Senior Indirect Buyer

Mainspring Energy, Inc.; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 98,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RSUs

Onsite at Menlo Park HQ

Pre-IPO equity

Benefits

Job summary

Mainspring Energy, Inc is seeking an experienced Indirect Procurement leader for its Menlo Park HQ. You will manage suppliers from RFQ to PO, negotiate contracts, and ensure on-time delivery while aligning with cost, quality, and risk objectives.

This on-site role offers RSUs and a competitive benefits package, with collaboration across IT, finance, and operations in a fast-growing environment.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years experience in indirect procurement in a Mechanical/Electronics Manufacturing environment with relevant categories (Prod. Equipment, Tools, MRO, etc).
• Negotiation experience across global supplier markets.
• Commercial and legal understanding of contracts.
• Independent, excellent communicator with internal stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical capabilities.
• Proficient with ERP packages.

Responsibilities

• Forecast and plan purchasing needs from lead times and inventory with input on business risks and use of capital.
• Manage all phases of procure-to-pay: RFQs, approvals, tracking POs, and shipping.
• Drive cost reduction activities and pursue reductions where possible.
• Build and manage supplier relationships and act as the primary interface with suppliers on delivery status and issues.
• Establish VMI / Kanban programs to maintain steady supply of indirect materials.
• Communicate proactively with stakeholders about order status and schedule challenges; manage change orders, rush requests, and returns.
• Adapt purchasing strategies to fluctuating production volumes and balance flexibility with cost efficiency.
• Follow through to ensure on-time delivery to support revenue/shipment plan.
• Partner with IT and other stakeholders on planning processes and system improvements.
• Drive cost reduction through competitive bidding and sourcing new suppliers.
• Negotiate complex contracts involving large spends.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Analytical skills

Cross-functional

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business / Economics / Supply Chain

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Google Workspace

Job description

About Mainspring

Mainspring Energy manufactures and delivers fuel-flexible, low-emissions local power solutions that rapidly add new capacity and deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable electric power. The company began commercial shipments of its Mainspring Linear Generators in 2020 and today has hundreds of megawatts in advanced development and field operations for leading Fortune 500 companies, data centers, and utilities. Mainspring also partners with global energy leaders including AEP, NextEra Energy Resources, Schneider Electric, and more.

The core values that ground our work, guide our decisions, and connect us together:

• Pragmatic Optimism
• Excellence without Ego
• Proactive Collaboration

Job Overview

Mainspring is growing rapidly and starting to manufacture its Linear Generators, with numerous purchases (Non ProductionMaterials, CAPEX, Services, MRO) to be planned, executed, and tracked. You will excel at managing suppliers from RFQ to PO and contracts, On time Supply, quality checks, and payment. You are highly organized, communicative, hands-on and will thrive in a nimble fast-paced environment that involves regular cross-functional engagement with multiple Departments.

Responsibilities

• Forecast and plan purchasing needs from lead times and inventory, with input on business risks and use-of-capital
• Manage all phases of the procure-to-pay process, including administering competitive RFQs, gaining approvals, tracking the progress of POs, and shipping
• Drive cost reduction activities, pursuing reductions where possible
• Build and manage effective supplier relationships and act as the primary interface with suppliers on delivery status, issues, and problem resolution
• Establish VMI / Kanban Programs to maintain a steady supply of indirect materials to support operational efficiency
• Communicate proactively with stakeholders about order status and schedule challenges, and manage change orders, rush-requests, and returns, as necessary
• Adapt purchasing strategies to support fluctuating production volumes as Mainspring scales manufacturing, balancing flexibility for demand variability with cost efficiency
• Follow through to ensure on-time delivery to support revenue/shipment plan
• Partner with IT and other business stakeholders on Planning processes and system improvements
• Drive cost reduction through competitive bidding, sourcing new suppliers
• Independently develop & negotiate complex contracts & agreements involving large spends
• Provide a high level of service to Internal customers in performing the above responsibilities
• Display high levels of business ethics when dealing with suppliers & business partners
• Practice & display MSE core values

Qualifications

• At least 10 years Experience in Indirect procurement in a Mechanical/Electronics Manufacturing environment with a background in relevant categories (Prod. Equipment, Tools, Material Handling, MRO, Utilities, Facility Mgmt. Maintenance Services and Spare Parts)
• Negotiation experience across the global supplier markets
• Commercial and legal understanding of contracts
• Independent, excellent communicator, and collaborator with internal stakeholders
• Detail-oriented with thorough analytical capabilities including the ability to solve problems with minimal supervision
• Proficient with Excel and Google Workspace suite. Experience with ERP packages
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain Management or similar discipline

$98,000 - $115,000 a year

This position is onsite at our Menlo Park HQ. The salary will be adjusted to reflect local market conditions based on employee location as well as the experience of the employee. Along with base salary, Mainspring offers pre-IPO company equity through Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) + benefits.

Does your experience not meet all of our posted requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to positions unless they meet every listed requirement. At Mainspring, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, flexible, and collaborative environment, so if you want to help us transition the world to clean and affordable electricity, and don’t meet all posted requirements for a particular role, we’d still love to hear from you. Mainspring can sometimes be flexible enough to shift responsibilities for the right person, or otherwise identify open or upcoming roles that may better fit your professional background.

In more traditional words, Mainspring Energy, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

This compensation and benefits information is based on Mainspring Energy's estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future. We generally do not negotiate on salary once we have made an offer. The level of pay within the range will depend on a variety of job-related factors that may include location, relevant prior experience and/or education, or particular skills and expertise. New hires joining the company tend to be paid within the starting base pay range noted above, with opportunities to increase pay over time based on development of additional skills, competencies, and company-specific knowledge.