Aerospace Purchasing Buyer

Skookum Aerospace Manufacturing; Kent (WA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

401(k) Matching

FSA

Holidays

Vacation Days

Sick Leave

Tuition Assistance

Professional Development

Wellness Program

EAP

Job summary

Tessera is seeking an experienced Aerospace Purchasing Buyer to join our Auburn, Washington manufacturing team. The role focuses on sourcing, purchasing, and managing materials and services to maintain production flow, ensuring the right cost, quality, and on-time delivery to meet customer commitments.

Key duties include reviewing requirements, issuing POs, evaluating suppliers, negotiating terms, expediting critical items, and maintaining accurate records while staying compliant with AS9100 and

Qualifications

• High School Diploma/GED is required.
• 5–8 years purchasing, procurement, or buying experience required.
• Experience in Aerospace is required.
• Proficient with ERP/MRP; strong Excel & Outlook skills.
• Familiar with AS9100 and aerospace supplier requirements.

Responsibilities

• Review material and hardware requirements and determine purchasing needs.
• Prepare and issue purchase orders to approved suppliers.
• Source materials, components, tooling, supplies, and outside services.
• Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations based on price, quality, lead time, capacity, and delivery requirements.
• Negotiate pricing, delivery terms, and other commercial requirements.
• Monitor open purchase orders and communicate shortages or delays.
• Expedite critical materials and outside services to support customer and production commitments.
• Maintain accurate PO information and supplier documentation.
• Develop and maintain relationships with qualified suppliers.
• Support supplier selection and qualification activities with Quality and Operations.
• Ensure purchases comply with aerospace standards and customer requirements.
• Coordinate with Quality regarding certifications and material traceability.
• Review supplier performance and assist in resolving quality, delivery, pricing, and documentation issues.
• Support cost-reduction and supplier-improvement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to reduce lead times and mitigate supply-chain risk.
• Maintain purchasing records for traceability and audit requirements.
• Assist with long-term purchasing agreements and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Support inventory objectives by balancing material availability with excess/obsolete inventory risks.
• Communicate material status with internal departments and supplier commitments.
• Follow quality procedures and purchasing controls.
• Ensure purchased products meet customer, engineering, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Problem Solving

Organization

Attention to Detail

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Tools

ERP/MRP system

Excel

Outlook

AS9100 knowledge

Job description

Location: Auburn, Washington Type: Non-Exempt Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday - Friday Compensation: $36.00 - $43.27 per hour

Tessera is seeking an experienced Aerospace Purchasing Buyer to join our growing Manufacturing team in Auburn, Washington.

Benefits:

• Tessera is proud to offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package to our eligible part‑time and full‑time Manufacturing employees.
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life & Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Elective 401(k) retirement plan, Tessera will match 0.5% for every 1% up to 6% after 90-days of employment.
• Funds are subject to vesting.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for both medical and dependent care
• 11 paid holidays, accrual of 10 paid days of vacation at the start of employment, paid sick leave
• Potential shared earning bonus
• Tuition assistance is available after 1 year of employment and potential scholarships for qualified dependents
• Professional development, certifications, and training opportunities
• Verizon wireless discount
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and an engaging wellness program
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility for full‑time employees
• Tessera is dedicated to “Creating Opportunities for People with Disabilities” by hiring and supporting individuals with disabilities as well as veterans with disabilities.

The Purchasing Buyer plays a critical role in maintaining production flow by ensuring the right material or service is purchased from the right supplier, at the right cost, with the right quality, and delivered when required to meet customer commitments.

The Purchasing Buyer is responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and managing materials, components, supplies, and outside services. This position works closely with Production Control, Engineering, Quality, Estimating, Contracts, and Operations to ensure materials and services are available on time, at competitive cost, and in compliance with customer and aerospace requirements.

