Technical Sourcing Manager, Network Hardware
San Francisco, CA - USA
Job Summary
At Cloudflare we are on a mission to help build a better Internet. Today the company runs one of the worlds largest networks that powers millions of websites and other Internet properties for customers ranging from individual bloggers to SMBs to Fortune 500 companies. Cloudflare protects and accelerates any Internet application online without adding hardware installing software or changing a line of code. Internet properties powered by Cloudflare all have web traffic routed through its intelligent global network which gets smarter with every request. As a result they see significant improvement in performance and a decrease in spam and other attacks. Cloudflare was named to Entrepreneur Magazines Top Company Cultures list and ranked among the Worlds Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company.
At Cloudflare were not looking for people who wait for a polished roadmap; were looking for the builders who see the cracks in the Internet that everyone else has simply learned to live with. We value candidates who have the instinct to spot a normalized problem and the AI-native curiosity to create a solution using the latest tools. Our culture is built on iteration leveraging AI to ship faster today to make it better tomorrow while ensuring that every improvement no matter how small is shared across the team to lift everyone up. If youre the type of person who values curiosity over bureaucracy and that AI is a partner in solving tough problems to keep the Internet moving forward youll fit right in.
Available Locations: Austin TX (US) Lisbon (Portugal)
About the Role
We are seeking a Technical Sourcing Manager for Network Hardware to lead commercial engagement and oversee the supply chain for Cloudflares 200 data centers. You will drive ambitious goals around technology cost quality and supply while partnering with key internal stakeholders. Complementing this strategic focus you will also bridge the gap between procurement and physical deployment. By guiding infrastructure processes you will ensure the cutting-edge hardware you source seamlessly integrates into our rapidly expanding global network.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Sourcing: Own procurement efforts across network hardware including routers switches and interconnect commodities.
- Vendor Negotiation: Develop long-term Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) targets and lead complex multi-party negotiations to hit vital supply goals.
- Supplier Quality: Oversee adherence to delivery terms of network maintenance and support contracts - manage yearly contracts with most up to date asset inventory lists
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Introduce robust evaluation processes (e.g. RFX QBR) for vendors and partner closely with hardware engineering on new technologies.
- Deployment Oversight: Coordinate global infrastructure installations by managing inflow of supply from hardware manufacturers against latest worldwide deployment schedules.
- Process Optimization: Aggressively seek automation opportunities and assist with the definition of consistent physical deployment processes across all datacenter regions.
Examples of desirable skills knowledge and experience
- Industry Experience: 5 years of experience working with networking equipment OEMs.
- Operational Execution: Direct experience executing complex datacenter infrastructure projects in a rapidly changing environment.
- Technical & Commercial Acumen: Deep understanding of the commercial benefits of hardware technologies paired with practical knowledge of physical datacenter networking.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to translate complex details to both technical and non-technical internal and external stakeholders.
- Innovative Mindset: Demonstrated AI-native curiosity with an instinct to spot normalized problems and create solutions using the latest tools.
- AI Tool Proficiency: Basic experience leveraging AI tools (e.g. generative AI LLMs or AI-driven data analytics) to optimize daily workflows summarize vendor contracts or accelerate data analysis.
- Analytical Background: An engineering or heavy analytical background to support deep-dive TCO modeling.
Bonus points
- Advanced Education: Masters Degree in Business Supply Chain or an engineering field.
- AI Hardware Knowledge: Familiarity with sourcing hardware specifically optimized for AI/ML workloads such as GPUs and high-throughput interconnects.
- Program Management: Prior experience managing programs across multiple large cross-functional teams with tight deadlines.
- Software Familiarity: Experience utilizing Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) tools and basic program management software (e.g. JIRA).
Compensation
Compensation may be adjusted depending on work location.
- For Portugal based hires: Estimated annual salary of 41000 - 56000
Equity
This role is eligible to participate in Cloudflares equity plan.
Benefits
Cloudflare offers a complete package of benefits and programs to support you and your family. Our benefits programs can help you pay health care expenses support caregiving build capital for the future and make life a little easier and fun! The below is a description of our benefits for employees in the United States and benefits may vary for employees based outside the U.S.
Health & Welfare Benefits
- Medical/Rx Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Commuter Spending Accounts
- Fertility & Family Forming Benefits
- On-demand mental health support and Employee Assistance Program
- Global Travel Medical Insurance
Financial Benefits
- Short and Long Term Disability Insurance
- Life & Accident Insurance
- 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
- Employee Stock Participation Plan
Time Off
- Flexible paid time off covering vacation and sick leave
- Leave programs including parental pregnancy health medical and bereavement leave
Were not just a highly ambitious large-scale technology company. Were a highly ambitious large-scale technology company with a soul. Fundamental to our mission to help build a better Internet is protecting the free and open Internet.
Project Galileo: Since 2014 weve equipped more than 2400 journalism and civil society organizations in 111 countries with powerful tools to defend themselves against attacks that would otherwise censor their work technology already used by Cloudflares enterprise customers--at no cost.
Athenian Project: In 2017 we created the Athenian Project to ensure that state and local governments have the highest level of protection and reliability for free so that their constituents have access to election information and voter registration. Since the project weve provided services to more than 425 local government election websites in 33 states.
1.1.1.1: We released 1.1.1.1 to help fix the foundation of the Internet by building a faster more secure and privacy-centric public DNS resolver. This is available publicly for everyone to use - it is the first consumer-focused service Cloudflare has ever released. Heres the deal - we dont store client IP addresses never ever. We will continue to abide by our privacy commitment and ensure that no user data is sold to advertisers or used to target consumers.
Sound like something youd like to be a part of Wed love to hear from you!
Please note that applicants who progress to the offer stage of the interview process may be asked to attend an in-person interview within one of the Cloudflare Offices or Cloudflare Hubs. More details about this will be available at that stage of the interview process.
This position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations. Please note that any offer of employment may be conditioned on your authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export laws without sponsorship for an export license.
Cloudflare is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people and place great value in both diversity and inclusiveness. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to their or any other persons perceived or actual race color religion sex gender gender identity gender expression sexual orientation national origin ancestry citizenship age physical or mental disability medical condition family care status or any other basis protected by law. We are an AA/Veterans/Disabled Employer.
Cloudflare provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job. Examples of reasonable accommodations include but are not limited to changing the application process providing documents in an alternate format using a sign language interpreter or using specialized equipment. If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job please contact us via e-mail at or via mail at 101 Townsend St. San Francisco CA 94107.
Required Experience:
Manager
About Company
Make employees, applications and networks faster and more secure everywhere, while reducing complexity and cost.