Buyer/Planner (Bilingual Mandarin)

CelLink; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

CelLink is seeking a Buyer/Planner for a fast-paced manufacturing environment in California. You will own material planning and purchasing to support production schedules and customer demand, coordinating with suppliers, production, engineering and finance to keep materials flowing.

You will monitor inventory, negotiate with suppliers, manage lead times and terms, and drive improvements in planning, inventory turns, and cost.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of experience in procurement, planning, or supply chain within a manufacturing environment.
• Mandarin language proficiency is required for supplier interactions.
• Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar).
• Strong Excel and data analysis skills.
• Familiarity with supplier negotiations, contract terms, and purchasing best practices.
• Understanding of production scheduling and inventory management principles.

Responsibilities

• Own material planning and purchasing activities to ensure materials are available to support production schedules and customer demand.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, manage purchase orders, delivery commitments, pricing discussions, and issue resolution.
• Monitor inventory levels, planning parameters, and material requirements within the ERP/MRP system to balance availability, inventory turns, and cost.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Finance to support production schedules and new product introductions.
• Analyze supply chain and planning metrics to identify risks and drive improvements.
• Proactively resolve shortages, schedule changes, and supply disruptions while maintaining production support.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across procurement, planning, and inventory management processes.

Skills

Procurement

Supply chain

Planning

Mandarin bilingual

Tools

SAP

Oracle

NetSuite

Job description

At CelLink, we're reinventing how power and data move through electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and next-generation technologies. Our flexible circuit technology replaces traditional wire harnesses with lighter, smarter, and more efficient solutions that are helping shape the future of electrification.

But none of that happens without the right materials showing up at the right time.

We're looking for a Buyer/Planner who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and enjoys being at the center of operations. You'll work closely with suppliers, production, engineering, and finance to keep materials flowing, solve supply chain challenges, and ensure our manufacturing teams have what they need to build world-class products.

This is a role for someone who loves balancing the puzzle, managing inventory, negotiating with suppliers, adjusting to changing demand, and keeping production moving forward.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Own material planning and purchasing activities to ensure raw materials and components are available to support production schedules and customer demand.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, managing purchase orders, delivery commitments, pricing discussions, and issue resolution to ensure reliable supply.
• Monitor inventory levels, planning parameters, and material requirements within the ERP/MRP system to balance availability, inventory turns, and cost.
• Partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Finance teams to support production schedules, engineering changes, and new product introductions.
• Analyze supply chain and planning metrics, including inventory performance, supplier on-time delivery, and purchasing trends to identify risks and drive improvements.
• Proactively resolve material shortages, schedule changes, and supply disruptions while maintaining a high level of customer and production support.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across procurement, planning, and inventory management processes to improve efficiency, scalability, and operational performance.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• 2–4 years of experience in procurement, planning, or supply chain within a manufacturing environment.
• Bilingual in Mandarin is a must.
• Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar).
• Strong Excel and data analysis skills.
• Familiarity with supplier negotiations, contract terms, and purchasingbest practices.
• Understandingofproduction scheduling and inventory management principles.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

Working Conditions/Hours

Full-time/Salaried

Office Hours

Available/willing to work overtime to meet project commitments as required.

Work Environment – Office

Includes both a typical office environment, with minimal exposure to excessive noise or adverse environmental issues, and a shop environment, with exposure to high noise levels from operating machines, physical hazards from moving equipment and machine parts, nuisance dust, and exposure to hazardous materials used in the manufacturing process.

Work Environment – Manufacturing/Shop Environment

Includes a shop environment, with exposure to high noise levels from operating machines, physical hazards from moving equipment and machine parts, nuisance dust, and skin exposure to hazardous materials used during the material prep process.

PPE

Ear Protection that meets minimum OSHA requirements is recommended in areas of high noise levels.

We believe diversity and inclusion among our teammates are essential to our success. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees while building teams that represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We are an equal opportunity employer. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. CelLink participates in the E-Verify program in specific locations as required by law.

CelLink was founded in 2012 and entered volume production in 2018. CelLink provides electrical systems to the world's leading automotive OEMs & EV manufacturers, data center developers, and stationary power companies. The company has raised approximately $315M in funding through private investment and multiple grants from the US Department of Energy. CelLink’s investors include 3M, Atreides, BMW, BorgWarner, Bosch, D1 Capital, Fidelity, Fontinalis Partners, Ford, Franklin Templeton, Lear, Park West, SK Telecom, Standard Investments, T. Rowe Price, Tinicum, and Whale Rock