Electronics and Control Systems Buyer

Williams Racing; Grove; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Williams Racing is seeking an Electronics and Control Systems Buyer to raise POs for electronic components, wiring looms, sensors and control systems hardware. You will ensure engineering specs are communicated correctly and that purchases are authorised in a timely manner.

Key duties include expediting deliveries, conducting supplier audits for ESD and IPC compliance, and negotiating terms to maximise value while maintaining component traceability.

Qualifications

• Experience procuring electronics or control systems hardware in a fast-moving engineering or manufacturing environment.
• Understanding of technical drawings, schematics and BOMs used for procurement of electronic components.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Raise and manage purchase orders for electronics components, wiring looms, sensors and control systems hardware.
• Expedite deliveries and maintain status reporting to internal stakeholders.
• Perform supplier audits and ensure compliance with IPC‑A‑610/620 and traceability requirements.
• Negotiate terms and conditions with suppliers to optimise value and lead times.
• Lead tender processes and develop a strategic supplier base for electronics commodities.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives within the procurement team.

Skills

Procurement

Supplier management

Negotiation

Project coordination

Tools

ERP systems

BOM analysis

PCB/ECU components knowledge

Job description

The Electronics and Control Systems Buyer is responsible for raising and managing purchase orders for electronic components, wiring looms/harnesses, sensors and control systems hardware, ensuring engineering specifications are correctly communicated and that the purchase requirement is properly authorised.

Main Duties

• Generate Purchase Orders for the supply of electronic components, control systems hardware and related services, ensuring any engineering specifications, processes or engineering up-issues (e.g. PCB revisions, firmware/hardware compatibility) are fully communicated, and that the purchase requirement is appropriately authorised.
• Expedite and progress deliveries from electronics and control systems suppliers & maintain timely reporting of delivery status of parts outstanding (e.g. sensors, looms, ECUs, connectors), routinely feeding back status into internal stakeholders.
• Deal with any non-conformances (e.g. component failures, incorrect firmware/hardware revision, damaged connectors) quickly and efficiently to minimise delays.
• Complete commercial checks of supplier payment terms, delivery terms and general Terms & Conditions for electronics and control systems suppliers to ensure that these are aligned with Williams' requirements.
• Take the lead on tender processes for electronics and control systems commodities, creating new contracts, inclusive of clear deliverables, lead times and terms and conditions.
• Development of a strategic supply base for electronic components, wiring looms/harnesses, sensors and control systems hardware.
• Carrying out supplier audits, including assessment of ESD control, IPC-A-610/620 compliance and component traceability processes where relevant.
• Ensure that all aspects of transactional procurement of electronics and control systems goods and services for category are achieved.
• Check Supplier Acknowledgements and challenge when required, particularly around lead time and obsolescence risk on electronic components.
• Optimise total value being delivered to the race team- on time and to the required quality standard, with particular attention to component traceability and counterfeit-avoidance.
• Negotiate contracts with suppliers that provide best value to the business.
• Rationalise and develop supplier base to those that provide best value to the business.
• Support the Procurement team to achieve departmental measures of performance.
• Support & develop continuous improvement initiatives within the team, including obsolescence management and component lifecycle tracking.
• Sell the value of the Procurement function to the wider business to drive realisation of commercial opportunities via greater engagement.
• Ensure that the company's Health & Safety policy is observed.

Any other tasks and responsibilities required by the company that are reasonably within the role holders' capabilities.

Previous procurement experience

• Previous procurement experience working within a fast-changing engineering or manufacturing environment, ideally within electronics or control systems commodities.
• F1, Automotive, Motorsports procurement experience is desirable, but not essential.
• Understanding of technical drawings, schematics and BOMs, with procurement experience of electronic components, wiring looms/harnesses, sensors, PCBs or control systems hardware, is desirable.
• Good problem solving and team working skills with ability to work under own initiative. Awareness of component obsolescence management, counterfeit-avoidance practice and traceability requirements (e.g. IPC-A-610/620) is desirable.
• Willing to help throughout the department and have a positive attitude.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills are essential.

This job description is not exhaustive, and the job holder will be required to carry out from time-to-time tasks in addition to the above that will be both reasonable and within their capabilities.