Inventory Control Manager

At Ouster, we build sensors and tools for engineers, roboticists, and researchers, so they can make the world safer and more efficient. We've transformed LIDAR from an analog device with thousands of components to an elegant digital device powered by one chip-scale laser array and one CMOS sensor. The result is a full range of high-resolution LIDAR sensors that deliver superior imaging at a dramatically lower price. Our advanced sensor hardware and vision algorithms are used in autonomous cars, drones and many other applications. If you’re motivated by solving big problems, we’re hiring key roles across the company and need your help!

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly analytical and process-driven Inventory Control Manager to oversee worldwide inventory management, supply chain planning execution, and material control across multiple global locations (SF, Venlo, SZ, and Thailand). This is an on-site position based at our San Francisco (SF) location, requiring occasional travel to international sites for inventory audits and vendor coordination.

The role reports directly to the VP of Global Supply Chain. In this position, you will be responsible for ensuring >98% inventory accuracy, maintaining strict SOX compliance, leading material review boards (MRB), and driving continuous improvement across our inventory ecosystem. You will collaborate closely with contract manufacturers (CMs), Sales Operations, Accounting, and internal Supply Chain leadership, while also serving as a critical backup for the Master Planner.

Key Responsibilities

Accessory Planning & Demand Fulfillment

• Inventory Balance Optimization: Review backlog, SFDC (Salesforce), and incoming supply daily to maintain balanced inventory levels across world-wide locations (SF, Venlo, SZ, Thailand) to support customer shipments.

• S&OP Management: Prepare and present monthly Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) slides specifically for accessories.

• PO Allocation: Collaborate with Contract Manufacturers (CMs) to direct purchase orders to the correct production or fulfillment locations.

• Expediting & Sales Support: Review the global order backlog daily; expedite supply to meet active demand and promptly resolve inquiries from Account Executives (AEs) and Sales Operations.

• Product Lifecycle Transitions: Manage inventory transitions and stock allocations as new SKUs are released (e.g., Blue City, Y-cables).

Inventory Control, Audits & Compliance

• Global Counts & Reconciliations: Plan, schedule, and execute monthly worldwide inventory counts. Create all count sheets, establish inventory freezes, and build reconciliation workbooks for all stocking locations.

• Vendor Bin Management: Distribute count sheets to offsite CM vendors and reconcile all offsite vendor bins.

• SOX & Accounting Alignment: Maintain all SOX-required documentation for inventory controls. Prepare inventory adjustment (IA) files, secure necessary approvals, and collaborate with Accounting to process adjustments.

• Variance Resolution & KPIs: Investigate, explain, and resolve all inventory variances. Track and maintain monthly Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and implement corrective actions for systemic inventory errors.

• Transactional Troubleshooting: Monitor worldwide transactions to resolve receiving issues, TPT/TPP bottlenecks at BET, transfer orders, adjustment requests, part number (PN) conversions, and work order (WO)/assembly build issues for production.

• E&O and Aging Material: Review aging inventory (90+ days inactive) and drive cross-functional teams to transition slow-moving material to obsolete status (focusing on SF and driving cleanup globally).

Material Review Board (MRB) & Quarantine

• Tracking & Resolution: Manage the quarantine bin tracker and actively resolve items stuck in quarantine.

• MRB Leadership: Prepare weekly MRB files, lead the weekly MRB meeting, and drive cross-functional accountability for action items.

• Scrap Processing: Perform inventory transactions to scrap bins, secure approvals, and deliver processed files to Cost Accounting for adjustments.

• Offsite Logistics: Coordinate with regional logistics/operations leads to manage and process offsite MRB material.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) Support

• NetSuite Data Integrity: Ensure all required Bills of Materials (BOMs) are accurately loaded and updated in NetSuite (NS). Review all ECO/PCO releases.

• MRP Settings Maintenance: Gather lead times (LT) and safety stock requirements for required part numbers; input data into NetSuite to ensure MRP settings are accurate.

• Demand & Build Planning: Enter item demand plans based on current build plans for SF, accounting for weekly production completions.

• MRP Operations: Run MRP, analyze output, and host the weekly SCM meeting to gain alignment on new purchasing requirements. Manually plan for exception items (e.g., bulk optics).

• PO Approvals & Audit: Publish weekly meeting minutes, secure management approvals for PO placement, and maintain compliance documentation for PTP-11 audits.

• Subcontracting Transactions: Execute transactions for vendor service POs (coating, dicing, etc.) for production parts.

• Operations Alignment: Partner with internal production leads to perform 950-PN receipts and assembly builds. Provide analytical input on BOM structures to optimize inventory tracking across CM vendors.

• Master Planning Backup: Act as the primary operational backup for the Master Planner during absences or peak volumes.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience: 5+ years of experience in inventory control, material planning, or global supply chain management within a manufacturing environment.

• Certifications: APICS / CPIM certification is highly preferred.

• Systems Expertise: Advanced proficiency in NetSuite (ERP) and Salesforce (SFDC) is strongly desired.

• Regulatory Knowledge: Proven experience managing inventory processes under strict SOX compliance.

• Analytical Skills: Expert-level Microsoft Excel skills (reconciliation workbooks, VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables) with a strong ability to investigate root causes of data variances.

• Vendor Management: Experience working directly with international Contract Manufacturers (CMs) and managing offsite vendor inventory bins
• Location & Travel: Ability to work fully on-site in San Francisco and travel internationally from time to time to other global facilities to conduct inventory reviews and audits.

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The base pay will be dependent on your skills, work experience, location, and qualifications. This role may also be eligible for equity & benefits. ($128,000 - $170,000)

We acknowledge the confidence gap at Ouster. You do not need to meet all of these requirements to be the ideal candidate for this role.

Ouster is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that pursues and hires a diverse workforce. Ouster does not make employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex, gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, military status, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws. Ouster also strives for a healthy and safe workplace, and prohibits harassment of any kind. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Ouster considers qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.