Buyer

Why LeoLabs? At LeoLabs, we're building the living map of activity in space. Through our proprietary global radar network and AI-enabled analytics platform, we collect millions of measurements daily on more than 25,000 objects in low Earth orbit (LEO). Our radar-powered intelligence protects billions in assets, monitors adversarial behavior, and ensures safe operations for commercial and government missions. We're not just building technology, we are redefining global security, safety, and transparency in space. As orbital activity accelerates and threats grow more complex, LeoLabs is a trusted partner for Space Domain Awareness, Space Traffic Management, and Satellite Operations for top-tier space operators and allied defense organizations. If you're looking to work on mission-critical challenges at the forefront of aerospace, national security, and AI, your impact starts here. LeoLabs is hiring a Buyer on the Radar Supply Chain Management team to own day-to-day purchasing execution for recurring production demand, released BOM requirements, and program-critical materials supporting advanced radar and sensing systems. This role will translate released BOMs, MRP requirements, production schedules, approved requisitions, and program priorities into timely purchasing actions that ensure material availability for manufacturing, integration, test, and deployment commitments. As part of the Radar Supply Chain organization, this role will work closely with Strategic Sourcing, Supply Planning, Inventory, Manufacturing, and Engineering to execute production purchases within established sourcing strategies and the approved supply base. The Buyer will own purchase-order execution, MRP action management, supplier commitments, shortage recovery, cost and lead-time negotiations, and purchasing risks that require experienced judgment, urgency, and disciplined follow-through. The ideal candidate has substantial direct-material procurement experience supporting production or manufacturing environments and is comfortable managing high-mix, low-volume programs with long lead times, shifting priorities, and production-critical material requirements.. They should bring strong commercial judgment, ERP/MRP discipline, negotiation skills, and experience managing production-critical suppliers and purchase commitments. This is a full-time hybrid role based in Menlo Park, CA. Responsibilities Own production purchasing execution for assigned suppliers, commodities, and BOM requirements from approved demand through receipt and PO closeout, with accountability for material availability, supplier commitments, cost, and delivery performance. Review MRP action messages, released BOM requirements, approved requisitions, shortage reports, and production priorities and execute required purchase, release, expedite, de-expedite, reschedule, cancellation, and quantity-change actions. Execute RFQs, quote evaluations, cost and price analysis, and commercial negotiations for pricing, lead times, MOQs, payment terms, NCNR exposure, and delivery requirements within established sourcing strategies. Manage the full purchase order lifecycle, including order placement, supplier acknowledgements, commit-date validation, change orders, partial shipments, delivery tracking, expedites, de-expedites, recovery actions, receipt, and closeout. Partner with Supply Planning, Inventory, Manufacturing, and Engineering to resolve shortages, engineering changes, part revisions, obsolescence, quality holds, substitutions, and other production constraints while minimizing excess, obsolete, and nonconforming inventory exposure. Monitor supplier delivery, purchase price variance, open commitments, lead-time risk, capacity constraints, allocations, and sole-source exposure; establish recovery plans and elevate risks before they impact production. Maintain accurate supplier commitments and purchasing data in the ERP system, including pricing, quantities, promise dates, lead times, revisions, and order status, and improve procurement workflows and controls as production volume and program complexity increase. Own supplier recovery for past-due and production-short material, including escalation, alternate delivery plans, partial shipments, and corrective actions necessary to protect build schedules. Represent Procurement in production-readiness, shortage, MRP, and material-review meetings and communicate supplier constraints, recovery dates, and purchasing risks to cross‑functional stakeholders. Coordinate purchasing actions associated with engineering changes, substitutions, and part obsolescence to prevent invalid demand from converting into purchase commitments and to manage affected open orders. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business, Operations, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience. 5+ years of progressive purchasing, procurement, or buying experience supporting production or manufacturing operations, including responsibility for material availability, supplier commitments, and production schedules. Demonstrated experience managing direct-material procurement in a production environment, including materials, components, assemblies, equipment, or manufacturing services. Strong experience managing the full purchase order lifecycle, including RFQs, quote evaluation, negotiations, order placement, supplier acknowledgements, delivery follow‑up, change management, and closeout. Working knowledge of BOMs, MRP, production schedules, lead‑time management, inventory considerations, and engineering change processes. Ability to perform cost and price analysis and negotiate pricing, lead times, MOQs, payment terms, and delivery commitments. Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Excel, with the ability to maintain accurate purchasing, pricing, supplier, and delivery data. Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem‑solving skills with the ability to manage multiple production‑critical priorities and supplier escalations. Ability to work effectively across Planning, Inventory, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Accounting in a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Personnel Security Clearance. Preferred Qualifications Background in purchasing electronic components, mechanical parts, assemblies, fabricated components, or other technical direct materials. Familiarity with aerospace, defense, electronics, RF, radar, satellite, space, or other high‑reliability hardware production environments. Demonstrated success purchasing for low‑volume, high‑complexity production environments with long‑lead, constrained, allocated, or obsolete materials. Experience leading supplier recovery, shortage mitigation, allocation management, or delivery improvement efforts for production‑critical material. Hands‑on experience with NetSuite and procurement reporting or purchasing‑performance tools. CPSM, CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent supply chain/procurement certification. Experience supporting classified programs or working with suppliers in secure environments. Within 1 month, you'll: Review the assigned portfolio, including BOM requirements, open POs, past‑due and long‑lead material, and current production risks. Baseline supplier commitments, purchasing data gaps, and priority shortages. Confirm ownership and escalation paths across Strategic Sourcing, Supply Planning, Inventory, Manufacturing, and Engineering. Within 3 months, you'll: Independently manage assigned production and program purchases from approved demand through receipt and closeout. Drive recovery plans for priority past‑due and shortage items with clear supplier commitments. Improve PO accuracy and ERP data quality for pricing, quantities, promise dates, lead times, and order status. Within 6 months, you'll: Lead complex, high‑value, long‑lead, and production‑critical purchases across multiple hardware programs. Establish a regular cadence to review supplier delivery, open commitments, purchase price variance, and material risks. Implement purchasing improvements that reduce delivery risk and procurement cycle time. Within 12 months, you'll: Maintain reliable procurement execution and visibility across the assigned portfolio for supplier commitments, cost, delivery, and material risk. Scale purchasing practices to support increased production volume, program requirements, and hardware complexity. Deliver measurable improvements in on‑time delivery, past‑due POs, PO accuracy, procurement cycle time, or material availability. Compensation The base salary range for this position is up to $138,000 USD + bonus + stock options + benefits Compensation Note The salary range for this position is benchmarked based on the designated primary work location for the role. Final compensation may vary depending on the selected candidate's work location, applicable market data, experience, qualifications, and other job‑related factors. Perks and Benefits $100 USD monthly wellness benefit to support your health and well-being $300 USD home office setup stipend, available for use within your first six months $75 USD monthly home internet allowance, paid directly through your regular paycheck Individual Development Fund to support training, learning, and professional development Employee Recognition Program to celebrate contributions and achievements across the team ITAR Requirements To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. More information regarding ITAR can be found at DDTC's website. Vendor Notification LeoLabs does not engage external staffing agencies or third‑party recruiting firms for this role. Unsolicited candidate submissions will not be considered. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. #J-18808-Ljbffr