Buyer

Space Kinetic Corp.; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity-Based Compensation

Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Cal

Job summary

Space Kinetic Corp. in El Segundo is seeking a Buyer to support engineering and manufacturing by sourcing aerospace components, materials, and services with urgency and precision.

You will manage supplier relationships, negotiate terms, and ensure on-time delivery while navigating a fast-paced startup environment focused on national security hardware.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3+ years of purchasing or procurement experience in aerospace, defense, manufacturing, or high-technology industries.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and Bills of Materials (BOMs) is preferred.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Oracle, or similar).
• Strong negotiation, organizational, and communication skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment.
• U.S. Citizen or lawful permanent resident.

Responsibilities

• Purchase aerospace components, raw materials, machined parts, electronics, and engineering services.
• Create and manage purchase orders with timely delivery.
• Request quotations, evaluate supplier proposals, and negotiate pricing and lead times.
• Expedite critical materials to support schedules.
• Resolve supplier delivery and quality issues.
• Work with engineering teams to understand technical purchasing needs.
• Source prototype and production hardware for development programs.
• Support ECOs and design revisions affecting purchased parts.
• Identify alternate suppliers when risks arise.
• Develop and maintain relationships with domestic and international suppliers.
• Evaluate supplier performance on quality, delivery, cost.
• Support onboarding of new suppliers.
• Maintain supplier information and procurement records.
• Coordinate with Manufacturing and Supply Chain to ensure material availability.
• Monitor inventory levels of critical components.
• Assist with inventory accuracy and ERP transactions.
• Help improve purchasing processes and procurement workflows.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or schedule.
• Support procurement best practices and supplier development initiatives.

Skills

Negotiation

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems (NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Oracle, or similar)

Job description

Who We Are

Space Kinetic is a cleared, venture-backed startup focused on addressing urgent national security priorities. Our goal is to deliver a suite of asymmetric capabilities for space superiority and missile defense leveraging our proprietary electromechanical deployment system, which enables the rapid deployment of low-cost payloads through space without firing a thruster. Space Kinetic is currently assembling its TRL-5 prototype. Our goal is to leverage this platform to provide the United States with a new tool for securing the space domain and catalyzing the emerging space economy.

A New Paradigm For Space Operations

Who We Are

Space Kinetic is a cleared, venture-backed startup focused on addressing urgent national security priorities. Our goal is to deliver a suite of asymmetric capabilities for space superiority and missile defense leveraging our proprietary electromechanical deployment system, which enables the rapid deployment of low-cost payloads through space without firing a thruster. Space Kinetic is currently assembling its TRL-5 prototype. Our goal is to leverage this platform to provide the United States with a new tool for securing the space domain and catalyzing the emerging space economy.

This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building first-of-their-kind aerospace systems, requiring urgency, ownership, and a commitment to solving challenging technical problems.

What You'll Do

As a Buyer, you will support engineering and manufacturing by procuring the materials, components, and services required to rapidly develop and build next-generation aerospace hardware. You will work closely with engineers to source technically complex components, manage supplier relationships, negotiate pricing and lead times, and ensure critical hardware arrives on schedule.

Success in this role requires excellent communication, strong organizational skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced engineering environment where priorities can change quickly.

Responsibilities

Procurement & Purchasing

• Purchase aerospace components, raw materials, machined parts, electronics, and engineering services
• Create and manage purchase orders while ensuring timely delivery
• Request quotations (RFQs), evaluate supplier proposals, and negotiate pricing and lead times
• Expedite critical materials to support engineering and manufacturing schedules
• Resolve supplier delivery and quality issues

Engineering Support

• Work directly with engineering teams to understand technical purchasing requirements
• Source prototype and production hardware for development programs
• Support Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) and design revisions affecting purchased parts
• Identify alternate suppliers when schedule or technical risks arise

Supplier Management

• Develop and maintain relationships with domestic and international suppliers
• Evaluate supplier performance regarding quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost
• Support onboarding of new suppliers
• Maintain accurate supplier information and procurement records

Inventory & Material Coordination

• Coordinate with Manufacturing and Supply Chain to ensure material availability
• Monitor inventory levels of critical engineering components
• Support receiving and verification of purchased materials
• Assist with inventory accuracy and ERP transactions

Continuous Improvement

• Help improve purchasing processes and procurement workflows
• Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or schedule
• Support implementation of procurement best practices and supplier development initiatives

What It Takes

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 3+ years of purchasing or procurement experience in aerospace, defense, manufacturing, or high-technology industries
• Experience purchasing technical or engineered components
• Ability to read engineering drawings and Bills of Materials (BOMs) is preferred
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Oracle, or similar)
• Strong negotiation, organizational, and communication skills
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment
• U.S. Citizen or lawful permanent resident

What We'd Love

• Aerospace or spacecraft manufacturing experience
• Experience purchasing machined components, electronics, composites, or electromechanical assemblies
• Familiarity with FAR, DFARS, and ITAR requirements
• Experience supporting prototype and low-volume manufacturing
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Experience working directly with engineering teams
• Passion for the commercial and national security space industry

Where You'll Be

The position is onsite at our headquarters in El Segundo.

What We Offer

• Equity-Based Compensation
• Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Calendar
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Unique Performance-Based Bonus Structure

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C.1157, (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C.1158, or otherwise eligible to obtain the required U.S. Government authorizations.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

The annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.

Pay Range: $90,000 USD - $105,000 USD