Job Opening: Supply Chain Manager

Sparkz Inc., is looking to hire a Supply Chain Manager at their Sacramento, California location. Posted January 12, 2026.

 

Location: Sacramento, CA. Periodic travel as business needs require.

 

Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt

 

Work Environment: On-site role in both an office and manufacturing environment

 

Safety Sensitive: Yes

 

Salary Range: $110,000 – $130,000 base salary, plus bonus and equity eligibility
(Final compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, and location.)

 

About Sparkz

Sparkz is a U.S.-based advanced battery manufacturer delivering high-performance, NDAA-compliant energy storage solutions for defense, aerospace, data center, and industrial applications. With domestic manufacturing and operations, Sparkz is rapidly scaling to meet growing demand while building a secure, resilient, and compliant supply chain.

 

What we are seeking

We are seeking a Supply Chain Manager to lead and manage Sparkz’s end-to-end supply chain operations, with direct responsibility for vendor identification and selection, contract negotiation, inventory management, and ERP implementation. This role is critical to enabling production readiness, cost discipline, and regulatory compliance as the company scales manufacturing operations in the United States.

 

This is what you will be doing at Sparkz:

Vendor Identification, Validation & Sourcing

  • Identify, evaluate, validate, and select qualified vendors for production equipment, raw materials, components, and services.
  • Lead supplier due diligence, qualification, and onboarding, ensuring alignment with NDAA, Buy American, and company compliance requirements.
  • Develop and maintain an approved vendor list and supplier performance metrics.

Vendor Negotiation & Contracting

  • Lead vendor negotiations and establish supply agreements, including pricing, lead times, service levels, warranties, and terms & conditions (T&Cs).
  • Collaborate with Legal and Finance teams at Sparkz to structure contracts that mitigate risk and support scalability.
  • Maintain and manage supplier contracts and renewals.

Inventory Management & ERP Implementation

  • Own inventory management strategy, including material planning, stock optimization, and inventory controls.
  • Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of ERP/MRP systems in collaboration with Sparkz Financial Controller and Operations teams.
  • Ensure accurate material tracking, costing, and reconciliation across purchasing, warehousing, and production.
  • Establish inventory KPIs such as inventory turns, accuracy, and working capital efficiency.

Production Planning & Logistics

  • Align material requirements and procurement plans with production schedules and demand forecasts.
  • Oversee inbound and outbound logistics, freight, and warehousing partners to support on-time delivery.
  • Develop contingency plans to address supply disruptions or demand variability.

Compliance & Risk Management

  • Ensure full compliance with NDAA, DFARS, Buy American Act, and customer-specific sourcing requirements.
  • Maintain documentation, traceability, and audit readiness for all materials and suppliers.
  • Proactively assess supplier, geopolitical, and operational risks.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Partner closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Business Development teams.
  • Support new product introductions and production ramp by aligning sourcing and logistics with engineering and quality requirements.
  • Provide supply chain inputs for customer proposals, pricing, and delivery commitments.

Continuous Improvement & Reporting

  • Track and report supply chain KPIs, including cost savings, supplier performance, inventory turns, and on-time delivery.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce cost, improve lead times, and strengthen supply chain resilience.

 

What you bring to Sparkz

  • Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Engineering, Business, or related field.
  • Minimum 10 years of experience in supply chain, sourcing, or operations within a manufacturing environment.
  • Demonstrated experience leading vendor selection, negotiations, and contract execution.
  • Hands-on experience with inventory management and ERP/MRP system implementation.
  • Strong analytical, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
  • ERP experience (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Oracle).
  • Experience with NDAA-compliant, defense, aerospace, or government-regulated supply chains. (Preferred)
  • Familiarity with battery manufacturing, energy storage, electronics, or advanced manufacturing environments. (Preferred)
  • Experience in high-growth or startup manufacturing organizations. (Preferred)

 

What We Offer

  • High-impact role with ownership over a mission-critical function.
  • Competitive compensation and potential equity participation.
  • Opportunity to help scale U.S.-based manufacturing supporting national security and critical infrastructure.
  • Collaborative, execution-driven culture with strong leadership visibility.

 

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to sit, stand, and work at a computer for extended periods.
  • Ability to travel occasionally as required for supplier visits or operational needs.
  • Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

 

Additional Information:

  • This position is classified as safety-sensitive and may be subject to drug and alcohol testing consistent with applicable law.
  • Sparkz provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable state and federal law.
  • Employment at Sparkz is at-will, meaning either you or the Company may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice.
  • Sparkz is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), age, national origin, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

 

Working Conditions:

  • Manufacturing and R&D plant environment.
  • May require occasional travel to vendor sites or other facilities.
  • Use of PPE is required in certain areas of the plant.
  • Ability to sit, stand, and work at a computer for extended periods.
  • Ability to travel occasionally as required for supplier visits or operational needs.

 

Please Note

  • All job offers are subject to pre-employment drug screening and a background check since this is a safety sensitive position.
  • Unless otherwise noted, we do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.

 

Notice to Agencies: We only accept resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing services if a Service Agreement has been signed and we have requested recruitment/staffing services for the specific position. Any unsolicited resumes will become the property of the company, and no fees or compensation will be paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or staffing service.

 

To Apply Email Resume and Cover Letter to HR@sparkz.energy

Founder & CEO

Dr. Sanjiv Malhotra

Dr. Sanjiv Malhotra is the founder and CEO of Sparkz—the battery start-up reinventing the energy supply chain.

 

Malhotra has been a leader in the energy sector for nearly three decades as a founder, investor and executive. Most recently, he served as the inaugural director for the Energy Investor Center at the U.S Department of Energy (DOE), serving under both Democratic and Republican administrations.

 

At DOE, Malhotra led the Obama Administration’s initiative to boost public-private partnerships to accelerate the commercialization of technologies developed in national research centers like Oak Ridge National Labs.

 

Malhotra was recruited to the Department of Energy after a successful exit of Oorja Protonics—the world leader in methanol fuel cells—which he founded and led as CEO for 10 years. Oorja raised $50 Million in equity financing from leading VCs such as Sequoia, DAG Ventures, Artis Capital and others during his tenure. He boosted Oorja’s revenue and profitability growth, while expanding operations globally in Japan, China, South Africa, Mexico, and India.

 

Oorja was acquired in 2014 by the Private Equity firm MinXing Growth Fund.

 

As an investor and consultant, Malhotra has worked at leading venture capital firms, including Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers as an advisor on clean energy and advanced materials.

 

Earlier in his career, Malhotra led the engineering and product development team at H Power, a pioneer in hydrogen fuel cells. As part of the management team, he managed the successful IPO, which raised more than $100 million in August 2000.

 

He began his career as a post-doctoral fellow at the renowned Lawrence Berkeley National Labs on electrochemical storage systems. Dr. Malhotra has authored seven patents and more than 40 publications in various fields of energy storage technology and materials. He holds a PhD in chemical engineering and an M.B.A from University of Iowa.