Who We Are
At nLIGHT, we are constantly extending the cutting-edge of laser technology in multiple dynamic and growing markets. We are a leading provider of high-power semiconductors and fiber lasers for industrial, microfabrication, and aerospace & defense applications, to name a few. Our lasers are changing not only the way things are made, but also changing the things that can be made.
Headquartered in Camas, Washington, nLIGHT is a publicly listed company (NASDAQ: LASR).
Position Summary Reporting to the Vice President, Supply Chain, the Principal Subcontracts Program Manager leads nLIGHT's strategic, complex subcontracts for defense, directed energy, and advanced technology programs across Pacific Northwest and Longmont, Colorado operations. The role owns the full subcontract lifecycle - from acquisition strategy, source selection, negotiation, and award through administration, supplier performance, and closeout - and serves as the primary interface for key subcontractors and supplier partnerships, overseeing cost, schedule, technical, and contractual performance in collaboration with Programs, Engineering, Operations, Quality, Finance, Contracts, Legal, Business Development, and site supply chain leaders. The position requires significant aerospace and defense experience with complex contract manufacturing, development, and long-term supply agreements; ensures compliance with FAR, DFARS, ITAR, EAR, CPSR, customer flow-down requirements, and company policies; and maintains standard subcontract templates, terms and conditions, and procedures.
Key Responsibilities:
- Subcontract Program Management
- Serves as the subcontract program manager and primary point of contact for assigned major subcontractors, owning their cost, schedule, technical, quality, and contractual performance from award through closeout.
- Develops subcontract management plans, acquisition strategies, and make/buy recommendations aligned with program baselines and customer commitments.
- Leads integrated subcontractor reviews, including program management reviews, design reviews, first article inspections, and executive-level supplier reviews.
- Reports subcontractor status, risks, and variances to program leadership using milestones, deliverables, earned value or milestone billing data, and estimates at completion.
- Drives corrective action and recovery plans when subcontractor performance threatens program cost, schedule, or technical objectives.
- Manages changes in scope, engineering changes, and requests for equitable adjustment through timely, well-documented modifications.
- Complex Agreements & Negotiation
- Structures, drafts, and negotiates complex subcontracts and agreements, including contract manufacturing and build-to-print agreements, long-term supply agreements, development and R&D subcontracts, master agreements, letter subcontracts, teaming agreements, and NDAs.
- Negotiates across contract types, including FFP, FPIF, CPFF, CPIF, T&M, and labor hour, selecting the type that balances risk with program objectives.
- Leads negotiation of high-risk terms, including intellectual property and technical data rights, pricing and price adjustment mechanisms, volume commitments, warranty, liability and indemnification, termination, and supply continuity provisions. For contract manufacturing agreements, negotiates forecasts and capacity commitments, material and inventory liability, configuration control, and transition or exit rights.
- Documents the basis for award in Price Negotiation Memorandums and develops the supporting negotiation objectives and strategies.
- Leads source selection using best-value tradeoffs, technical and past-performance evaluations, risk assessments, and cost or price analysis.
- Templates, Terms & Process Ownership
- Owns and maintains nLIGHT's subcontract templates, purchase order terms and conditions, and flowdown matrices for commercial, government prime, and government subcontract work. Drives consistent use of these tools at every site.
- Serves as the corporate subcontracts subject-matter expert for Pacific Northwest and Longmont supply chain teams, providing guidance, review, and escalation support.
- Coordinates with Legal and Contracts to keep templates and flowdown clauses aligned with changes to FAR, DFARS, and customer requirements.
- Develops and maintains subcontract procedures, work instructions, and file checklists that support a compliant, auditable purchasing system.
- Trains and mentors buyers and subcontracts staff on subcontract formation, administration, negotiation, and compliance.
- Government Compliance & Audit Readiness
- Ensures subcontracts comply with FAR, DFARS, ITAR, EAR, prime contract requirements, and nLIGHT policies.
- Flows down applicable contractual, regulatory, quality, cybersecurity (DFARS 252.204-7012, NIST SP 800-171, CMMC), counterfeit parts, specialty metals, and domestic preference requirements.
- Obtains and evaluates certified cost or pricing data where required, and performs cost and price analysis supporting fair and reasonable price determinations.
- Maintains complete subcontract files supporting CPSR, DCMA, DCAA, and customer audits. Leads responses and corrective actions for subcontract-related findings.
