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My client is a venture-backed clean energy company. They manufacture modular data centers that convert wasted renewable energy from solar and wind farms into valuable computing revenue, solving one of the clean energy sector's biggest challenges: curtailment.

Their product is a 100kW modular data center (8ft x 5ft x 2ft) that can be deployed and operational within 45 minutes at renewable energy sites. With 10 MW coming online this year and a 250+ MW pipeline for 2026, they're scaling production rapidly and need someone to build inventory management systems from the ground up.

This is a part-time to full-time role (~15-25 hours/week initially, transitioning to full-time within 3-6 months as production scales). You'll be employee #15-20 with the opportunity to build processes and systems as the company grows.

The Opportunity

We're seeking a detail-oriented Inventory Specialist to manage materials, track components through manufacturing, and build scalable inventory systems as production ramps from dozens to hundreds of units. This role starts part-time but will transition to full-time as the company scales production in 2025-2026.

You'll work directly with the founding team and operations leadership to establish tracking systems, manage supplier relationships, and ensure smooth material flow through the manufacturing process. This is a ground-floor opportunity to build systems from scratch rather than inheriting legacy processes.

What You'll Do

Inventory Management & Tracking:

  • Manage inventory for modular data center components (electronics, enclosures, cooling systems, power equipment)
  • Track materials from receiving through production to final assembly using inventory management software
  • Conduct regular cycle counts and maintain accurate inventory records
  • Identify and resolve discrepancies between physical inventory and system records
  • Forecast material needs based on production schedules and lead times

Supplier & Vendor Coordination:

  • Coordinate with suppliers on delivery schedules and material availability
  • Process purchase orders and track inbound shipments
  • Manage relationships with local vendors for expedited or emergency procurement
  • Communicate supply chain issues to operations and production teams

Process Development:

  • Build inventory management processes and standard operating procedures (SOPs) as the company scales
  • Implement tracking systems for serialized components and quality control
  • Create inventory KPIs and reporting dashboards for leadership visibility
  • Optimize warehouse layout and material flow for efficient production

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

  • Work with production team to understand material requirements and timing
  • Support procurement planning with operations leadership
  • Coordinate with quality control on component inspection and acceptance
  • Assist with production planning and material staging for manufacturing runs

Warehouse Operations:

  • Organize and maintain warehouse space for optimal efficiency
  • Implement safety protocols and 5S principles
  • Manage receiving, inspection, storage, and material handling processes
  • Coordinate shipping and logistics for completed units

What You Bring

Required:

  • 0-3 years of experience in inventory management, supply chain, operations, or related field
  • Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
  • Proficiency with spreadsheets (Excel/Google Sheets) and inventory tracking
  • Ability to lift and move materials (up to 50 lbs) in a warehouse environment
  • Strong communication skills and collaborative mindset
  • Located in or willing to relocate to Bay Area (Palo Alto)
  • Excited about clean energy and climate technology

Preferred:

  • Experience with inventory management software (Fishbowl, NetSuite, SAP, or similar)
  • Background in hardware manufacturing, electronics, or technology products
  • Startup or fast-paced environment experience
  • Supply chain management coursework or certification (APICS, CPIM)
  • Forklift certification or willingness to obtain
  • Experience with serialized component tracking or quality management systems

Personality & Culture Fit:

  • Comfortable with ambiguity and building processes from scratch
  • Self-starter who can work independently with minimal supervision
  • Process-oriented but adaptable as the business evolves
  • Mission-driven and genuinely excited about climate impact
  • Growth mindset and eager to learn

Why This Role Matters

Climate Impact: Renewable energy curtailment wastes billions of dollars of clean power annually. My client is turning that waste into valuable computing capacity, making renewable energy more economically viable.

Ground Floor Opportunity: Join a 15-person team backed by top-tier investors with significant funding runway. Build systems and processes that will scale with the company.

Career Growth: This isn't a dead-end inventory job. As production scales from 10 MW to 250+ MW, you'll have opportunities to grow into supply chain management, procurement leadership, or operations management roles.

Hands-On Learning: Direct exposure to hardware manufacturing, supply chain operations, renewable energy markets, and startup scaling. Learn from experienced operators and founders.

Mission + Market: Work at the intersection of clean energy, hardware manufacturing, and advanced computing—one of the most exciting sectors in technology.