Procurement Buyer II/III

CAES Systems LLC; California, San Diego (MO, CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

CAES Systems LLC is seeking a full-time Buyer to oversee material procurement and supplier management in a dynamic manufacturing environment. The role involves collaboration across departments to ensure timely procurement aligned with production schedules, while maintaining inventory levels and supporting Lean initiatives. Ideal candidates will have experience in purchasing within manufacturing and strong negotiation skills.

Qualifications

• 5+ years purchasing experience in manufacturing or 3+ years with Bachelor's degree.
• Experience leading Lean initiatives.
• Intermediate Excel skills required.

Responsibilities

• Determine material requirements and negotiate contracts for purchases.
• Manage supplier relationships and ensure delivery standards.
• Produce and present material status reports for program reviews.

Skills

Negotiation

Supplier Management

Cost-saving Initiatives

Lean Initiatives

Intermediate Excel Skills

Education

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Delivering mission-critical, electronic solutions that protect lives. Use your creativity and critical thinking to take our products from concept to customer.

At CAES, we engineer solutions for the world's most critical missions, serving customers in the defense and aerospace markets.

Seeking a challenging, diverse project environment with opportunities for long-term professional growth? Valuing a diverse, team-based environment? Consider CAES.

Our Core Value

The most important thing we build is TRUST

Position Overview

This full-time onsite Buyer role involves collaborating across departments to plan, schedule, and monitor material movement through the production cycle, ensuring timely procurement based on engineering and production schedules. Responsibilities include maintaining inventory levels, resolving discrepancies, evaluating supplier reliability, and developing new supply sources to support Department of Defense (DOD) certification.

Key Responsibilities

1. Determine material requirements, source, negotiate, and award contracts for direct, indirect, and capital equipment purchases to support production schedules.
2. Manage new customer requirements and ensure timely release of purchase requisitions.
3. Evaluate current programs and support program needs through ERP signals, quality issues, and production impacts.
4. Create and verify purchase requisitions and orders for accuracy and compliance.
5. Obtain quotations, expedite orders, and manage supplier relationships to ensure delivery and quality standards.
6. Negotiate complex awards, manage cost initiatives, and ensure the best value for CAES.
7. Coordinate with suppliers and internal teams, including Value Stream, Manufacturing, and Engineering.
8. Produce and present material status reports for program reviews.
9. Participate in supplier visits, audits, and performance evaluations, providing feedback for continuous improvement.
10. Maintain accurate supplier and pricing data in ERP systems.
11. Support safety, Lean/Six Sigma initiatives, and KPI reporting.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's degree with 5+ years or Bachelor's degree with 3+ years purchasing experience in manufacturing, including cost-saving initiatives.
• Experience leading Lean initiatives and intermediate Excel skills.
• Eligibility under US export laws as a