Buyer

Job Summary The Buyer / Planner owns procurement and build planning for manufacturing operations. This role sources and purchases parts and materials, tracks hardware from purchase order through completion, and ensures the manufacturing floor is planned and stocked to support active builds. The Buyer / Planner also plays an active role in building and vetting the supplier base, including occasional supplier visits, to support reliable and scalable manufacturing. Responsibilities Own the full procurement cycle by sourcing, requesting quotes, negotiating, and issuing purchase orders for hardware, raw materials, fabricated parts, and consumables. Manage open orders end-to-end by tracking deliveries, updating lead times, and expediting parts that are at risk of impacting the build schedule. Resolve purchase order discrepancies by working with receiving, suppliers, and engineering, and drive issues through to complete closure. Maintain accurate ERP/MRP data, including open purchase orders, lead times, pricing, vendor records, and part status information. Identify and implement cost and lead time improvement opportunities across the supply base. Work from bills of materials (BOMs), work orders, and engineering requirements to plan material needs for active and upcoming builds. Track parts through their full lifecycle, from purchase order issuance through receiving, inspection, kitting, and build completion. Maintain clear visibility into build status and material readiness, and proactively surface shortages and schedule risks. Coordinate closely with engineering, production, and receiving teams to keep part flow aligned with build priorities. Support traveler and documentation accuracy to ensure traceability throughout the build process. Identify and onboard new suppliers across machining, injection molding, PCBAs, electronics, testing, assembly, and other processes as needed. Conduct supplier vetting by evaluating capabilities, quality systems, capacity, and certifications. Make occasional supplier visits to assess facilities first‑hand and build strong supplier relationships. Maintain and grow a reliable, high‑performance vendor base that can scale with manufacturing operations. Essential Skills 1–5 years of experience in purchasing, procurement, or materials planning in a manufacturing environment. Demonstrated ownership of purchase order management and open order tracking in an ERP or MRP system. Ability to work from bills of materials and engineering drawings to translate requirements into procurement actions. Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage a large and constantly shifting queue of open orders and build priorities. Direct and proactive communication style when working with suppliers, engineers, and technicians. Willingness to travel occasionally for supplier visits. Ability to thrive in a fast, ambiguous environment where plans change frequently and ownership is expected. Experience with purchasing, procurement, supply chain, ERP systems, and buying and planning in a manufacturing context. Additional Skills & Qualifications Background in aerospace, defense, or precision manufacturing. Familiarity with supplier qualification processes and quality documentation such as Certificates of Conformance, material certifications, and AS9100‑related requirements. Experience sourcing across a broad range of processes, including machining, PCBAs, electronics, testing, coatings, and non‑destructive testing (NDT). Experience working in a startup or high‑growth manufacturing environment. Work Environment This role is based at the site in El Segundo within a manufacturing environment. You will work closely with engineering, production, and receiving teams and rely heavily on ERP/MRP systems, bills of materials, and engineering documentation to manage procurement and planning. The environment is fast‑paced and dynamic, with shifting build priorities and an expectation of high ownership. The position includes occasional travel to supplier facilities for on‑site assessments and relationship building. Job Type & Location Permanent position based out of Torrance, CA. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $80,000 – $120,000 per year. Equal Opportunity We are an equal‑opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any characteristic protected by law. San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance For all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Massachusetts Lie Detector It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. #J-18808-Ljbffr