Senior Buyer

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

The Senior Buyer is responsible for the strategic sourcing, negotiation, and procurement of fabricated and machined aerospace components. This role requires a deep understanding of aerospace materials, manufacturing processes, and supply base management to ensure quality, cost, and delivery objectives are met. The Senior Buyer will work cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, Planning, and suppliers to support both development and production programs. This role will also lead supplier performance mitigation strategies and collaborate closely with Planning to ensure material requirements are accurately understood and met on time.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Source, negotiate, and manage purchase orders for fabricated and machined aerospace parts, including precision components, assemblies, and subassemblies.
2. Develop and maintain relationships with key suppliers to ensure consistent performance in cost, quality, and delivery.
3. Collaborate with Engineering and Manufacturing teams to understand technical requirements and translate them into sourcing strategies.
4. Work closely with Planning to ensure material requirements are accurately communicated, understood, and met by suppliers in alignment with production schedules.
5. Read and interpret technical drawings, specifications, and bill of materials (BOMs) to validate supplier capability and quote accuracy.
6. Conduct supplier evaluations, including capacity, capability, and risk assessments.
7. Lead and execute supplier performance mitigation strategies for underperforming vendors, including creation of recovery plans, risk assessments, and dual/multi-sourcing strategies.
8. Monitor supplier performance using scorecards and KPIs; identify performance gaps and initiate corrective actions in collaboration with Quality and Operations teams.
9. Engage in root cause analysis and continuous improvement efforts with suppliers to address recurring quality or delivery issues.
10. Support new product introduction (NPI) by sourcing prototypes and transitioning to production suppliers.
11. Negotiate and manage long-term agreements (LTAs), supplier contracts, and terms & conditions.
12. Stay informed of market trends, commodity pricing, and geopolitical factors that may affect supply.
13. Maintain ERP/MRP system accuracy for pricing, lead times, delivery dates, and supplier data integrity.
14. Ensure timely delivery of materials and proactive resolution of potential supply chain disruptions.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field.
2. 5–10 years of procurement experience in the aerospace industry, specifically with machined and fabricated parts.
3. Strong understanding of CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, welding, and finishing processes.
4. Proven ability to read and understand engineering drawings and GD&T.
5. Experience with AS9100 requirements and aerospace supplier quality systems.
6. Strong negotiation, contract management, and supplier relationship management skills.
7. Demonstrated success in mitigating supplier performance risks and improving supply continuity.
8. Experience working closely with Planning, Production Control, or Materials Management to align supply and demand.
9. Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems; Epicor Kinetic experience a plus.
10. Knowledge of ITAR, DFARS, and other regulatory requirements
11. APICS, CPM, or CPSM certification (preferred).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS

While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to sit, walk and stand; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use their hands repetitively to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; and lift up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The work environment characteristics described here represent those employee encounters while performing this job's essential functions. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Employees work under typical office conditions, and the noise level is usually quiet to moderate. However, in certain assignments, an employee may work near moving equipment and be exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals, biological hazards, airborne fumes, outdoor weather conditions, and loud, prolonged noise.