Buyer III

Blue Origin LLC; Altadena (CA); On-site; USD 96,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life insurance

401(k) with company match

Education Support Program

Stock options

Paid time off

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC is seeking a Buyer III to manage tactical procurement for multiple departments within Blue Origin Operations. You will handle supplier communications, price analyses, RFPs/RFQs, and negotiations to ensure timely delivery of materials and services.

This role emphasizes compliance with FAR/DFAR and AS9100 quality standards. The position reports to the Blue Origin Operations purchasing team and requires a strong background in avionics, machined parts, and major subcontracts, with an

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or higher degree in a relevant field and extensive procurement/supply chain experience.
• Master's degree preferred with strong tactical procurement background.
• Knowledge of U.S. government regulations (FAR/DFAR) and compliance standards.
• Strong analytical and data-driven skills with program metric tracking.
• Ability to develop negotiation plans for various contract types.
• Understanding of AS9100 quality management system requirements.
• Ability to interpret engineering data (drawings, SOW) and communicate recommendations.
• Experience in avionics, machined parts, raw materials, or major subcontracts.

Responsibilities

• Prioritize and execute program requirements to meet Blue Origin needs.
• Maintain compliance with Blue Origin Supply Chain and FAR standards.
• Demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Prepare RFx/RFQ, perform price analyses, and lead negotiations.
• Construct contracting types for major procurement activities and improvements.
• Own the procurement process from requisition to final payment and resolve issues.
• Support strategic procurement direction to deliver materials on time and within budget.

Skills

FAR/DFAR compliance

SOX compliance

Analytical skills

Price analysis

Negotiation planning

AS9100 knowledge

Engineering data interpretation

Avionics procurement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration / Management, Accounting, Economics, Finance, Engineering, or related field

Master's degree in Business Administration / Management, Accounting, Economics, Finance, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Application close date: Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed. At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight! - At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight! This role is part of Blue Origin Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. As part of a small, passionate, hardworking, and accomplished team of experts, you will support the performance of day-to-day tactical purchasing functions for various departments as well as provide support for a small team of buyers. You will share in the team’s impact on all aspects of supplier communications, products, equipment, and services pricing, quality, and schedule and will be responsible for supplier management and performance. You will serve as a primary point of contact and escalation for your assigned procurements. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable spaceflight.

Responsibilities

• Our Buyer III will ensure program requirements are appropriately prioritized and executed to meet the needs of Blue Origin.
• They will be competent in Blue Origin Supply Chain and Federal Acquisition Regulations compliance standards, strategies, and initiatives.
• They have excellent oral and written skills, and solid communication skills.
• They also have experience preparing and issuing Requests for Proposal / Requests for Quote, writing price reasonableness determination / price analyses in support of supplier proposals, and have led formal negotiations of all types (pricing, terms and conditions, scope of work, schedule, etc.)
• Our Buyer III is experienced in constructing various contracting types for major procurement activities to meet the requirements of the programs and needs of the business, continuous improvement initiatives, and identification of opportunities for enhanced efficiencies.
• They take ownership of the procurement process from requisition creation through final payment of invoices and are accountable to resolve issues within this process.
• They will support the overall procurement organization's strategic direction and ensure corporate strategic objectives are achieved to include delivery of production materials that are on time, within budget, and meet technical performance requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration / Management, Accounting, Economics, Finance, Engineering, or a related field with a minimum of 8 years of tactical experience in procurement / supply chain;
• Master's degree in Business Administration / Management, Accounting, Economics, Finance, Engineering, or a related filed with a minimum of 5 years of tactical experience in procurement / supply chain
• Interprets and applies company policies, procedures, work instructions, business standards and U.S. government regulations, i.e., FAR, DFAR, SOX Compliance
• Strong analytical skills, data driven with experience in establishing and tracking program metrics
• Ability to perform written price reasonableness determinations / price analyses using various pricing methods and data sources
• Ability to develop negotiation plans for negotiations of all types, including, but not limited to, pricing, terms and conditions, FAR / customer contract flowdowns, schedule, scope of work
• Working understanding of AS9100 quality management system requirements
• Ability to interpret engineering data such as specifications, drawings, & supplier statements of work, and make suggestions internally to our customers & externally to our suppliers based off this data
• Experience in procurement of avionics, machined parts, raw materials, and / or major subcontracts

Base Pay Range for: CA applicants is $96,074.00 - $134,502.90

Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check Required for all positions

Blue’s Standard Background Check

Required for Certain Job Profiles:

• Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation
• Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing, vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.
• Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

Benefits

• Medical
• dental
• vision
• basic and supplemental life insurance
• paid parental leave
• short and long-term disability
• 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%
• Education Support Program

Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)

Paid Time Off

Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here. Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s…

Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request. We’re committed to building the road to space so our children can build the future. We are a mission-driven company focused on ideas and innovation, and encourage fresh perspectives from bold voices. At Blue, our team is building the future as their unique selves. Thank you for your interest in working at Blue Origin! Blue Origin was founded with a vision to enable a future where millions of people are living and working in space to benefit Earth.