Senior Operations Manager
Etched
Location
San Jose
Employment Type
Full time
Location Type
On-site
Department
Production
About Etched
Etched is building AI chips that are hard-coded for individual model architectures. Our first product (Sohu) only supports transformers, but has an order of magnitude more throughput and lower latency than a B200. With Etched ASICs, you can build products that would be impossible with GPUs, like real-time video generation models and extremely deep & parallel chain-of-thought reasoning agents.
Job Summary
We are seeking a strategic and experienced Senior Logistics Operations Manager to lead outbound delivery and global logistics strategy for Etched’s high-value shipments—including server systems and wafer assemblies. You will oversee large-scale customer deliveries, partner management, customs compliance, and cost optimization across our international supply chain.
Key Responsibilities:
Global Logistics Strategy
Develop and scale a world-class network of freight forwarders (for both forward and reverse logistics), 3PLs, and last-mile providers for international customer fulfillment.
Define and negotiate service-level agreements, liability coverage support.
Establish a logistics playbook for delivery to hyperscalers, research institutions, and government customers.
Outbound Shipment Execution
Lead execution of customer deliveries across air, ocean, and specialty freight (e.g., white-glove, temperature-controlled).
Manage time-sensitive shipments and urgent escalations (e.g., hand-carry, NFO) with 24/7 responsiveness.
Provide shipment tracking and delivery assurance through internal dashboards and alert systems.
Trade Compliance & Tariff Management
Oversee export documentation (commercial invoices, HTS/ECCN codes, origin certificates) and ensure compliance with global trade regulations.
Maintain relationships with customs brokers; manage hold resolution and clearance timelines.
Analyze tariff changes and model cost impacts to inform sourcing and logistics decisions.
Process Optimization & Analytics
Establish and maintain ERP fulfillment function.
Drive automation of shipment tracking, billing reconciliation, and broker integrations.
Partner with Finance and Planning teams to track landed costs, duty spend, and delivery lead times.
Generate reporting and KPIs for customer delivery performance, cost trends, and freight mode optimization.
You may be a good fit if you have (Must-have qualifications)
10+ years in international logistics or operations roles within semiconductors, electronics, or high-tech manufacturing
Sales order commitment and fulfillment matching backlog with production plan
Manage forward and reverse logistics
Spare parts depot experience
Deep knowledge of global trade compliance, customs documentation, and reverse logistics
Strong vendor management and negotiation skills across global time zones
Hands-on experience with TMS, forwarder portals, and ERP logistics modules
Excellent analytical and communication skills; advanced proficiency in Excel or BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
Willingness to travel up to 25% for logistics audits and customer delivery oversight
Strong candidates may also have experience with
Experience leading end-to-end logistics strategy for high-value or regulated equipment
Thrive in a fast-paced environment. Wearing multiple hats, taking ownership and “Can do” attitude
Familiarity with hyperscaler customer expectations or DoD procurement standards
Previous work scaling operations at a growth-stage startup
Compensation
Expected compensation: $150,000 - $250,000
Benefits
Full medical, dental, and vision packages, with generous premium coverage
Housing subsidy of $2,000/month for those living within walking distance of the office
Daily lunch and dinner in our office
Relocation support for those moving to San Jose (Santana Row)
How we’re different
Etched believes in the Bitter Lesson. We think most of the progress in the AI field has come from using more FLOPs to train and run models, and the best way to get more FLOPs is to build model-specific hardware. Larger and larger training runs encourage companies to consolidate around fewer model architectures, which creates a market for single-model ASICs.
We are a fully in-person team in San Jose (Santana Row), and greatly value engineering skills. We do not have boundaries between engineering and research, and we expect all of our technical staff to contribute to both as needed.