- Coordinates customer consent-to-subcontract and advance notification requirements.
- Partners with Export Compliance on technical data transfers, export authorizations, and foreign-sourced content.
- Proposal & Capture Support
- Leads subcontract and major material pricing for proposals, including RFQ preparation, subcontractor proposal evaluation, and cost or price analysis.
- Supports competitive, auditable bids by developing subcontractor bases of estimate and compliant pricing narratives.
- Negotiates teaming agreements and pre-award arrangements with strategic partners during capture.
- Supplier Risk & Relationship Management
- Builds executive-level relationships with strategic subcontractors to secure capacity, priority, and long-term continuity of supply.
- Assesses and mitigates subcontractor risk, including financial health, sole-source dependency, capacity, cybersecurity posture, and obsolescence.
- Manages government-furnished and nLIGHT-furnished property and material provided to subcontractors.
- Leads timely subcontract closeout, including final pricing, release of claims, and property disposition.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Contracts Management, Engineering, Finance, or a related field and 10+ years of subcontracts, contracts, or procurement experience. Alternatively, a Master's degree and 8+ years of subcontracts, contracts, or procurement experience. Candidates with 14+ years of directly relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
- Within the total experience required above, 7+ years of subcontract management experience with an aerospace and defense prime contractor or major defense subcontractor.
- Demonstrated experience as the lead negotiator for complex subcontracts valued at $10M or more, including multi-year, development, and production agreements.
- Experience structuring complex contract manufacturing agreements, whether build-to-print or build-to-spec, with terms addressing production commitments, including forecasts and capacity; ownership and access, including intellectual property and data rights; and commercial exposure, including pricing mechanisms and risk allocation.
- Experience administering FFP, fixed-price incentive, cost-reimbursement, and T&M subcontracts.
- Expert working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, TINA, cost accounting principles, and subcontract flowdown requirements.
- Proven ability to perform cost and price analysis, evaluate certified cost or pricing data, and document fair and reasonable price determinations.
- Experience supporting CPSR, DCMA, DCAA, or customer audits of purchasing systems.
- Working knowledge of ITAR and EAR as they apply to subcontracts and technical data.
- Experience managing subcontractor cost, schedule, and technical performance, including milestone or earned value tracking.
- Ability to draft and maintain subcontract templates, terms and conditions, and procedures.
- Strong written communication skills and the ability to present to executive leadership, customers, and supplier executives.
- Ability to travel to Longmont, other nLIGHT sites, and supplier facilities, approximately 20%.
- U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance.
- Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree/MBA, or JD.
- Professional certifications such as NCMA CPCM or CFCM, CPSM, or DAU contracting credentials.
- Active DoD Secret security clearance.
- Directed energy, laser, photonics, electro-optical, or advanced electronics program experience.
- Contract manufacturing background in subcontracting electronics or electro-mechanical assemblies.
- SBIR, OTA, or international (FMS or DCS) program experience, including their subcontract requirements.
- Negotiation experience with agreements over $50M or strategic sole-source suppliers.
- Supplier-flowdown implementation experience covering CMMC and NIST SP 800-171.
- Cost account management experience.
- ERP/MRP system and contract lifecycle management tool experience.
nLIGHT is proud to offer comprehensive COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Starting pay depends on qualifications:
Sr Manager: $120,000 - $150,000 annually
Other Compensation and Benefits
- Target Cash Bonus of 12% of earned wages
- Eligible for Restricted Stock Unit grants
- 4 weeks of Paid Time Off per year
- 11 paid Holidays
- Eligible for health benefits on the 1st day of the month after your start date
- Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits, including prescription and orthodontia with employee-paid premiums as low as $40.00 per pay period
- Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting
- Company paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, and Life & AD&D Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Aflac Supplemental Insurance
- Paid Bereavement Leave and Jury Duty
- Tuition Assistance Program
- Pet Insurance
nLIGHT is subject to US Export Control regulations. To qualify for this position, you must be a US Person (that is, a US citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual granted asylum or refugee status).
Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or age. For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see this government poster: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact Human Resources at (360) 566-4460 or HR@nlight.net.
E-Verify Participation:
nLIGHT participates in the E-Verify program. This employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.
For more information, please review the following notices:
- E-Verify Participation Poster
- Right to Work Poster
