Senior Buyer

Axiom Space; Houston, Northern (TX, KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Axiom Space in Houston seeks a Senior Buyer to lead the full procurement lifecycle for high-value, technically demanding purchases supporting programs and operations. You will negotiate with strategic suppliers, manage subcontracts, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements throughout the lifecycle.

The role requires cross-functional collaboration with Engineering, Program Management, Finance, Contracts, and Quality, and involves developing RFQs/RFPs, conducting market research, and

Qualifications

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business administration, finance, engineering, or a related field required; 8 to 12 years purchasing, procurement or supply chain experience
• Demonstrated experience managing complex subcontracts and purchase orders with values exceeding $1M
• Proven experience with FAR and DFARS compliant procurement in a government contracting environment
• Experience with ERP systems - Costpoint, SAP, Deltek, or equivalent required
• Demonstrated experience conducting price and cost analysis, and competitive source selection
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a high-tempo, ambiguous, and evolving environment
• Strong organizational and analytical skills with attention to detail and follow-through
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Contributes positively to team culture, especially during high-demand periods
• Uses good judgement to problem-solve proactively, positively impacting hard challenges
• Demonstrated organization skills to meet tight deadlines with high quality results

Responsibilities

• Execute the full procurement lifecycle from pre-procurement planning through contract closeout for complex, high-value, and technically sensitive purchases
• Develop, issue, and manage competitive solicitations including RFQ/RFP/IFB
• Conduct thorough price and cost analysis to establish fair and reasonable pricing
• Negotiate terms, conditions, pricing, delivery, and performance with suppliers
• Draft, review, and administer purchase orders, blanket orders, and subcontracts
• Manage supplier and subcontractor performance with milestone tracking and invoice review
• Process purchase order modifications and change orders
• Coordinate subcontract closeout activities and final invoicing
• Identify and escalate compliance concerns to Procurement leadership
• Ensure all suppliers are verified on the Approved Supplier List
• Conduct NDA verification prior to release of proprietary data
• Partner with Engineering, Program Management, Finance, Contracts, and Quality to align procurement with program requirements
• Participate in program reviews and supplier meetings as Procurement representative
• Support development of Statements of Work and technical specs
• Coordinate with Accounts Payable to resolve invoice discrepancies
• Provide procurement guidance to material planners and junior buyers

Skills

Price analysis

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Procurement strategy

Contract management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business administration, finance, engineering, or related field

8–12 years purchasing/procurement/supply chain experience

Tools

Costpoint

SAP

Deltek

Job description

Axiom Space is a human space exploration company, building era-defining space infrastructure and delivering technology-driven solutions that will empower civilization to transcend Earth. Beginning with Axiom Station, successor to the International Space Station, the company is pioneering a next-generation orbital settlement that will foster groundbreaking innovation and research in microgravity and drive the global space economy of tomorrow. Today, guided by the vision of leading humanity's expansion off planet, Axiom Space is the principal provider of commercial human spaceflight services and developer of advanced spacesuits for the Moon and beyond. For more information about Axiom Space, visit www.axiomspace.com. Axiom Space fosters a work environment inclusive of all perspectives. We are the pioneers of commercial space, leading the transformation of low-Earth orbit into a global space marketplace. Our mission-driven team is seeking a bold and dynamic Senior Buyer who is fueled by high accountability, execution horsepower, and driven to understand our world, science/technology, and life itself, for the benefit of all on Earth and beyond.

