Category Buyer

Giga Energy; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Subsidized health, dental, and vision

Equity (options)

401(k) with 4% employer match

Unlimited PTO

Parental leave

FSA/HSA

Commuter benefits

On-site team events

Job summary

Giga Energy is building AI data centers at scale and is seeking a Category Buyer for transformers. You will own end-to-end procurement for transformer components, run supplier sourcing, place and manage POs, and develop strategies to improve cost and delivery performance.

This role is based in Houston with onsite expectations and bi-weekly WFH Fridays. You’ll collaborate with Engineering, Quality, and Operations, manage long-lead items, and drive supplier qualifications and risk management

Qualifications

• 5+ years in procurement, sourcing, or commodity management.
• Experience buying core & coil materials (electrical steel, magnet wire) or transformer components a strong plus.
• Hands-on experience running RFI/RFQ processes, negotiating supplier contracts, and issuing/managing POs.
• Track record of managing long lead-time and supply-constrained categories.
• Strong negotiation skills with a track record of delivering measurable cost reduction.

Responsibilities

• Order Execution & Delivery: place and manage POs to maintain tight delivery timelines.
• Track open orders and supplier commitments; expedite as needed to prevent production delays.
• Own on-time delivery performance for the transformer category and drive corrective action.
• Sourcing & Negotiation: run RFI/RFQ for components like metal tanks and core & coil; negotiate terms.
• Identify, qualify, and onboard new suppliers; draft and manage supplier contracts.

Skills

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Clear communication

PO management

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Dynamics 365

NetSuite

Job description

About Giga Giga is building gigawatts of AI data centers to hasten a future of intelligence and abundance. We build data centers fast and at scale by combining the capabilities of an equipment supplier, engineering firm, general contractor, and real estate developer under one roof. Our team moves quickly and thinks practically. If you're ready to make an impact in an industry that matters, we're looking for people like you.

Why join Giga The Pace: We're building at a speed most companies talk about but never actually operate at. If you've been bored somewhere else, you won't be here. The Impact : Every person at Giga touches the work that matters. No layers, no waiting for approval chains. You'll see your fingerprints on what we ship. The Team: A team of operators defining the future of AI infrastructure. We recruit A-players from the most innovative companies in the world, and they choose Giga because the work here means more. The Moment : AI doesn't run without power, and that's us. Giga is the picks and shovels behind the AI revolution. This industry is about to explode, and you'll be in the room where it's already happening.

What you’ll do

The Category Buyer for the Transformers category owns the end-to-end buy for everything that goes into a transformer — metal tanks, core & coil, dielectric oil, and final assembly components. You will run supplier sourcing and negotiations, place and manage purchase orders to keep production on schedule, and build the category strategy that drives cost down and delivery performance up over time. This role is central to keeping our transformer line fed with the right materials, at the right cost, on time.

Where you’ll work

We are an in-office culture — velocity matters when you're building physical infrastructure, and the best decisions happen in the room. This role is ideally based in our Houston plant location, with full-time onsite expectations outside of bi-weekly WFH Fridays.

Responsibilities

• Order Execution & Delivery
• Place and manage purchase orders for metal tanks, core & coil, dielectric oil, and transformer assembly components to maintain tight delivery timelines
• Track open orders and supplier commitments; expedite as needed to prevent production line disruptions
• Own on-time delivery performance for the transformer category and drive corrective action when suppliers miss commitments
• Sourcing & Negotiation
• Run the RFI/RFQ process for new and existing components — metal tanks, core & coil (electrical steel, copper/aluminum winding), oil, and assembly hardware
• Negotiate component costs, payment terms, and supplier contracts to meet category cost targets
• Identify, qualify, and onboard new suppliers to strengthen the transformer supply base, including tank fabricators and core & coil winders
• Draft and manage supplier contracts, including terms, pricing schedules, and volume commitments
• Risk Management
• Manage risk on long lead-time items — core steel, copper/aluminum winding, and custom-fabricated tanks — through buffer strategies, alternate sourcing, and early-warning tracking
• Monitor supply base health and flag single-source or capacity risks before they impact production
• Partner with Quality and Engineering on supplier qualification and material substitutions when risk requires it
• Commodity Strategy & Performance
• Build and maintain the commodity strategy for the transformer category — sourcing roadmap, supplier consolidation, and cost-down initiatives
• Track and report supplier performance: on-time delivery, quality, cost, and responsiveness
• Drive year-over-year cost reduction through negotiation, should-cost analysis, and supplier competition
• Stay current on steel, copper, aluminum, and transformer oil market pricing trends to inform buying and negotiation timing

Requirements

• 5+ years in procurement, sourcing, or commodity management, ideally in transformer, electrical equipment, or heavy industrial manufacturing
• Experience buying core & coil materials (electrical steel, magnet wire), metal tanks/fabrications, or dielectric fluids a strong plus
• Hands-on experience running RFI/RFQ processes, negotiating supplier contracts, and issuing/managing POs
• Track record of managing long lead-time and supply-constrained categories
• Strong negotiation skills with a track record of delivering measurable cost reduction
• Comfortable working with ERP/procurement systems for PO management and reporting
• Ability to read BOMs and component specifications to support sourcing decisions
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to work cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, and Operations

Bonus points

• Experience in transformer or switchboard manufacturing, familiarity with electrical infrastructure
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, Dynamics365, NetSuite, etc.)
• Experience with establishing a vendor network from the ground up

How We Work

We value people who take ownership, raise risks early, communicate directly, and follow through. Incomplete information is part of the job. Make the best decision you can, document it, and adjust as the facts change. Move quickly on reversible decisions and take more care when security, safety, financial, employee, or customer risk is involved.

Benefits

• Subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance
• Equity (options) in a rapidly growing startup
• 401(k) with 4% employer match
• Unlimited PTO
• Parental leave
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Commuter benefits, where applicable
• Opportunities to collaborate in person at periodic team and company on-sites

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Giga Energy is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. Giga Energy complies with all applicable labor laws, including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and other relevant state and federal regulations. We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage applicants who require accommodations during the hiring process to contact us.