Procurement Specialist

About the Role

We are seeking an AI Infrastructure Procurement Specialist with deep expertise in hardware procurement and data center operations to lead the sourcing and acquisition of compute infrastructure powering our AI workloads. This role demands a seasoned professional who can navigate complex hardware supply chains, command technical conversations on data center architecture, and drive favorable commercial outcomes across multi-million dollar deals. You will own the end-to-end procurement lifecycle for GPU clusters, networking fabrics, power capacity, and the full stack of supporting infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

Hardware Procurement

• Lead strategic sourcing for GPU systems, CPUs, high-speed networking (InfiniBand NDR/XDR, 400G/800G Ethernet), and high-performance storage

• Manage relationships with OEMs, ODMs, and system integrators; structure framework agreements and multi-year supply commitments

• Drive RFP/RFQ processes, vendor scorecards, and competitive bidding across hardware categories

• Manage allocation negotiations during constrained supply periods and secure priority access during product launches

• Oversee logistics, lead-time management, staging, and burn-in coordination across global supply chains

• Navigate export controls, and cross-border compliance, particularly for advanced compute hardware

Data Center Sourcing

• Source and negotiate colocation, build-to-suit, and powered shell agreements with hyperscale, wholesale, and regional data center operators

• Evaluate facility specifications: power density (kW/rack), cooling architectures (air, liquid, direct-to-chip, immersion), redundancy tiers (N+1, 2N), PUE, WUE, and sustainability commitments

• Assess site selection factors: latency, fiber connectivity, power reliability, climate, regulatory environment, and expansion optionality

• Negotiate commercial terms covering power pricing, escalators, SLAs, remote hands, cross-connects, and exit clauses

• Build TCO models across capex, power, cooling, networking, real estate, and operational costs over multi-year horizons

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with engineering, finance, legal, and sustainability teams to align technical requirements with budget, contractual

• Track market intelligence: chip roadmaps, lead times, pricing trends, power market dynamics, and emerging data center technologies

• Support capacity planning and forecasting in coordination with infrastructure and ML engineering leadership

Required Qualifications

• 6+ years of procurement or supply chain experience, with at least 2 years focused specifically on AI infrastructure

• Demonstrated track record negotiating and closing multi-million to nine-figure hardware and data center deals

• Demonstrated expertise in data center fundamentals: power delivery (utility, UPS, PDU, busway), cooling systems, structural and electrical capacity planning, and tier classifications

• Experience with acceptance testing, validation workflows, and commercial enforcement of technical SLAs

• Proficiency in TCO modeling, scenario analysis, and financial structuring of infrastructure deals

• Excellent commercial judgment and negotiation skills, with the ability to translate fluently between engineering, finance, and vendor stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience procuring across multiple geographies

• Established network within the AI hardware ecosystem (NVIDIA, hyperscalers, neoclouds, leading OEM/ODMs)

• Background in engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, or a quantitative field