Buyer

What You’ll Do As a Buyer, you will support engineering and manufacturing by procuring the materials, components, and services required to rapidly develop and build next‑generation aerospace hardware. You will work closely with engineers to source technically complex components, manage supplier relationships, negotiate pricing and lead times, and ensure critical hardware arrives on schedule. Success in this role requires excellent communication, strong organizational skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced engineering environment where priorities can change quickly. Responsibilities Procurement & Purchasing Purchase aerospace components, raw materials, machined parts, electronics, and engineering services Create and manage purchase orders while ensuring timely delivery Request quotations (RFQs), evaluate supplier proposals, and negotiate pricing and lead times Expedite critical materials to support engineering and manufacturing schedules Resolve supplier delivery and quality issues Work directly with engineering teams to understand technical purchasing requirements Source prototype and production hardware for development programs Support Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) and design revisions affecting purchased parts Identify alternate suppliers when schedule or technical risks arise Develop and maintain relationships with domestic and international suppliers Evaluate supplier performance regarding quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost Support onboarding of new suppliers Maintain accurate supplier information and procurement records Inventory & Material Coordination Coordinate with Manufacturing and Supply Chain to ensure material availability Monitor inventory levels of critical engineering components Support receiving and verification of purchased materials Assist with inventory accuracy and ERP transactions Help improve purchasing processes and procurement workflows Identify cost‑saving opportunities without compromising quality or schedule Support implementation of procurement best practices and supplier development initiatives What It Takes Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field (or equivalent experience) 3+ years of purchasing or procurement experience in aerospace, defense, manufacturing, or high‑technology industries Experience purchasing technical or engineered components Ability to read engineering drawings and Bills of Materials (BOMs) is preferred Experience with ERP/MRP systems (NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Oracle, or similar) Strong negotiation, organizational, and communication skills Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities Comfortable working in a fast‑paced startup environment U.S. Citizen or lawful permanent resident What We’d Love Aerospace or spacecraft manufacturing experience Experience purchasing machined components, electronics, composites, or electromechanical assemblies Familiarity with FAR, DFARS, and ITAR requirements Experience supporting prototype and low‑volume manufacturing Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills Experience working directly with engineering teams Passion for the commercial and national security space industry Where You’ll Be The position is onsite at our headquarters in El Segundo. What We Offer Equity‑Based Compensation Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Calendar Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage Pay Range $90,000 - $105,000 USD To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or otherwise eligible to obtain the required U.S. Government authorizations. Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. #J-18808-Ljbffr