Manufacturing Buyer

Buyer (Tooling) Location: Merritt Island, FL or Melbourne, FL Salary: $35-$46/hr (Depending on Location & Experience) Industry: Aerospace/Manufacturing Employment Type: Contract through December 2026; potential to extend or convert Summary Support the future of Spaceflight! The Buyer Tooling is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and managing suppliers supporting the procurement of tooling, manufacturing equipment, fixtures, and related services required for aerospace production and development programs. This contract role owns the full procurement lifecycle from requisition through invoice payment while ensuring cost, quality, schedule, and technical requirements are achieved in support of company s mission. Qualifications High School Diploma or equivalent required; Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or similar highly preferred; Master s degree is a bonus 3+ years of supply chain, procurement, purchasing, buying experience Tooling procurement experience (manufacturing, fabrication, machining, production tooling) required. Experience sourcing tooling, manufacturing equipment, fixtures, capital equipment, or industrial services. Experience negotiating contracts and purchase orders. Knowledge of supplier management and procurement best practices. Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills. Experience managing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment. Working knowledge of engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documentation. Understanding of AS9100 quality standards. Knowledge of Engineering Data such as specifications & source control drawings. Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Desired Qualifications Full-cycle sourcing and negotiation experience. Demonstrated ability to work directly with engineering and manufacturing teams. Strong supplier management and problem-solving skills. Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment. Prior aerospace, defense, or high-volume manufacturing industry experience. Responsibilities Manage supplier relationships supporting tooling, manufacturing equipment, and production support requirements. Prepare and issue RFQs/RFPs, conduct price and cost analyses, and develop negotiation strategies. Negotiate and administer purchase orders, long-term agreements (LTAs), and strategic supplier partnerships. Drive procurement activities from requisition creation through receipt, invoice resolution, and final payment. Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Program Management, and Quality teams to support production schedules and program objectives. Ensure suppliers meet delivery, quality, technical, and cost requirements. Support supplier performance management and continuous improvement initiatives. Analyze procurement data and develop metrics to support business decisions. Work effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment while managing multiple priorities and deadlines. Maintain compliance with company policies, contractual requirements, and applicable regulations. Additional duties as assigned. EOE/ADA #J-18808-Ljbffr