Logistics Manager
Mistral AI · Paris, Île-de-France
ABOUT MISTRAL
Mistral provides full-stack AI solutions: from frontier models to developer tools, applications, and compute. We partner with enterprises tackling the hardest problems across high-stakes industries like finance, manufacturing, defense, healthcare, and the public sector, co-creating customized AI systems that they can run on their terms.
We are a dynamic, collaborative team passionate about AI and its potential to transform society. Our diverse workforce thrives in competitive environments and is committed to driving innovation. Our teams are distributed between Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. We are creative, low-ego and team-spirited.
OUR MISSION
Build and scale the logistics capabilities that enable Mistral AI to deploy, operate and expand high-density compute infrastructure reliably. Own the flow, custody, traceability and readiness of high-value hardware, critical spares and associated materials - from supplier dispatch through site receipt, storage, deployment, repair and end-of-life disposition. Deliver speed without compromising safety, inventory integrity, security or cost control.
OPERATING CONTEXT & ACCOUNTABILITY
You will coordinate closely with Data Center Operations, IT Operations, deployment teams, Procurement, Finance, Security, Safety, colocation operators, carriers and OEM service partners. The role owns Mistral logistics processes and supplier performance.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - DEPLOYMENT LOGISTICS AND SITE READINESS
- Plan inbound and outbound movements for accelerator servers, racks, networking equipment, CDUs, replacement parts, tooling and deployment consumables across sites and staging locations.
- Translate deployment schedules and bill-of-materials requirements into shipment plans, delivery windows, site receiving capacity, material availability and clear responsibility assignments.
- Coordinate with business partners and site teams on loading bays, access approvals, delivery routes, floor loading, rack handling, lift plans, packaging removal, temporary storage and installation sequencing.
- Identify logistics dependencies that could delay energization, commissioning, rack acceptance or compute availability; maintain escalation paths, contingency plans and recovery actions.
- Create consistent procedures for goods receipt, inspection, damage recording, quarantine, staging, pick/pack, handover and proof of delivery, including exceptions and nonconformances.
- Manage reverse logistics for defective equipment, repair exchanges, warranty returns, redeployments and end-of-life assets, with documented chain of custody and secure disposition.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - INVENTORY, SPARES AND ASSET TRACEABILITY
- Define and maintain an accurate inventory and asset-control framework for Mistral-owned equipment, including serialized items, location, ownership, status, movement history and reconciliation with IT asset records.
- Set and monitor critical spare-parts policies with IT Operations and OEM partners: minimum/maximum stock, lead times, failure demand, replenishment triggers, shelf-life and obsolescence exposure.
- Establish auditable stock movements, cycle counts, physical inventories, discrepancy investigations and controls for high-value or sensitive components.
- Monitor stock health, aging, availability, stranded inventory, shrinkage and repair turnaround; use evidence to optimize local versus regional stocking decisions.
- Coordinate secure storage conditions, ESD-sensitive handling, environmental requirements, battery transport/storage rules where applicable, and restricted access to valuable hardware.
- Develop common inventory taxonomy, operating procedures and system integrations to support growth across sites, providers and countries.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - SUPPLIER, TRANSPORT AND COMMERCIAL PERFORMANCE
- Oversee third-party logistics providers, freight forwarders, warehouses, specialist rigging partners and couriers against agreed service levels, security controls and escalation requirements.
- Work with Procurement and Legal on supplier selection, scopes of work, insurance, liability, transport terms and measurable performance expectations.
- Coordinate cross-border shipping requirements with qualified customs and trade-compliance specialists, including import/export documentation, duties, restricted goods and relevant sanctions/export controls.
- Monitor freight, warehousing, handling, repair and expedite costs; challenge avoidable spend while protecting deployment dates and service restoration capability.
- Lead supplier performance reviews, delivery-failure investigations and corrective action follow-up; develop alternative routes and providers for critical supply chains.
