Senior Buyer & Strategic Sourcing Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

About the Role

Shift5 is looking for a highly motivated, hands-on Senior Buyer & Strategic Sourcing Specialist to help manage and scale our procurement and supply chain operations.

This role will own day-to-day purchasing and strategic sourcing while partnering closely with Engineering, Hardware, Manufacturing, Finance, and Program teams to ensure critical materials and components are sourced at the right cost, quality, and time.

You'll be responsible for anticipating supply risks, building strong supplier relationships, negotiating commercial terms, and bringing greater structure and predictability to procurement as Shift5 continues to scale. This is a great opportunity for someone who understands both the tactical and strategic sides of supply chain and thrives in a fast-moving, mission-driven environment.

What You'll Do Purchasing & Strategic Sourcing

• Own the end-to-end purchasing process for hardware, components, materials, and other operational needs from requisition through delivery.
• Source, evaluate, negotiate with, and manage suppliers to optimize cost, quality, lead times, and availability.
• Lead RFP and RFQ processes for strategic sourcing, major components, and contract manufacturing.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms, minimum order quantities, and other commercial terms.
• Manage purchase orders, order confirmations, delivery schedules, expedites, and supplier follow-up.
• Partner with Engineering, Program, and Production teams to understand BOMs, production schedules, engineering changes, and upcoming material needs.
• Support new product introductions by incorporating sourcing and material requirements early in the process.

Supply Chain & Risk Management

• Proactively identify supply constraints, long-lead items, component obsolescence, and vendor risks before they impact programs or customer delivery.
• Monitor and manage Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) and develop mitigation strategies including alternative sourcing and lifetime buys.
• Monitor inventory requirements and purchasing trends to improve material availability while minimizing excess and obsolete inventory.
• Develop and track key supply chain metrics including supplier performance, lead times, on-time delivery, purchase price variance, and material availability.
• Partner with Finance to ensure purchasing decisions align with budgets, forecasts, and approval processes.
• Ship production hardware and support equipment to customers and field teams as needed.

Supplier Quality & Compliance

• Support supplier selection, qualification, performance management, and ongoing relationship management.
• Own Approved Supplier List (ASL) maintenance and ensure supplier approvals and annual re-evaluations remain current.
• Maintain required supplier documentation including ISO 9001/AS9100 certificates, W-9s, vendor surveys, and other records.
• Ensure purchase orders include required Supplier Quality Requirements (SQRs) and applicable flowdowns.
• Ensure receiving documentation, including packing slips, Certificates of Conformance (CoCs), and incoming inspection records, is complete and properly maintained in NetSuite.
• Support counterfeit parts prevention and authorized distributor sourcing requirements.
• Monitor Supplier Corrective Actions (SCARs) and non-conformance reports through resolution in alignment with AS9100 requirements.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with applicable company, customer, contractual, and regulatory requirements.

Procurement Operations & Scalability

• Maintain accurate procurement and supplier data across company systems.
• Improve purchasing workflows, documentation, reporting, and operating processes.
• Help build scalable procurement and strategic sourcing practices as Shift5 continues to grow.
• Identify manual or inefficient processes and proactively implement improvements.
• Bring greater visibility and predictability to material availability, supplier performance, and supply chain risk.

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain, or a related function.
• Experience purchasing technical components, electronics, hardware, or manufactured goods.
• Strong supplier management and negotiation experience across pricing, lead times, commercial terms, and performance.
• Experience working with BOMs, purchase orders, inventory, and ERP/MRP or procurement systems.
• Ability to understand technical requirements and partner effectively with Engineering and Production teams.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to identify risks early and operate with a high degree of ownership and urgency.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally across technical, operational, and business teams.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where priorities can shift quickly.
• Ability to regularly work from Shift5's headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace, defense technology, government contracting, manufacturing, or another regulated industry.
• Experience with NetSuite and Jira.
• Experience managing RFPs, RFQs, supplier bidding processes, and commercial proposal evaluations.
• Experience sourcing electronic components, PCBAs, mechanical components, contract manufacturing, or other hardware-related materials.
• Familiarity with FAR/DFARS requirements and government contracting procurement practices.
• Experience with AS9100 supplier quality, supplier audits, or supplier performance programs.
• Experience managing DMSMS and component obsolescence.
• Experience building or improving procurement processes within a scaling organization.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Engineering, or a related field.

What Success Looks Like

Within your first 6–12 months, you will:

• Take ownership of Shift5's day-to-day purchasing and strategic sourcing operations.
• Create greater predictability around material availability, lead times, and supplier performance.
• Surface supply chain and component risks before they impact programs or customer delivery.
• Strengthen supplier accountability, documentation, and AS9100-aligned processes.
• Improve procurement workflows, reporting, and operating rhythms across the business.
• Build strong partnerships across Engineering, Hardware, Manufacturing, Programs, and Finance.
• Help build a procurement and supply chain function capable of supporting Shift5's continued growth.
• Become a trusted partner who understands what the business is trying to accomplish, anticipates what could get in the way, and takes ownership of solving it.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Shift5 is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where innovation thrives through diverse perspectives. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

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