Buyer

Supply Chain Buyer


Industry: Defense / Aerospace
Location: Hawthorne, CA (Full in office to start)
Duration: Temp, possible temp to hire
Pay: $32-$40/hour


A rapidly growing company within the defense and aerospace industry is seeking a Supply Chain Buyer to support increased operational demand. This role is open due to growth and will help fill an immediate bandwidth gap within the supply chain team.


This is a highly tactical, execution-focused position operating in "firefighting mode," ideal for someone who thrives in urgency, supplier follow-up, and production-driven environments.


Position Overview:


The Supply Chain Buyer is responsible for placing purchase orders, tracking inbound materials, managing past-due shipments, and protecting production schedules. This individual will work closely with suppliers, logistics partners, and internal operations teams to ensure material flow and resolve delivery challenges.


This role requires strong Excel skills and the ability to prioritize quickly in a fast-paced environment.


Key Responsibilities:


Tactical Buying & Order Management

• Create and release purchase orders based on MRP signals and production needs
• Maintain open order, past-due, and shortage reports
• Adjust purchase orders and priorities as production requirements shift

Expediting & Past-Due Recovery

• Identify late and at-risk shipments and drive recovery actions
• Communicate directly with suppliers to obtain firm commitment dates
• Coordinate partial shipments, alternate sourcing, or expedited freight when necessary
• Escalate critical shortages with clear recommendations and impact analysis

Inbound Logistics Coordination

• Partner with logistics teams and carriers to ensure shipment execution
• Resolve missed pickups, transit delays, and documentation issues
• Track shipments from supplier dock to final receipt

Production & Stakeholder Support

• Serve as point of contact for inbound constrained materials
• Communicate shortages and recovery plans to planning and operations teams

Required Qualifications:

• 2-5 years of tactical buying, expediting, or supply chain operations experience
• Experience in the Defense/Aerospace industry preferred
• Bachelor's degree required (Supply Chain, Business, or related field preferred, but degree field is flexible)
• Intermediate Excel skills (VLOOKUPs and Pivot Tables required)
• Strong follow-up skills and sense of urgency
• Ability to prioritize and pivot in a fast-paced, execution-driven environment
• Team-oriented mindset

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in defense or highly regulated manufacturing environments
• Experience supporting high-volume operations
• ERP system experience (NetSuite preferred)

Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

EEO Notice


Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.


Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io .


Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal .


By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

Privacy Notice


Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here .
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here .
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here .
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here .
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here .

Pay Transparency Notice


Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations;
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.