- Maintain reliable forecasting and reporting of expected arrivals, shortages, inventory exposure, blocked shipments, deployment readiness and outstanding returns.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - SAFETY, RESILIENCE AND CROSS-FUNCTIONAL EXECUTION
- Partner with Safety and site teams to assess high-risk material handling, rack moves, lifting/rigging, traffic management and contractor interfaces; verify that required plans and competent resources are in place.
- Coordinate physical-security requirements, access permissions, tamper evidence and chain of custody for sensitive or high-value technology.
- Develop practical business-continuity plans for shipment disruption, customs holds, supplier shortages, loss or damage in transit, and urgent hardware replacement needs.
- Work with IT Operations and OEM service partners to prioritize material flows during incidents and reduce mean time to restore affected compute capacity.
- Create clear operating rhythms and decision records across engineering, deployment, site teams and suppliers; escalate risks early and close actions with evidence.
TEAM LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Build, lead, and scale the team across regions, aligning organizational capabilities, staffing levels, and resources with Mistral AI’s growth trajectory and operational requirements.
- Supervise, coordinate, and support team members, ensuring clear accountability, effective collaboration, and consistent execution of responsibilities.
- Define the organizational structure, roles, responsibilities, and resource allocation required to support current operations and future expansion.
Recruit, onboard, develop, and retain high-performing professionals, ensuring the team possesses the technical expertise and capabilities required to meet business objectives.
- Establish clear performance expectations, measurable objectives, and development plans; conduct regular performance reviews and provide constructive feedback and coaching.
- Drive standardization of processes, procedures, and best practices across regions while accommodating local operational and regulatory requirements.
- Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, continuous improvement, knowledge sharing, and operational excellence.
Collaborate with cross-functional leaders to anticipate resource requirements, address organizational gaps, and ensure effective coordination across teams.
- Develop succession plans and strengthen internal capabilities to support organizational resilience and long-term scalability.
- Manage team priorities, workload distribution, and resource planning, ensuring effective execution while maintaining quality, safety, and operational efficiency.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
- Critical hardware and materials arrive complete, traceable, secure and ready for deployment when needed.
- Inventory accuracy is consistently high, with timely reconciliation and documented custody for valuable assets.
- Critical spare parts are available according to risk-based targets, reducing restoration delays and avoidable downtime.
- Logistics exceptions, shipment damage, deployment blockers and supplier failures are identified early and resolved with measurable corrective actions.
- Logistics processes scale across new sites without sacrificing safety, compliance, cost discipline or execution speed.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- At least 5 years of relevant experience in logistics, supply chain, warehouse operations, hardware deployment or inventory management in a complex technical environment.
- Hands-on experience coordinating high-value equipment shipments, third-party service providers, site receiving, stock controls and reverse logistics.
- Ability to establish auditable inventory processes, analyze operational data, manage exceptions and deliver against demanding deployment timelines.
- Working knowledge of transport, handling and workplace safety requirements; ability to engage relevant specialists on customs and international trade compliance.
- Strong cross-functional communication, supplier management and problem-solving skills; professional English and willingness to travel to operational sites.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience supporting data centers, AI/HPC infrastructure, hyperscale hardware deployments, enterprise IT logistics or complex industrial equipment.
- Familiarity with serialized GPU/server assets, rack-scale systems, networking equipment, specialist lifting and ESD-sensitive components.
- Experience implementing warehouse management, enterprise resource planning or IT asset-management systems and inventory dashboards.
- Experience with international shipping, freight forwarding, customs interfaces, repair/RMA workflows and multi-site critical spares strategies.
- Experience improving supplier performance, stock availability, forecast accuracy and logistics cost-to-serve.
WHAT WE OFFER
We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and work-life balance. Benefits vary by country and may include healthcare coverage, parental leave, retirement plans, relocation support, wellness programs, meal and transportation allowances, and other location-specific perks.
For the most up-to-date details on benefits available in your location, please refer to our Benefits page https://app.notion.com/p/mistralai/Benefits-at-Mistral-36e6ba59a7fe836b93dd01737fcc27ef?source=copy_link.
PRIVACY POLICY
Your privacy matters to us. You can learn more about how we handle your personal data in our Applicant Privacy Policy https://legal.mistral.ai/terms/applicant-privacy-policy.