Buyer

Karman Space & Defense; Mukilteo (WA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Health Savings Account (HSA) with plan

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Company‑paid life and AD&D insurance

Short‑ and long‑term disability

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Karman Space & Defense in Mukilteo, WA, is seeking an experienced procurement professional to secure materials, components, and services for aerospace programs. You will manage supplier relationships, drive strategic sourcing, and support production in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment, ensuring material readiness and timely program progress.

Responsibilities include coordinating delivery schedules, reviewing supplier performance, mitigating risks, and conducting readiness reviews with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required (supply chain, business, or engineering).
• 5+ years in procurement or strategic sourcing in space/aerospace/defense.
• MS Office proficiency (Excel, Outlook).
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent time management in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to ethical practices and compliance.
• Active DoD Secret clearance or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Build partnerships with internal and external suppliers to support program and production needs.
• Coordinate delivery schedules and monitor supplier performance to meet timelines.
• Lead regular supplier meetings to review orders, identify bottlenecks, and address delivery risks.
• Track market trends and assess material availability within the supply chain.
• Conduct Manufacturing Readiness Reviews with suppliers to evaluate capacity, quality, and contracts.
• Support supply chain risk mitigation with contingency plans.
• Process purchase requisitions to issue purchase orders and manage delivery tracking.

Skills

Procurement experience

Supply chain management

DoD procurement

MS Office (Excel, Outlook)

Communication skills

Time management

Ethical compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business, or engineering

Tools

Epicor ERP

Job description

Karman Space & Defense is a leader in the rapid design, development, and production of critical, next-generation system solutions that align with the U.S. Department of War and its allies’ core mission priorities, and meet the accelerating demand for access to space. Building on nearly 50 years of success, we deliver Payload & Protection Systems, Aero/Hydrodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion & Launch Systems to more than 80 prime contractors supporting over 130 space and defense programs.

This role is part of our Hypersonics and Strategic Missile Defense business, which designs, develops, and delivers highly dependable missile systems for hypersonic and strategic missile defense missions. We provide integrated, mission-ready hardware that brings together multiple technologies into unified systems engineered to perform in demanding operational environments. Our tip-to-tail capabilities include payload protection and deployment systems, propulsion systems, aerodynamic interstage systems, separation systems, missile subsystems, shroud systems, launch systems, and payload integration solutions.

In this role, you will help secure the materials, components, and services essential for advanced aerospace and defense programs. You will manage supplier relationships, drive strategic sourcing, and support production and development efforts in a fast-paced and highly regulated environment. Your work will ensure material readiness, mitigate supply risks, and maintain steady progress toward program goals.

Responsibilities

• Builds strong partnerships with internal and external suppliers to support program and production needs.
• Coordinates delivery schedules and monitors supplier performance to ensure alignment with program timelines.
• Leads regular tag-ups with suppliers to review open orders, identify bottlenecks, and address delivery risks.
• Tracks market trends and monitors material availability within the supply chain.
• Conducts Manufacturing Readiness Reviews with suppliers to evaluate production capacity, quality performance, and contractual compliance.
• Supports supply chain risk mitigation by assessing supplier strengths and weaknesses and developing contingency plans.
• Processes purchase requisitions to issue purchase orders and manages part delivery tracking.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business, engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in procurement or strategic sourcing, preferably within space, aerospace, or defense industries.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (MS Office), including Excel and Outlook.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective relationships.
• Proven time management skills, including managing multiple priorities and maintaining attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical practices and high attention to detail.
• A current U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one.

Preferred Qualifications

• Epicor Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) experience.
• 10 or more years of experience in supplier management or supply chain administration.
• Experience in the space and defense industry.

Special Mentions

• Travel: Occasional travel up to 10%.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Company‑paid life and AD&D insurance
• Short‑ and long‑term disability coverage
• Tuition reimbursement

Karman Space and Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.