Buyer

Trident Maritime Systems; Newport News (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) plan

Job summary

Trident Maritime Systems in Newport News, VA is seeking a Buyer to source, purchase, and manage materials and services for defense manufacturing. You will ensure on-time delivery of critical-path items, adhere to FAR/DFARS and ITAR, and align with corporate supply chain strategy while collaborating with planning, production, inventory, and quality teams.

Responsibilities include issuing purchase orders, negotiating terms, maintaining records in Oracle ERP, and mitigating supply chain risks.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years purchasing or supply chain experience.
• FAR/DFARS compliance knowledge.
• Experience with Oracle ERP.

Responsibilities

• Issue purchase orders aligned with production schedules and requirements.
• Ensure FAR/DFARS and ITAR compliance.
• Maintain purchasing records in Oracle ERP.
• Identify and develop suppliers with favorable pricing.
• Collaborate with planning, inventory, engineering, and quality.
• Track spend against budgets and report to leadership.
• Mitigate supply chain risks and lead times.

Skills

Negotiation

Vendor management

Supply chain

Procurement

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field

Tools

Oracle ERP

Job description

Job description: Buyer

Position Summary

The Buyer is responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and managing materials and services to support Trident Maritime Systems production operations. This role ensures timely delivery of critical-path materials, compliance with FAR/DFARS requirements, and alignment with corporate supply chain strategy. The Buyer will collaborate closely with planning, production, inventory, and quality teams to maintain supplier performance, control costs, and mitigate risks in a fast-paced defense manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Procurement Execution
• Issue purchase orders for raw materials, components, and subcontracted services in alignment with production schedules and customer requirements.
• Ensure all procurement activity complies with FAR/DFARS, ITAR, and internal policies.
• Maintain accuracy of purchasing records and data in Oracle ERP.
• Supplier Management
• Identify, qualify, and develop suppliers to ensure competitive pricing, capacity, and delivery reliability.
• Negotiate terms, pricing, and delivery schedules.
• Monitor vendor performance and resolve delivery, quality, or invoice discrepancies.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Work closely with Planning and Inventory to ensure material availability to support on-time production.
• Partner with Engineering and Quality to validate specifications and certifications for purchased items.
• Support outsourcing travelers and subcontracted work orders to ensure timely execution.
• Cost & Risk Management
• Analyze cost drivers and recommend sourcing strategies to reduce lead times and total cost of ownership.
• Track spend against budgets and provide reporting to leadership.
• Proactively identify and mitigate supply chain risks that could impact production schedules.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field (preferred) OR equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years of purchasing or supply chain experience, preferably in defense, shipbuilding, or heavy manufacturing.
• Working knowledge of FAR/DFARS compliance and government contracting regulations (preferred).
• Experience with ERP systems (Oracle experience strongly preferred).
• Strong negotiation, communication, and vendor management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment

Must have ability to pass pre-employment drug-screen and background check

Schedule

• Standard schedule: Monday – Friday, 6:00 AM – 2:30 PM.
• Competitive benefits package (medical, dental, vision, 401k).
• Opportunities for professional development and certifications (CPSM, NCMA, etc.).
• Involvement in critical U.S. Navy programs with a direct impact on national defense.

Job Type: Full-time

Work Location: In person