Staff Global Supply Manager, Exterior Lighting

Lucid Motors
Southfield, MI
On-site

Who this role is best for

Aimed at experienced automotive supply chain professionals with technical expertise in exterior lighting systems, who can work autonomously and collaborate closely with engineering teams across global operations.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 8+ years in automotive purchasing and a technical background in lighting systems or related fields
    — “8+ years of progressive experience in automotive purchasing”
  • Individuals who can act as a bridge between technical and commercial teams in a high-visibility role
    — “operate with a high degree of autonomy, and work as an embedded commercial partner to a fast-moving engineering team”
  • Professionals with a deep understanding of automotive lighting supplier landscapes and cost structures
    — “Strong understanding of the automotive lighting supplier landscape, cost structure”

Things to consider

  • Travel commitment is significant, with 15-25% time spent on site with suppliers and at program reviews
    — “Travel approximately 15-25% to support supplier assessments”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with RFQs and supplier negotiations in automotive lighting programs
    — “Demonstrated success leading complex RFQs, supplier selections, negotiations”
  • Showcase ability to translate technical design and engineering requirements into commercial terms
    — “translate them into commercial implications and executable supplier actions”
  • Emphasize past roles where you developed cost models and presented sourcing recommendations to leadership
    — “build fact-based cost models, and present clear sourcing and negotiation recommendations”
  • Demonstrate technical knowledge of LED systems, optics, and thermal management in your resume and interview
    — “Working knowledge of relevant lighting technologies and manufacturing processes”
  • Showcase your ability to manage supplier relationships and resolve commercial risks independently
    — “Own supplier relationships and commercial performance, including executive engagement”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • successful supplier selection
  • cost-effective sourcing strategies
  • high-quality supplier relationships
Typical background
automotive lighting purchasing experiencetechnical background in engineering

Skills & requirements

Required

Supply Chain ManagementCommercial StrategySupplier ManagementProduct DevelopmentCost Performance

Preferred

Lighting Systems KnowledgeShould-cost Analysis

Stack & domain

Global Supply ManagementExterior Lighting SystemsSourcingNegotiationSupplier ManagementProduct DevelopmentLaunchCost PerformanceLighting SystemsElectrical EngineeringMechanical EngineeringOpticsManufacturingProblem-solvingCommunicationTeamworkAdaptabilityCuriositySupply ChainEngineering

About the role

Original posting from Lucid Motors

About Lucid

At Lucid, we are creating exceptional mobility experiences through innovation to drive the world forward. Built on Lucid’s proprietary technology and software-defined vehicle architecture, our award-winning vehicles bring our “Compromise Nothing™” approach to the global automotive market. That means refusing to choose between performance and sustainability, design and engineering, ambition and integrity. In Lucid Air and Lucid Gravity, we have designed and built vehicles that have redefined their segments, combining exceptional range, performance, design, and expansive space in a single experience. 

We achieve this through deep vertical integration, with design, engineering, and production happening in-house across our global offices and manufacturing facilities. Our teams come from industries around the world, united by a shared commitment to excellence. By refusing to settle, you can help redefine what’s possible and shape the future of mobility.

The Role

We are seeking a Staff Global Supply Manager to lead the commercial strategy and supplier execution for exterior lighting systems. This is a high-visibility individual contributor role with broad ownership across sourcing, negotiation, supplier management, product development, launch, and ongoing cost performance. The successful candidate will bring significant automotive lighting purchasing experience, operate with a high degree of autonomy, and work as an embedded commercial partner to a fast-moving engineering team. A technical background in lighting systems, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, optics, or manufacturing is highly desirable.

You Will

Own the global sourcing and commercial strategy for exterior lighting components and systems, including headlamps, rear combination lamps, center high-mounted stop lamps, auxiliary lamps, and related electronics, modules, tooling, and engineering services.

Act as the lead commercial interface between suppliers and cross-functional partners in Engineering, Supplier Quality, Finance, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Program Management.

Embed with the engineering team to influence supplier selection, design-to-cost decisions, technical trade-offs, sourcing timing, and program execution from concept through launch and series production.

Develop sourcing strategies, lead RFQ activities, analyze complex supplier quotations, build fact-based cost models, and present clear sourcing and negotiation recommendations to senior leadership.

