Aerospace Procurement Manager

USK Technologies; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

USK Technologies in Fort Worth, TX, is seeking an experienced Aerospace Procurement Manager to lead strategic sourcing, purchasing, supplier management, and risk mitigation for aerospace production and maintenance.

You will develop procurement strategies, negotiate complex agreements, and collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Finance, and Supply Chain teams to ensure production continuity and customer delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., Supply Chain, Engineering, or Business).
• 7+ years of procurement and strategic sourcing experience.
• Direct aerospace or defense sector experience.
• Proven ability negotiating complex supplier contracts.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, Infor, Epicor).
• Familiarity with AS9100 quality systems and aerospace regulations.
• Ability to interpret drawings and technical requirements.
• Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute procurement strategies for aerospace materials and services.
• Source components, tooling, and outsourced services for production needs.
• Lead supplier negotiations, RFQs, and contract evaluations.
• Manage supplier qualification, onboarding, and performance programs.
• Monitor vendor performance and mitigate supply-chain risks.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, and Manufacturing to ensure continuity.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management/Engineering/Business

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Infor

Epicor

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Aerospace Procurement Manager to lead strategic sourcing, purchasing, supplier management, cost optimization, and supply-risk mitigation activities supporting aerospace production, maintenance, and product delivery.

Work Schedule: Monday–Thursday, 7:00 AM–5:15 PM

Position Overview:

The Aerospace Procurement Manager will develop and execute procurement strategies that align with production schedules, customer requirements, quality standards, and business objectives. This individual will manage critical supplier relationships, negotiate complex agreements, monitor supplier performance, and collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Finance, and Supply Chain teams to maintain production continuity.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Procurement and Sourcing

• Develop and execute sourcing and procurement strategies for aerospace materials, products, and services.
• Source machined components, avionics, electronics, raw materials, tooling, special processes, and outsourced services.
• Lead supplier identification, market analysis, RFQs, proposal evaluations, bid comparisons, and contract negotiations.
• Establish long-term supplier relationships that support competitive pricing, quality, delivery, and supply continuity.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms, delivery schedules, warranties, and contractual requirements.
• Support make-versus-buy evaluations and supplier-consolidation initiatives.

Supplier Management and Performance

• Manage supplier qualification, onboarding, development, and performance-management programs.
• Monitor supplier performance across delivery, quality, responsiveness, cost, capacity, and compliance metrics.
• Conduct supplier business reviews and participate in supplier audits when required.
• Partner with Supplier Quality and Engineering teams to investigate supplier nonconformances and implement corrective actions.
• Identify and mitigate supply-chain risks related to long-lead materials, capacity limitations, geopolitical conditions, obsolescence, and supply disruptions.
• Develop sourcing and inventory strategies that ensure material availability and uninterrupted production.

Cost Management and Continuous Improvement

• Lead cost-reduction initiatives through competitive sourcing, supplier negotiations, value engineering, process improvement, and demand consolidation.
• Analyze spend data, purchasing trends, supplier performance, and procurement metrics to identify savings and efficiency opportunities.
• Drive continuous-improvement projects that strengthen procurement performance and overall supply-chain resilience.
• Provide procurement updates, risk assessments, sourcing recommendations, and cost analyses to senior leadership.

Leadership and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Lead, mentor, and develop procurement professionals, buyers, and purchasing specialists.
• Establish priorities and ensure purchasing activities remain aligned with production and customer delivery schedules.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Program Management, and Finance stakeholders.
• Communicate supplier risks, material constraints, cost-saving opportunities, and procurement status to leadership.
• Support strategic planning and ensure procurement decisions meet technical, operational, financial, and regulatory requirements.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related discipline.
• 7+ years of procurement, strategic sourcing, purchasing, or supply-chain experience.
• Direct experience in aerospace, aviation, defense, or advanced manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated success negotiating complex supplier contracts and commercial agreements.
• Strong experience managing strategic suppliers and supplier-performance programs.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Infor, Epicor, or a comparable platform.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 quality systems and aerospace regulatory requirements.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, bills of materials, and technical requirements.
• Strong knowledge of RFQs, bid analysis, cost analysis, procurement metrics, KPIs, and contract terms.
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate has strong aerospace sourcing experience, understands technically complex components and materials, and can balance cost, quality, delivery, compliance, and supply risk. This person should be equally comfortable negotiating with suppliers, analyzing procurement data, resolving production constraints, and presenting strategic recommendations to senior leadership.