We are looking for a Vendor Manager to own the end-to-end relationship with our component and sub-system vendors — starting with Optics suppliers and expanding to future strategic partners.
This is not a buyer role and not a narrow technical position. You will be the single point of accountability between DriveNets and each vendor: commercial governance, supply continuity, quality oversight, NPI execution, and RMA management — all in one role.
You will work closely with Engineering & Quality, Global Supply Chain, and Planning, and report to the Director of Global Supply Chain.
What You'll Do
Vendor Onboarding
• Lead end-to-end onboarding of new vendors — technical qualification, internal and external commercial setup, quality baseline, and NPI readiness
• Coordinate qualification audits (PPAP/FAI) and production readiness reviews before first shipment
Commercial Management
• Own pricing, capacity commitments, payment terms, and contracts for each managed vendor
• Drive quarterly business reviews (QBRs); act as the primary escalation point for commercial disputes and supply deviations
• Maintain alternative source qualifications and business continuity plans
Forecast, Supply & Delivery
• Receive MPS / forecast from planning and drive delivery execution with vendors against committed timelines
• Track delivery performance; proactively surface shortages and capacity issues with mitigation options
• Manage vendor liability: consigned inventory, write-off decisions, aging stock
Quality & Technical Governance
• Own vendor quality KPIs (FPY, DPPM, corrective action closure); coordinate resolution between vendor, Engineering, and Quality
• Track engineering changes (PCN) and manage vendor NPI participation across EVT, DVT, and PVT builds
RMA & Field Returns
• Manage field returns to vendor: return authorization, failure analysis coordination, and replacement shipment tracking
• Ensure 8D root cause closure and feed learnings back into production
• 10+ years in vendor management, strategic sourcing, or supply chain in a hardware technology company
• Proven track record managing vendors end-to-end — commercial, technical, quality, and supply — simultaneously
• Background in networking, optical, or high-speed electronic components; Optics / photonics experience is a strong advantage
• Hands-on with NPI cycles: qualification, EVT/DVT/PVT, PCN management
• Contract negotiation experience: supply agreements, pricing frameworks, capacity commitments
• Commercial acumen — able to negotiate and manage vendor P&L impact
• Engineering literacy — reads specs, engages credibly with engineering teams
• Data-driven — delivery data, quality metrics, and cost analysis drive decisions
• Cross-functional influencer — earns trust across Engineering, SC, Product, and Finance
• Structured communicator — clear in escalation forums and cross-functional reviews
• ERP familiarity (SAP, Priority, or equivalent)
DriveNets is a rapidly growing software company that has created a radical new way for service providers and hyperscalers to build their networking infrastructure. DriveNets Network Cloud and DriveNets Network Cloud-AI are new innovative networking solutions that apply the cloud architectural approach to high-scale networking. They bring together the scalability of standard Ethernet Clos architecture with the high performance and reliability of service provider networking, delivering optimal networking performance, scale and cost structure for service providers and hyperscalers.
Founded by Ido Susan and Hillel Kobrinsky, two successful telco entrepreneurs, DriveNets Network Cloud is the leading open disaggregated networking solution based on cloud-native software running over standard white boxes.
Over three funding rounds, DriveNets raised $587 million. Its solutions are used by tens of service providers globally and are in proof-of-concept and lab trials at dozens of operators and hyperscalers, consistently ranking #1 in trials for breadth of capabilities and solution quality. AT&T, the largest backbone in the US, deployed DriveNets Network Cloud across its core network, and DriveNets is currently transporting more than 52% of AT&T’s core network traffic. DriveNets is engaged with over 100 Tier-1 operators and cloud-providers on large projects in North America, Asia and Europe.
