Buyer/Material Specialist

Gravitics Inc; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company equity

Medical insurance

401(k) retirement plan

PTO

Job summary

Gravitics is seeking a Buyer/Material Specialist to support procurement and material planning for mechanical and structural hardware across space structure programs. You will source components, manage supplier relationships, and maintain BOMs while aligning with production schedules to stay on track.

You will collaborate with Engineering, Production, and Finance to ensure parts arrive on time, at the right cost, and with the right quality to support aggressive hardware development timelines.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in supply chain, procurement, or materials planning (aerospace/defense/hardware manufacturing preferred).
• Experience with technical procurement of mechanical/structural commodities.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and manage BOMs.
• Strong negotiation and cross-functional communication skills.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment.
• Able to travel to suppliers (~25%).

Responsibilities

• Source mechanical, structural, and related hardware across Gravitics' space structure and habitat programs, often on expedited or compressed lead times.
• Issue and manage purchase orders, RFQs/RFPs, and supplier quotes, ensuring alignment with technical specifications and drawings.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and contracts with suppliers to drive cost reductions and favorable terms.
• Own supplier onboarding, qualification, and performance management with Quality department support.
• Serve as the primary point of contact between suppliers and internal stakeholders, resolving delivery, quality, and invoicing issues quickly.
• Maintain BOMs for mechanical/structural assemblies and coordinate with Engineering and Production for clear-to-build reviews.
• Track inventory levels and lead times to prevent shortages or excess; support high-mix production.

Skills

Engineering drawings

Negotiation

Cross-functional communication

Startup environment adaptability

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

SQL

Job description

At Gravitics, we're not exploring space-we're building it. We're creating the infrastructure for a thriving space economy, enabling humanity to flourish beyond Earth. Our vision is bold, but we're not just dreamers; we're doers. We design and manufacture large-scale orbital structures that enable commercial operations while meeting the requirements of defense and government missions.

About Gravitics

Our systems are built to scale and built to last - bridging commercial innovation with mission-critical performance. If you're ready to lay the foundations for a new era in space, embrace a culture of relentless learning and innovation, and contribute to a future where humanity's reach extends farther, Gravitics is the place for you. Let's build the future together.

About the Role

Gravitics is looking for a Buyer/Material Specialist to support the procurement and material planning needs of our mechanical and structural hardware supply chain. You will be responsible for sourcing components, managing supplier relationships, and maintaining the Bills of Material (BOM) and aligning with production scheduling to keep our build programs on track. This is a hands-on, cross-functional role that works closely with Engineering, Production, and Finance to ensure the right parts arrive on time, at the right cost, and at the right quality to support our aggressive hardware development timelines.

About You

As the Buyer/Material Specialist, you'll be the bridge between Engineering, Production, and our supplier base—translating technical designs and requirements into sourced, scheduled, and delivered hardware. You will own the procurement lifecycle from issuing the purchase order through material receipt, proactively mitigating supply chain risks to maintain uninterrupted production schedules.

Responsibilities

Technical Procurement

• Source mechanical, structural, and related hardware across Gravitics' space structure and habitat programs, often on expedited or compressed lead times
• Issue and manage purchase orders, RFQs/RFPs, and supplier quotes, ensuring alignment with technical specifications and drawings
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and contracts with suppliers to drive year-over-year cost reductions and favorable payment/delivery terms
• Own supplier onboarding, qualification, and performance management, with Quality department support, including on-site visits to monitor supplier health, capacity, and quality
• Serve as the primary point of contact between suppliers and internal stakeholders, resolving delivery, quality, and invoicing issues quickly

Material Planning

• Own and maintain Bills of Material (BOM) for mechanical and structural assemblies within your commodity area
• Partner with Engineering and Production to lead clear-to-build reviews and ensure long-lead items are flagged and managed proactively
• Track inventory levels and flow of materials to prevent shortages or excess while supporting high-mix, growing production volume
• Build and maintain internal reporting/analytics (spend, on-time delivery, lead times) to track supply chain performance and surface risks early

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years in supply chain, procurement, or materials planning (aerospace/defense/hardware manufacturing preferred)
• Experience with technical procurement of mechanical/structural commodities
• Ability to read engineering drawings and manage BOMs
• Strong negotiation and cross-functional communication skills
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment
• Able to travel to suppliers (~25%)

Bonus Points for

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• ERP/MRP or SQL experience
• AS9100 or NPI environment experience

Compensation and Benefits

Your level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the considerations of job-related knowledge and skills, education, and direct experience. Salary is just one component of the total employee package, which also includes company equity at an exciting time of company growth, as well as comprehensive medical, 401(k) retirement plan, a generous PTO policy, employee discounts, and more.

About Compliance

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Gravitics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin or ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

Salary Range: $70,000 USD - $95,000 USD