Senior Buyer New Hawthorne, California, United States

Vast Space Llc.; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Vast Space Llc. is seeking a Senior Buyer in Hawthorne to lead procurement for space engine components, tooling, and avionics. You will partner with engineering and manufacturing to optimize cost, quality, and delivery while driving supplier performance and new process adoption.

In this role, you will own BOM cost analysis, conduct should-cost studies, and mentor the procurement team. You will manage RFQs/POs and work closely with cross-functional teams to meet program milestones.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree required in supply chain, business or engineering.
• 4 years in procurement, 2 in aerospace, 2 in traceability roles.
• 2 years experience with ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Build a strategic supply chain for engine components and related hardware.
• Understand BOM cost and perform should-cost analyses.
• Collaborate with engineering to align goals and timelines.
• Partner with manufacturing and engineering to identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Address delivery blockages and improve processes or KPIs.
• Mentor the team and provide commodity training.
• RFQ and PO issuance within established service levels.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain, Business or Engineering

Tools

ERP system

Job description

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.

Vast is looking for a Senior Buyer, reporting to the E-2 Manager of Supply Chain, to create the world’s highest performing engine for small launchers, while optimizing for production and low cost. In this role, you will join a team with exciting momentum that has produced and successfully tested fully integrated engine development samples. You will be a key member who will help transition the system from development to production.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Hawthorne location.

Responsibilities

• Build up a strategic supply chain supporting engine components including off-the-shelf components, tools, material, avionics components, and any hardware assemblies associated with it
• Understand BOM cost and run should-cost analysis
• Create and take part in meetings with engineering to develop a strong rapport
• Work closely with manufacturing and engineering teams to identify and execute cost savings opportunities
• Alleviate any delivery blockages including supply, quality or invoice disputes; Identify areas for improvement and develop new processes or KPI’s to further team development
• Be a mentor for the team and provide training on the commodity to cross-train team
• Have a good understanding of global markets and economics and its effect on Aerospace Supply Chains; Issue RFQ’s, PO’s within a timely manner and maintain established service levels for quotes, purchase orders and updates
• Ability to balance multiple priorities with ambiguous instructions

Minimum Qualifications

• 4 years in a procurement function, 2 years in aerospace
• 2 years in a position requiring traceability
• 2 years working with an ERP system
• Bachelor of Science degree in Supply Chain, Business or Engineering

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Knowledge of computer applications and the ability to easily navigate through different computer software programs
• Ability to create and update request for proposals (RFPs), purchase orders (POs) and facilities work orders in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment
• Ability to make independent judgments with limited information