Procurement Specialist

Procurement SpecialistShinkei Systems builds technology that improves how food moves through the world. We design robotics and software systems that bring consistency, quality, and care to seafood processing—preserving value, reducing waste, and supporting more resilient supply chains. Our work operates in real-world environments where speed, precision, and reliability directly impact outcomes. This is applied work. What we build runs in production, at scale, in demanding conditions.The Role We are looking for a Procurement Specialist to own and support sourcing across manufacturing and engineering R&D. This role sits at the center of our physical supply chain—owning the flow of electromechanical, industrial, and robotics components that power our systems. While ~70% of procurement for the year is already completed, this role is critical in ensuring continuity, managing ongoing ordering, and building the foundation for next year's procurement strategy at scale. You will operate with urgency, precision, and strong ownership—keeping systems moving, parts flowing, and production unblocked.Key ResponsibilitiesOwn end-to-end procurement for manufacturing and engineering R&D parts, including electromechanical and industrial componentsBuild and maintain strong vendor relationships to negotiate pricing, lead times, and availabilityProactively track all open purchase orders and follow up to prevent delays or breakdowns in supplyIdentify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks including backorders, shortages, and long-lead itemsManage delivery issues, discrepancies, and RMAs directly with vendors through resolutionSource hard-to-find or constrained components using non-traditional suppliers and creative sourcing channelsCollaborate closely with engineering and manufacturing teams to understand requirements, changes, and timing shiftsEnsure accurate PO creation, order tracking, documentation, and coordination with Accounts PayablePartner with the Production Coordinator to maintain visibility into inventory levels and upcoming demand shiftsMaintain clear operational dashboards and tracking systems (Asana) for real-time procurement visibilityWhat You'll NeedExperience in procurement, supply chain, or sourcing in a hardware, robotics, or industrial environmentFamiliarity with electromechanical, automation, or robotics components strongly preferredStrong vendor management and negotiation skillsHigh attention to detail with exceptional follow-throughAbility to operate in fast-paced, ambiguous startup environmentsStrong communication skills across both technical and non-technical stakeholdersAbility to manage multiple parallel priorities without losing operational clarityProficiency with task management tools (Asana preferred)How You WorkYou move fast and don't let orders stallYou are highly resourceful when standard channels failYou stay calm under supply chain pressure and solve problems directlyYou prefer ownership over escalationYou bring structure to messy, real-world operationsBonus If You HaveExperience with robotics, hardware manufacturing, or industrial automationHigh-mix / low-volume supply chainsEarly-stage startups or scaling hardware teamsInternational sourcing or constrained semiconductor/electronics marketsWhat Success Looks LikeParts arrive on time and production never stalls due to procurement gapsVendors are actively managed, not passively followedSupply risks are identified early and resolved before they become issuesEngineering and manufacturing always have visibility into material statusNext-year procurement is proactively structured and de-riskedEqual OpportunityShinkei Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We value diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and approaches, and are committed to building a high-trust, high-performance environment.