Typical duties include but are not limited to:

• Review material and hardware requirements, purchase requisitions, MRP/ERP requirements, and production schedules to determine purchasing needs.
• Prepare and issue purchase orders to approved suppliers.
• Source materials, components, tooling, supplies, and outside processing services.
• Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations based on price, quality, lead time, capacity, and delivery requirements.
• Negotiate pricing, delivery dates, terms, and other commercial requirements within established authority.
• Monitor open purchase orders and proactively communicate potential shortages, delays, and schedule risks.
• Expedite critical materials and outside services to support customer and production commitments.
• Maintain accurate purchase order information, including quantities, pricing, due dates, revisions, and supplier commitments.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with qualified and approved suppliers.
• Support supplier selection and qualification activities in coordination with Quality and Operations.
• Ensure purchases comply with customer requirements, approved supplier lists, specifications, and applicable aerospace standards.
• Coordinate with Quality regarding certifications, material traceability, inspection requirements, and supplier documentation.
• Review supplier performance and assist in resolving quality, delivery, pricing, and documentation issues.
• Support cost‑reduction and supplier‑improvement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to reduce lead times, improve purchasing terms, and mitigate supply‑chain risk.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and purchasing records for traceability and audit requirements.
• Assist with long‑term purchasing agreements and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Support inventory objectives by balancing material availability with excess and obsolete inventory risks.
• Communicate effectively with internal departments regarding material status and supplier commitments.
• Follow company quality procedures and purchasing controls.
• Ensure purchased products and services meet applicable customer, engineering, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Understand and follow requirements related to counterfeit‑part prevention and material traceability.
• Support compliance with applicable aerospace quality standards and customer flow‑down requirements.
• Participate in supplier corrective actions and resolution of nonconforming material when required.
• Purchase product IAW customer requirement flow down (i.e. D1‑4426, Customer QPL, Customer specifications, etc.)
• Perform other purchasing and supply‑chain duties as assigned.
• All Other Duties as Assigned.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Purchase orders placed on time
• Supplier on‑time delivery performance
• Material availability to support production schedules
• Purchase price variance/cost savings
• Supplier lead‑time performance
• Past‑due purchase orders
• Expedite activity and schedule recovery
• Supplier quality performance
• Purchase order accuracy
• Inventory levels and material shortages

Core Competencies:

• Communication: Communicates clearly and proactively with suppliers and internal departments.
• Negotiation: Obtains competitive pricing and favorable delivery and commercial terms.
• Accountability: Owns purchasing commitments and follows issues through to resolution.
• Problem Solving: Quickly identifies supply‑chain risks and develops practical solutions.
• Organization: Effectively manages multiple suppliers, purchase orders, priorities, and deadlines.
• Attention to Detail: Maintains accurate purchasing and supplier documentation.
• Teamwork: Partners effectively with Production Control, Quality, Engineering, Operations, and Sales.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma/GED is required
• 5 – 8 years of previous experience in Purchasing, Procurement, or Buying experience is required
• Previous experience in Aerospace is required.
• Previous Purchasing experience in Aerospace, Manufacturing or defense‑industry is preferred.
• Experience purchasing raw materials, machined components, sheet metal, outside processing, plating, heat treating, coatings, and other aerospace services is preferred.
• Experience with supplier performance management and expediting is preferred.
• Must have strong working knowledge in an ERP/MRP system.
• Must have strong understanding of purchase orders, supplier lead times, material requirements, and inventory management.
• Strong negotiation, communication, organization, and problem‑solving skills is preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.
• Must have strong attention to detail and follow‑through.
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Outlook.
• Must be familiar with AS9100 and aerospace supplier requirements.

Physical Requirements:

Employees must have the ability to perform the following physical demands for extended periods of time with or without assistance.

The physical demands of this position may be reasonably accommodated for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions on a case‑by‑case basis.

Must be able to lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.

May be required to reach, kneel, walk, stand, and use repetitive motion for several hours at a time based on position duties.

Work may require repetitive motion, reaching, lifting, kneeling, and walking.

Standing or sitting for several hours at a time, climbing in and out of a vehicle, and up and down stairs may also be required.

Must have the perseverance to work effectively under pressure for extended periods of time.

Requirements:

• A valid state driver’s license is preferred with the ability to obtain and maintain coverage by Tessera’s insurance.
• Access to a federal military installation requires a REAL ID‑compliant driver's license or an acceptable alternative, such as a U.S. passport or military ID, in accordance with the REAL ID Act. Please visit this website for more information: https://www.dhs.gov/real‑id.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain applicable security clearances and installation access.
• A background check and E‑Verify will be conducted for this position.

Date Posted: 08/17/2026

Tessera is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Women/Minority/Veteran/Disabled - Tessera participates in E‑Verify