What are the responsibilities and job description for the Global Supply Manager, Interconnects position at Etched?
About Etched
Etched is building the world’s first AI inference system purpose-built for transformers - delivering over 10x higher performance and dramatically lower cost and latency than a B200. With Etched ASICs, you can build products that would be impossible with GPUs, like real-time video generation models and extremely deep & parallel chain-of-thought reasoning agents. Backed by hundreds of millions from top-tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is redefining the infrastructure layer for the fastest growing industry in history.
Job Summary
As Etched scales global deployments of our transformer inference systems, we are seeking an experienced Global Supply Manager to own sourcing and supplier strategy for high-speed interconnects, including cables, connectors, backplane interfaces, and optical/electrical data interconnect solutions.
You will be responsible for building and managing Etched’s global supply base for critical interconnect technologies that directly impact system bandwidth, latency, signal integrity, and reliability. This is a strategic and deeply cross-functional role working closely with Electrical Engineering, Systems, and Manufacturing to ensure scalable, high-performance interconnect solutions across rapidly growing deployments.
Key Responsibilities
Etched believes in the Bitter Lesson. We think most of the progress in the AI field has come from using more FLOPs to train and run models, and the best way to get more FLOPs is to build model-specific hardware. Larger and larger training runs encourage companies to consolidate around fewer model architectures, which creates a market for single-model ASICs.
We are a fully in-person team in San Jose and Taipei, and greatly value engineering skills. We do not have boundaries between engineering and research, and we expect all of our technical staff to contribute to both as needed.
Etched is building the world’s first AI inference system purpose-built for transformers - delivering over 10x higher performance and dramatically lower cost and latency than a B200. With Etched ASICs, you can build products that would be impossible with GPUs, like real-time video generation models and extremely deep & parallel chain-of-thought reasoning agents. Backed by hundreds of millions from top-tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is redefining the infrastructure layer for the fastest growing industry in history.
Job Summary
As Etched scales global deployments of our transformer inference systems, we are seeking an experienced Global Supply Manager to own sourcing and supplier strategy for high-speed interconnects, including cables, connectors, backplane interfaces, and optical/electrical data interconnect solutions.
You will be responsible for building and managing Etched’s global supply base for critical interconnect technologies that directly impact system bandwidth, latency, signal integrity, and reliability. This is a strategic and deeply cross-functional role working closely with Electrical Engineering, Systems, and Manufacturing to ensure scalable, high-performance interconnect solutions across rapidly growing deployments.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies for high-speed interconnects, including copper and optical cables, connectors, backplane systems, and high-bandwidth data links
- Build and manage relationships with interconnect, cable assembly, and connector suppliers across regions to ensure performance, quality, and scalability
- Negotiate pricing, capacity, tooling, and long-term supply agreements for critical interconnect components and assemblies
- Partner closely with Electrical and Systems Engineering on connector selection, cable design, signal integrity considerations, and supplier qualification
- Drive cost modeling, benchmarking, and should-cost analysis for interconnect components and assemblies across system architectures
- Ensure suppliers can meet stringent performance requirements including bandwidth, insertion loss, crosstalk, reliability, and mechanical constraints
- Identify and mitigate supply risks related to long lead times, custom designs, single sourcing, and regional concentration
- Align sourcing strategies with NPI builds, system validation cycles, and high-volume production ramps
- Support EVT/DVT/PVT builds and production readiness in coordination with manufacturing and program management
- Present sourcing strategies, technical tradeoffs, and supply risks to executive leadership
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field
- 7 years of experience in sourcing or commodity management for interconnects, connectors, or high-speed data infrastructure
- Strong understanding of high-speed interconnect technologies, including copper and optical cabling, connectors, and signal integrity considerations
- Experience working with Electrical Engineering teams on component selection, qualification, and performance tradeoffs
- Proven track record managing complex supplier relationships and negotiating high-value supply agreements
- Strong analytical skills in cost modeling, should-cost analysis, and BOM evaluation
- Experience supporting NPI builds and scaling supply for high-volume production
- Familiarity with global interconnect supply chains, including cable assemblies and connector manufacturers
- Ability to operate in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with high ownership
- Experience managing suppliers across Asia
- Experience with datacenter interconnects, including high-speed networking cables, optical modules, and rack-to-rack connectivity
- Familiarity with standards such as PCIe, Ethernet, InfiniBand, and other high-speed interfaces
- Understanding of signal integrity, impedance control, and high-frequency design constraints
- Experience sourcing custom cable assemblies or designing for high-density interconnect systems
- Background in optical interconnect technologies, including transceivers and fiber systems
- Experience working in a high-growth hardware startup environment
- Medical, dental, and vision packages with generous premium coverage
- $500 per month credit for waiving medical benefits
- Housing subsidy of $2k per month for those living within walking distance of the office
- Relocation support for those moving to San Jose (Santana Row)
- Various wellness benefits covering fitness, mental health, and more
- Daily lunch and dinner in our office
Etched believes in the Bitter Lesson. We think most of the progress in the AI field has come from using more FLOPs to train and run models, and the best way to get more FLOPs is to build model-specific hardware. Larger and larger training runs encourage companies to consolidate around fewer model architectures, which creates a market for single-model ASICs.
We are a fully in-person team in San Jose and Taipei, and greatly value engineering skills. We do not have boundaries between engineering and research, and we expect all of our technical staff to contribute to both as needed.
Salary : $500 - $2,000