POSITION SUMMARY

Since Axiom Space is a very complex work environment, we are looking for a resilient, high-energy Senior Buyer who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic setting. The Senior Buyer is a seasoned procurement professional responsible for managing the full procurement lifecycle for complex, high-value, and technically demanding purchases of materials, equipment, and services in support of organizational programs and operations. The Senior Buyer serves as a subject matter expert within the Procurement team, providing guidance to junior buyers, leading negotiations with strategic suppliers, and ensuring all procurement activities are executed in full compliance with applicable regulations, policies, and contractual requirements. This role requires a high degree of independent judgment, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, program-driven environment.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Execute the full procurement lifecycle from pre-procurement planning through contract closeout for complex, high-value, and technically sensitive purchases including materials, equipment, services, and subcontracts
• Develop, issue, and manage competitive solicitations including Requests for Quotation (RFQ), Requests for Proposal (RFP), and Invitations for Bid (IFB) in accordance with organizational policy and applicable regulations
• Conduct thorough price and cost analysis to establish fair and reasonable pricing prior to award including market research, and competitive benchmarking
• Negotiate terms, conditions, pricing, delivery, and performance requirements with suppliers and subcontractors to achieve best value outcomes for the organization
• Draft, review, and administer purchase orders, blanket purchase orders, and subcontracts including all required terms, conditions, quality clauses, and regulatory flow-downs
• Manage supplier and subcontractor performance throughout the period of performance including milestone tracking, delivery monitoring, invoice review, and issue resolution
• Process purchase order modifications, amendments, and change orders in a timely and accurate manner
• Coordinate subcontract closeout activities including final invoice reconciliation, deliverable acceptance confirmation, and file documentation
• Identify and escalation compliance concerns, conflicts of interest, or potential ethics violations to Procurement leadership
• Ensure all suppliers providing classed materials or services are verified on the Approved Supplier List prior to award in coordination with Procurement Quality
• Conduct and document Non-Disclosure Agreement verification prior to release of any proprietary technical data or drawings to suppliers
• Partner with Engineering, Program Management, Finance, Contracts, Configuration Management, and Quality to ensure procurement activities align with program requirements, budgets, and schedules
• Participate in program reviews, integrated product team meetings, and supplier technical interchange meetings as the Procurement representative
• Support the development and review of Statements of Work, technical specifications, and acceptance criteria in collaboration with engineering and technical stakeholders
• Coordinate with Accounts Payable to resolve invoice discrepancies, payment holds, and supplier account issues in a timely manner
• Provide procurement guidance and training to Material Planners, requisitioners, and junior buyers on process requirements and best practices

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Finance, Engineering, or a related field required, 8 to 12 years of purchasing, procurement or supply chain experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated experience managing complex subcontracts and purchase orders with values exceeding $1M
• Proven experience with FAR and DFARS compliant procurement in a government contracting environment
• Experience with ERP systems - Costpoint, SAP, Deltek, or equivalent required
• Demonstrated experience conducting price and cost analysis, and competitive source selection
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a high-tempo, ambiguous, and evolving environment
• Strong organizational and analytical skills with attention to detail and follow-through
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Contributes positively to team culture, especially during high-demand periods
• Uses good judgement to problem-solve proactively, positively impacting hard challenges
• Demonstrated organization skills to meet tight deadlines with high quality results

Core Skills Passion for space and the mission Entrepreneurial, growth mindset High EQ and ability to collaborate within teams and cross-functionally Tech-solutioning in using systems and tools to move smarter and faster

Core Competencies:

Embody our core values of leadership, innovation, and teamwork. In addition, to perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Accountability
• Technical Rigor
• Execution Discipline
• Pride of Delivery

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Generally, an office environment, but can involve inside or outside work depending on the task.

Requirements This position may require access to export controlled technical data or technology subject to NASA regulations, International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). In accordance with U.S. export control laws, final candidates may be required to undergo additional export control screening to determine eligibility for access. Meeting these requirements is a condition of employment. Management has the prerogative to select at any level for which the position is advertised. Must be willing to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet critical project milestones.

Physical Requirements

• Work may involve sitting or standing for extended periods (90% of the time)
• May require lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. (5% of the time)

Equipment and Machines

Standard office equipment (PC, phone, printer, etc.)

Axiom Space is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Axiom Space does not discriminate on the basis of race, regional color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Axiom Space is building the world’s first commercial space station - Axiom Station. Serving as a cornerstone for sustained human presence in space, this next-generation orbital platform fosters groundbreaking innovation and research in microgravity, and cultivates the vibrant, global space economy of tomorrow. Today, driven by the vision of leading humanity's journey off planet, Axiom Space is the principal provider of commercial human spaceflight services to the International Space Station and developer of advanced spacesuits for the Moon and low-Earth orbit. Axiom Space is building era-defining space infrastructure that will empower our civilization to transcend Earth for the benefit of every human, everywhere.