Lead commercial negotiations covering piece price, tooling, engineering and development costs, capital investment, intellectual property, warranty, capacity, productivity, and contractual terms.

Apply lighting-specific market knowledge and should-cost analysis to identify cost drivers and challenge supplier assumptions related to optics, electronics, LEDs, PCBs, thermal management, housings, lenses, coatings, assembly, testing, and tooling.

Identify, evaluate, and develop a competitive global supply base capable of meeting demanding requirements for technology, quality, cost, capacity, timing, and launch readiness.

Own supplier relationships and commercial performance, including executive engagement, escalation management, recovery plans, claims resolution, engineering changes, and continuous cost improvement.

Drive prototype and production part availability, tooling readiness, capacity confirmation, and commercial closure in support of development builds and production launch milestones.

Anticipate commercial and supply risks, develop mitigation plans, and independently resolve ambiguous or time-critical issues while maintaining alignment with internal stakeholders.

Create concise, decision-oriented updates for leadership and represent Supply Chain in high-visibility program, technical, and business reviews.

Travel approximately 15-25% to support supplier assessments, negotiations, program reviews, and launch activities.

You Bring

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Engineering, or a related field. A technical degree or equivalent technical experience is strongly preferred.

8+ years of progressive experience in automotive purchasing, supply chain, commercial management, or a closely related field, with significant direct responsibility for buying automotive exterior lighting components or systems.

Demonstrated success leading complex RFQs, supplier selections, negotiations, contracts, and commercial decisions for automotive lighting programs.

Strong understanding of the automotive lighting supplier landscape, cost structure, development process, tooling, validation, industrialization, and launch requirements.

Working knowledge of relevant lighting technologies and manufacturing processes, such as LED systems, electronics and controls, optical systems, injection molding, metallization, coating, lens and housing tooling, thermal management, assembly, and end-of-line testing.

Ability to understand technical drawings, specifications, change content, test requirements, and engineering trade-offs, and translate them into commercial implications and executable supplier actions.

Advanced analytical capability, including quotation analysis, should-cost modeling, total-cost evaluation, scenario analysis, and executive-level recommendation development.

Proven ability to work autonomously, prioritize across competing demands, make sound decisions with incomplete information, and drive closure in a dynamic environment.

Exceptional negotiation, influence, communication, and stakeholder-management skills, with the confidence to engage suppliers, technical teams, and senior leaders.

Automotive product launch experience and a record of resolving supplier, timing, capacity, quality, or commercial issues without losing program momentum.

Proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint; experience with ERP and sourcing systems such as SAP or equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications

Degree or professional experience in electrical, mechanical, optical, manufacturing, or automotive engineering.

Experience with advanced lighting technologies, integrated electronics, software-enabled lighting features, or lighting control modules.

Experience sourcing globally and managing suppliers across multiple regions and cultures.

Experience in a high-growth, start-up, EV, or similarly fast-paced product-development environment.

At Lucid, we don’t just welcome diversity - we celebrate it! Lucid Motors is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, and any other characteristic protected under applicable State or Federal laws and regulations.

Compensation & Benefits: Lucid offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance; life and disability coverage; paid time off; paid holidays, paid sick leave; and a 401(k) retirement plan. Hourly/non-exempt employees accrue up to 120 hours paid time off, and salaried/exempt employee accrue up to 160 hours paid time off.  Eligible employees may also participate in Lucid’s equity program and/or a discretionary annual cash incentive program. Incentive and equity awards, if applicable, are determined based on individual performance, role scope, market considerations, and overall company results, in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.  

Equal Opportunity: At Lucid, we believe diversity strengthens everything we build. Lucid Motors is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing an inclusive workplace for all. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal laws and regulations. 

Accessibility: Lucid Motors is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need any accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact us at TA-Operations <@> lucidmotors.com. This email address is designated solely for accommodation requests and is not monitored for job applications or resume submissions. To be considered for employment, all applications must be submitted through the Lucid Motors Careers website.

Candidate Data Privacy: By submitting your application, you understand and agree that your personal data will be processed in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Notice. 

To all recruitment agencies: Lucid Motors does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to Lucid Motors. Lucid Motors is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes. 

Source: Lucid Motors careers

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