Senior Buyer (Electronics)

Internetwork Expert; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm in Newcastle upon Tyne seeks a Senior Buyer to strengthen their supply chain. The successful candidate will lead the procurement of electronic components, manage supplier relationships, and collaborate closely with engineering teams. Ideal candidates should have a solid background in high-technology manufacturing and be CIPS qualified, offering a competitive salary starting at £40,000 with performance-related bonuses in a dynamic work environment.

Benefits

Competitive remuneration package

25 days holiday + public holidays

Free breakfast and freshly cooked lunches

Private healthcare

Life assurance

Salary sacrifice schemes

Paid team socials

Pension plan

Empowering culture

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Buyer or Senior Buyer within a high-technology manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of electronic components, PCB assemblies, harnesses, and related supply chain constraints.
• Excellent negotiation skills and experience managing supplier performance.
• Able to interpret engineering drawings and BOMs.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems (specifically Infor Syteline).
• Strong analytical skills and a proactive problem-solving approach.
• Effective communicator with strong stakeholder-management capabilities.
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the procurement of electronic components and related hardware.
• Build strong supplier relationships and negotiate favourable terms.
• Work closely with engineering teams to ensure components meet specifications.
• Manage long-term supply agreements and mitigation strategies.
• Track industry trends and communicate impacts to stakeholders.
• Deliver cost-reduction initiatives and improve procurement processes.
• Maintain accurate supplier and pricing information in the ERP system.
• Address supply disruptions and maintain clear communication.

Skills

Procurement Experience

Electronics Knowledge

Negotiation Strength

Technical Ability

Systems Capability

Analytical Mindset

Communication Skills

Prioritisation & Pace

Education

CIPS qualification or working toward CIPS

Tools

In my experience with ERP/MRP systems

Job description

The Opportunity

We’re looking for a Senior Buyer who can strengthen our supply chain, build strategic supplier partnerships and keep critical electronic components moving reliably into our products. This is a great opportunity for someone with strong technical understanding and commercial awareness to add real value, navigate complex supplier markets, support our engineering teams and help maintain a smooth, efficient production flow.

In this role, you’ll take ownership of electronic sourcing, influence key decisions and play a key part in shaping the procurement strategy behind some of the most advanced defence technology in the industry.

Who We Are

OpenWorks is a rapidly growing business operating globally with a passion for exceptional engineering and building on a legacy of defence innovation in the North East of England.

Our products provide ultra-high performance, real-time detection, tracking, identification and targeting of dynamic aerial threats. They have been deployed internationally to protect high profile military and civilian assets, and contribute towards the defeat of nuisance, misguided and maliciously deployed drones during operations.

We are very proud to have supported a wide range of law enforcement and military operators, protecting many of the most high profile sites and individuals around the world.

The amazing things we do are only possible because of a dedicated and passionate team.

Why You’ll Love Working With Us

Join a high-energy, collaborative team where great ideas thrive, challenges are embraced, and people genuinely love what they do.

Here’s what our benefits have to offer

• Competitive remuneration package, salary from £40,000 with performance-related bonuses and clear progression opportunities.
• 25 days’ holiday + public holidays, with long-service rewards and the option to buy up to 5 additional days.
• Free breakfast and freshly cooked lunches every day, courtesy of Chef Mark and his team.
• Private healthcare through Aviva, keeping you feeling your best.
• Life assurance for peace of mind.
• Salary sacrifice schemes - including EV car and Cycle to Work options for easy, sustainable travel.
• Paid team socials - from quiz nights and football to board games and more; we love to have fun together.
• Pension plan with employer-matched contributions to help you plan for the future.
• A culture that empowers - we enable change, encourage challenge, and celebrate personal growth.

What you’ll be doing

Electronic Sourcing: Leading the procurement of electronic components, PCB assemblies, harnesses and related hardware.

Supplier Management: Building strong supplier relationships, negotiating favourable terms and driving performance in cost, quality and delivery.

Technical Collaboration: Working closely with engineering teams to interpret specifications and ensure components meet technical requirements.

Risk Management: Managing long-term supply agreements and implementing mitigation strategies for critical, high-risk or long-lead items.

Market Analysis: Tracking industry trends such as obsolescence and lead-time fluctuations and communicating impacts to stakeholders.

Cost & Process Improvement: Analysing spend, delivering cost-reduction initiatives and continuously improving procurement processes.

Data Accuracy: Maintaining accurate supplier, pricing and lead-time information within the ERP system.

Issue Resolution: Addressing supply disruptions, expediting orders when required and maintaining clear communication across the organisation.

What you’ll bring

Procurement Experience: Proven experience as a Buyer or Senior Buyer within a high-technology manufacturing environment.

Electronics Knowledge: Strong understanding of electronic components, PCB assemblies, harnesses and related supply chain constraints.

Negotiation Strength: Excellent negotiation skills and experience managing supplier performance.

Technical Ability: Able to interpret engineering drawings, BOMs and technical documentation.

Systems Capability: Experience using ERP/MRP systems (we use Infor Syteline).

Analytical Mindset: Strong analytical skills and a proactive approach to identifying and solving problems.

Communication Skills: Effective communicator with strong stakeholder-management capabilities.

Prioritisation & Pace: Comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.

Qualifications: CIPS qualified or working toward CIPS.

More about us

Vision

Help protect the territory and airspace of NATO countries and their allies.

Mission

Be a world-leading provider of autonomous technology for Surveillance applications and Defence.

Values

Be a Good Egg: Earn respect, have mutual trust and be honest.

Do cool stuff: We develop cool tech with an awesome team, and we get stuff done.

Be empowered: We are autonomous, reliable and take personal responsibility.

We are one team: Look out for each other and the team.

Things go wrong: Fail fast, learn and move on.

Have fun: We’re doing amazing things with passionate people.