Buyer III

Epitec; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

80 hours PTO

Medical insurance contributions

Dental and vision coverage

401k retirement plan

Job summary

Epitec seeks a Direct Buyer to support procurement for aerospace direct materials, electronics, and COTS. You will manage full purchasing lifecycle, source and evaluate suppliers, and align with engineering and quality teams to ensure cost, quality, and delivery targets.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years in procurement, strong negotiation skills, and hands-on experience with SAP/Oracle/Coupa, thriving in a fast-paced environment. Position located in CA with on-site work expectations.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of procurement or purchasing experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field
• Hands-on experience purchasing COTS products and electronic hardware/components
• Strong supplier sourcing and management experience
• Proven ability to negotiate pricing, terms, and delivery commitments
• Experience with ERP or procurement platforms such as SAP, Oracle, or Coupa
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple suppliers and priorities in a fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end procurement for direct materials, COTS products, electronics components, and aerospace goods/services.
• Convert requisitions into purchase orders per purchasing procedures.
• Source and evaluate suppliers on cost, quality, delivery, and service.
• Prepare RFQs/RFPs, analyze bids, support supplier selection.
• Monitor supplier commitments and drive on-time delivery.
• Identify opportunities for catalog purchasing and standardization.
• Build and maintain relationships with manufacturers and suppliers.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and lead times; resolve delivery and quality issues.
• Work with engineering and quality teams to meet technical requirements.
• Maintain records to support audits and reporting.

Skills

Procurement experience

Direct buying experience

Negotiation

Supplier management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Multi-tasking in fast-paced env

Education

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

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Coupa

Job description

Job Title

Direct Buyer

Location

Multiple- El Segundo, CA; Altadena, CA; Kent, WA

Travel

N/A

Job Type

Full Time, Contract

Expected hours per week

40

Schedule

Morning Shift

Pay

$65.00-$80.00/hr

*Pay dependent on candidate location*

*Sponsorship not available for this opportunity*

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Direct Buyer to support procurement activities within a fast-paced aerospace manufacturing environment.

In this role, you’ll manage the full purchasing lifecycle for direct materials, electronic components, COTS products, and aerospace-related goods and services. You’ll work closely with suppliers, engineering, quality, and internal stakeholders to ensure materials are sourced at the right cost, quality, and delivery schedule.

This is a great opportunity for a procurement professional with strong direct buying, supplier management, negotiation, and electronics or aerospace purchasing experience.

Direct Procurement & Sourcing

• Manage the end-to-end procurement process for direct materials, COTS products, discrete electronic components, and aerospace goods/services
• Convert purchase requisitions into purchase orders while following company purchasing procedures
• Source and evaluate suppliers based on cost, quality, delivery, and service
• Prepare and manage RFQs and RFPs, analyze bids, and support supplier selection
• Monitor supplier commitments and drive on-time delivery
• Identify opportunities for catalog purchasing and standardization

Supplier Management & Negotiation

• Build and maintain strong relationships with manufacturers, distributors, and other suppliers
• Negotiate pricing, terms, conditions, lead times, and overall value
• Track supplier performance and resolve delivery, quality, and invoice issues
• Partner with suppliers to maintain schedules and prevent supply disruptions

Aerospace Procurement

• Purchase materials, components, hardware, and services used in aerospace applications
• Work with engineering and quality teams to understand technical requirements
• Ensure suppliers meet applicable quality, traceability, certification, and compliance requirements
• Maintain accurate purchasing records and documentation to support audits and reporting

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years of procurement or purchasing experience, ideally in a direct buying environment
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
• Hands-on experience purchasing COTS products and electronic hardware/components
• Strong supplier sourcing and management experience
• Proven ability to negotiate pricing, commercial terms, and delivery commitments
• Experience with ERP or procurement platforms such as SAP, Oracle, or Coupa
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple suppliers and priorities in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Experience

• Aerospace, defense, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment
• Knowledge of aerospace quality and procurement compliance requirements
• Experience with Coupa and/or Costpoint
• Strategic sourcing or category management experience
• CPM, CPSM, or similar supply chain/procurement certification

Why This Role?

You’ll have the opportunity to apply your procurement expertise in a technically challenging aerospace environment where supplier performance, quality, cost, and delivery directly impact critical programs. This position offers exposure to engineering, quality, supply chain, and highly specialized suppliers while managing meaningful direct-spend categories.

Benefits

• 80 hours paid time off
• medical insurance contributions
• dental vision
• our 401k retirement savings plan