Buyer

PDS Defense, Inc.; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

PDS Defense, Inc. in Miami, FL is seeking an Aerospace Engineering Parts/Components Buyer to source, negotiate, and manage vendors. This role supports production scheduling and inventory planning to ensure on-time delivery of materials and components for aerospace projects.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years in procurement within manufacturing, with ERP/MRP proficiency and strong negotiation skills. Prior aerospace/auto sector experience is preferred; office-based role with close cross-functional

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience with purchasing certification by a recognized body.
• 3–5 years procurement/purchasing experience in manufacturing, with exposure to production planning.
• Experience in aerospace or automotive manufacturing preferred.

Responsibilities

• Source, purchase, and manage vendors for materials, equipment, and supplies.
• Negotiate prices, terms, and contracts with suppliers and maintain supplier performance data.
• Use ERP to determine orders and monitor material availability and pricing.
• Support lead-time reduction, cost reduction, and improved payment terms initiatives.
• Collaborate with Business Development, Engineering, Quality, and Production teams.

Skills

ERP/MRP systems

Negotiation

Supplier relations

Cost analysis

Procurement processes

Team collaboration

Production planning

Education

BA/BS in related field

Purchasing CPSM/CPM or APICS

Tools

MS Office

ERP/MRP software

Job description

Light Industrial/Manufacturing

Buyer

Miami, FL Posted: 9/28/2026

Job Description

Job ID#: 226481

Job Category: Light Industrial/Manufacturing

Position Type: Associate - W2

Shift: 1

PDS Defense, Inc. is seeking a Aerospace Engineering Parts/Components Buyer, in Miami, FL.

Job Description

The Buyer is primarily responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and vendor management, serving as the company's focal point for procurement execution, supplier negotiations, and material cost and lead-time management. The role also provides light support to production scheduling, helping ensure materials and components are tracked and available to meet manufacturing needs, while maintaining strong vendor relationships, competitive pricing, and accurate inventory levels.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Locate, evaluate, and select vendors of materials, equipment, or supplies; lead price negotiations and terms/conditions with vendors and suppliers.
• Use the ERP system to determine order quantities and issue purchase orders; analyze market and delivery conditions to assess present and future material availability and pricing.
• Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy; develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures.
• Support initiatives on lead-time reduction, supplier rationalization, material cost reduction, improved payment terms, quality, and delivery; prepare reports on supplier performance and market conditions.
• Resolve vendor or contractor grievances and claims against suppliers; represent the company in negotiating contracts and formulating policies with suppliers.
• Interface with other departments (Business Development/Sales, Engineering, Quality, Production, Purchasing) to resolve problems with the timely delivery of products.
• Maintain the Qualified Supplier database, including surveying suppliers as required.
• Participate in the development of specifications for equipment, products, or substitute materials.
• Provide light support to production scheduling and inventory planning as needed, including creating job orders and picking lists, monitoring material availability, and liaising with the Repair Station and Production teams to ensure schedule and inventory requirements are met.
• Other duties as required.

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS in a related field, a Purchasing Certification from a recognized professional organization (e.g., CPSM, CPM), APICS certification, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in procurement/purchasing, with some exposure to production planning, in a manufacturing environment.
• Prior experience with an aerospace or automotive manufacturing company strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proficient in the use of ERP/MRP systems.
• Proficient in the MS Office software suite, with emphasis on spreadsheet analysis.
• Broad understanding of procurement processes and supply chain management.
• Strong negotiation, cost analysis, and supplier relationship management skills.
• Sustained, dependable attendance.
• Cooperation with others in a team environment for cross-training and conferring on operational issues.
• Initiative in learning and changing work methods to accomplish assigned tasks in a timely manner, and to assist in other areas of the business as needed.

Work Environment

This role is located primarily in an office environment, with regular exposure to the manufacturing floor. Noise levels are usually moderate, though the employee may be exposed to varying temperatures when on the production floor, such as near machinery, loading docks, or storage areas. The employee interacts regularly with cross-functional teams, including Production, Quality, Engineering, and Purchasing, as well as external vendors and suppliers, through in-person meetings, phone calls, and email. This is a fast-paced environment with frequent shifting priorities and multiple concurrent deadlines, and the employee may occasionally need to work outside standard business hours to accommodate vendor time zones or urgent production needs.

Physical Requirements

• Regularly required to sit for long periods of time.
• Regularly required to walk up and down stairs.
• Regularly required to talk or hear.
• Regular use of hands to finger, handle, or feel.
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds; occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Vision abilities include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Benefits offered to vary by the contract. Depending on your temporary assignment, benefits may include direct deposit, free career counseling services, 401(k), select paid holidays, short-term disability insurance, skills training, employee referral bonus, affordable medical coverage plan, and DailyPay (in some locations).

Job Requirements

Minimum Security Clearance: No Clearance

Military connected talent encouraged to apply.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit http://www.tadpgs.com/candidate-privacy/ or https://pdsdefense.com/candidate-privacy/

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act
• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance