Supply Chain Manager (Electronic Systems)

Hive Robotics is building Europe's first full-stack orchestration platform for unmanned systems — connecting, controlling, and commanding multi-vendor drone and robot swarms. Our RF communication systems are Made in Germany, deployed on active frontlines, and targeting a €5B European tactical communication market with zero sovereign alternatives today.

As our first dedicated Supply Chain Manager, you will own the end-to-end supply chain for our electronic hardware products — from component sourcing to mass production readiness. You'll work hand-in-hand with our engineering team and report into operations, acting as the critical bridge between what our engineers need and what the market can deliver.

This is a foundational role with direct impact on our ability to scale production today and build the supply chain infrastructure for an expanding product portfolio — from our current RF communication systems to upcoming control, sensing, and swarm autonomy hardware. This is a foundational role with real influence on Hive's ability to scale and maintain technological sovereignty.

Supply Chain & Sourcing

• Own and manage all supply chain activities across the full product lifecycle — covering today's communication systems in active production as well as future product lines across communication, control, sensing, and swarm coordination hardware
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify suppliers for electronic components, with a strong focus on RF and communication hardware
• Build and maintain a robust network of alternative sources to ensure supply continuity and reduce single-source dependencies
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, and contract terms with suppliers to optimize cost and reliability

Engineering Collaboration

• Work closely with engineers to deeply understand component requirements and translate them into concrete sourcing strategies
• Proactively propose alternative components or suppliers when needed, balancing technical specs with availability and cost
• Support engineering in component selection during early design phases to ensure supply chain viability from the start

Strategy & Operations

• Develop and execute a mid- to long-term supply chain strategy aligned with Hive's production scale-up roadmap
• Build scalable supply chain processes and systems that support not only our current production ramp, but are designed to absorb a growing and diversifying hardware portfolio over the coming years
• Monitor market trends for electronic components and proactively manage risks such as shortages, lead time shifts, or geopolitical disruptions
• Support production planning and coordinate with manufacturing partners on delivery schedules and quality requirements

Procurement

• Support purchase orders, vendor relationships, and procurement workflows in close coordination with the operations and finance team
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulatory and export control requirements for defense-relevant components

Must Have

• 3–6+ years of experience in supply chain management, sourcing, or procurement within the electronics industry
• Strong technical understanding of electronic components and systems — ideally with exposure to RF, communication hardware, or embedded systems
• Proven experience managing supply chains for mass-produced electronic products
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate with suppliers and manage multi-vendor relationships
• Strong network within the electronic components sourcing ecosystem
• Strategic mindset — able to both execute today and build for tomorrow
• Hands-on, collaborative working style with a strong customer and engineering-oriented approach
• Comfortable operating in a dynamic environment where today's scope will expand —you'llstart with RF communication products and progressively take ownership of new product lines as they enter production
• Fluent in English & Germany

Nice to Have

• Background in RF, wireless communication, or defense electronics
• Experience in a hardware startup or fast-scaling deep-tech environment
• Familiarity with ERP or supply chain management tools
• Knowledge of German and EU export control regulations for dual-use goods

Why Hive Robotics

• Work on cutting-edge RF systems deployed in real-world defense and civil applications
• Fast-moving, technically deep team with aerospace and robotics roots
• Competitive compensation and meaningful equity participation