Senior Buyer - Supply Chain

Worker Type Regular Job Description Summary The Sr. Buyer performs procurement duties related to the purchasing of services, supplies and equipment in accordance to policies and regulations. In this role, one reviews and analyzes purchase requisitions as well as coordinates purchasing activities with manufacturing, planning and engineering departments to acquire inventory in a cost effective and timely manner. The Senior Buyer will process purchase requisitions, purchase change orders and requests for quotes to suppliers. Participates in maximizing the procurement teams' changes, part parameters; quote table maintenance, supplier database information, error report analysis, and part number/supplier code information. The position will be the lead buyer for the group and works closely with Engineering, Program Management, Operations, and Quality to develop sourcing strategies, identification of long lead materials, to ensure cost-effective, and compliant material availability to support program execution. Position Responsibilities Responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and managing all aspects of procurement of materials, components, equipment, and services in support of development, integration, and production activities. Manage the end-to-end purchasing cycle from Quotes to PO placement, delivery, and invoice resolution Source, bid, and select suppliers that meet technical, quality, schedule, and cost requirements Prepare price/cost analysis, and negotiate pricing, terms, and conditions. Monitor supplier performance and support corrective actions to address delivery, quality, or service issues. Partner with cross-functional teams to align procurement plans with program schedules and budgets Support proposals and new business with pricing, lead-time, and sourcing inputs, including make/buy recommendations Identify and help manage long-lead, single/sole-source, and obsolescence risks. Ensure compliance with AV policies, customer requirements, and applicable regulations (e.g., FAR/DFARS, ITAR/EAR) Maintain accurate procurement documentation and support internal and external audits. Monitors the cost, schedule and scope of assigned subcontracts to negotiate terms and pricing for increasingly larger, complex and difficult materials & services Develops new supply sources where vendors and suppliers are no longer competitive Manages and develops supplier relationships to reduce costs, improve & maintain quality, and ensure on-time delivery of purchased materials Negotiates terms and pricing for increasingly larger, complex and difficult materials and services. Writes and completes RFQ/RFP package Work with finance to resolve Accounting discrepancies in a timely manner, Work on procurement/material projects as assigned by the Supply Chain Manager Works on complex issues where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors. Exercises judgment in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results Determines methods and procedures on new assignments and may coordinate activities of other personnel (Team Lead). Other duties as assigned Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience) Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, or Accounting or APICS or ISM certification is required or equivalent combination of experience and education Certification for purchasing or supply chain professionals required 8 - 12 years of relevant experience Proven experience in various processes as it relates to assigned commodity, i.e. CNC, injection molding, etc. Has technical knowledge regarding manufacturing processes of an assigned commodity and demonstrates experience with purchasing practices and processes in manufacturing and engineering environments Possesses understanding of commercial and FAR/DFAR Procurement rules, regulations and laws Ability to negotiate terms and pricing for materials and services is critical Proven understanding and intermediate usage of computerized MRP / ERP systems Demonstrates effective problem-solving, mathematical, time management, interpersonal and communication skills Ability to present in front of senior executives and put together charts and metrics to drive overall supply chain performance Proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, Access, PowerPoint, Excel) Preferred Qualifications (Desired Skills & Experience) Oracle experience strongly preferred APICS or ISM certification preferred Demonstrates ability to read and interpret technical drawings / specifications. Has effective problem-solving, mathematical, time management, interpersonal and communication skills; Demonstrates proficiency using MS Office Suite (Word, Access, PowerPoint, Excel) Having wide-ranging experience, uses professional concepts and company objectives to resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways Highly organized and strong coordination skills to meet deadlines Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company Physical Demands Ability to work in an office and manufacturing environment (Constant) Regularly required to, stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard Clearance Level No Clearance The salary range for this role is: $101,000 - $154,000 AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. ITAR Requirement: This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements. Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: We also encourage you to review our company website at to learn more about us. Principals only need apply. NO agencies please. About AV: AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV. We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status. ITAR U.S. Citizenship required About AV: AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV. Careers at AeroVironment