Initial Buyer

AME (Applied Micro Electronics); Eindhoven; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

AME (Applied Micro Electronics) in Eindhoven is seeking an Initial Buyer to join the procurement team. You will perform hands-on purchasing while gradually expanding into strategic procurement, working with Engineering, Operations, Quality and Supply Chain, and communicating with suppliers to ensure production continuity.

Initially focused on operational coordination, you will request quotations, compare costs, and help resolve lead times, pricing, shortages, and quality issues.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, Engineering or related technical discipline.
• Initial procurement/purchasing experience preferred.
• Affinity with technology, manufacturing and/or technical products.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills with attention to detail.
• Good communication skills and ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proactive, structured and solution-oriented working style.
• Comfortable with data and MS Excel.
• Experience with ERP systems is an advantage; SAP experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support sourcing activities for assigned categories and suppliers.
• Prepare RFQs and evaluate quotations, balancing cost, lead time, MOQ and terms.
• Assist negotiations by preparing supplier comparisons and cost insights.
• Maintain procurement data in the ERP system.
• Track supplier performance and support reviews and improvements.
• Facilitate cross-functional issue resolution with suppliers and drive actions to closure.
• Contribute to cost optimisation and supplier improvements.
• Develop toward strategic purchasing responsibilities.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Proactive mindset

Excel proficiency

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Supply Chain/Engineering/Procurement

Tools

ERP system experience

SAP experience

Job description

AME, we are looking for an Initial Buyer to join our procurement team. In this role, you combine hands‑on purchasing activities with the opportunity to gradually grow into strategic procurement work. You work closely with colleagues across Engineering, Operations, Quality and Supply Chain, and you maintain frequent contact with suppliers to ensure continuity for production.

At beginning, your focus is mainly operational and coordination based. You request and compare quotations, TCO impact and help resolve day-to-day issues around lead time, pricing, shortages or quality.

Alongside experienced buyers, you will start building the foundation for strategic buying by supporting portfolio maintenance and category activities. This can include collecting spend and supplier performance data, preparing supplier evaluations and business reviews, supporting sourcing events, and helping with standardization initiatives or preferred supplier lists. Step by step, you will learn how AME makes sourcing choices that balance cost, quality, availability and technology fit.

This role is a great opportunity for someone who likes working in a high‑tech environment, enjoys coordinating with many stakeholders, and is motivated to grow from operational procurement into strategic sourcing.

Key Responsibilities

• Support sourcing activities for assigned categories and suppliers
• Prepare RFQs and evaluate quotations, aligning trade-offs (cost, lead time, MOQ, terms) with internal stakeholders and documenting recommendations.
• Support negotiations by preparing supplier comparisons and cost insights, and by ensuring outcomes and follow-up actions are clearly captured and communicated.
• Maintain reliable procurement and supplier data in the ERP system
• Track supplier performance trends (delivery, quality, cost) and support supplier reviews and improvement initiatives together with the team.
• Facilitate cross‑functional issue resolution with suppliers, helping to structure the problem, align owners and drive actions to closure.
• Contribute to cost‑saving, standardisation and preferred‑supplier initiatives, supporting analyses and implementation of improvements in ways of working.
• Participate in cross‑functional meetings, proactively sharing status, risks and dependencies, and keeping a clear overview of open actions and priorities.

As you grow in the role you will also

• Take ownership of sourcing and purchasing activities for assigned category or suppliers.
• Develop your skills in supplier communication, commercial discussions and negotiations.
• Become more involved in supplier selection and sourcing decisions.
• Develop an understanding of procurement risks such as lead times, capacity, quality, supply chain continuity and single‑source dependencies.
• Contribute to cost optimisation and supplier improvement initiatives.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree, or equivalent level of working and thinking in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, Engineering or another relevant technical discipline.
• Initial experience in procurement, purchasing, supply chain or a technical/industrial environment is preferred.
• Affinity with technology, manufacturing and/or technical products.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills, with attention to detail.
• Good communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proactive, structured and solution‑oriented way of working.
• Comfortable working with data and common Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Experience with an ERP system is an advantage; SAP experience is a plus.
• A willingness to learn and develop commercial, sourcing and negotiation skills.

Who are we?

AME, part of the Metis Group, is an electronics company located in Brainport Eindhoven, one of Europe's leading high‑tech regions. We partner with customers in developing and manufacturing high‑quality electronic products while providing extensive product life cycle support.

By combining expertise in electronics, mechanics, software and industrial engineering, we develop innovative solutions for markets such as energy, climate technology and industry. With more than 25 years of experience, a highly skilled workforce and a strong customer base, AME is a trusted technology manufacturing partner throughout the entire product life cycle.

This position is primarily based at our headquarters in Eindhoven and offers close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams across the organization. Occasional visits to suppliers or industry‑related events may be required.

• An inspiring, open, direct and entrepreneurial working culture.
• The opportunity to work on innovative high‑tech products from concept to industrialization.
• A key role with real ownership and impact within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Be part of a fast‑growing high‑tech company in the heart of Brainport Eindhoven.
• An international working environment with talented colleagues from all over the world.
• A flat organisational structure with short communication lines and quick decision‑making.
• Plenty of opportunities for personal and professional development.