Space & Defense Buyer — Strategic Procurement Lead

Karman Space & Defense; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Health Savings Account (HSA) with com‑

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Company‑paid life and AD&D insurance

Short-and long‑term disability

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Karman Space and Defense is seeking a Buyer to support production and development programs by acquiring critical materials, components, and services. You will strengthen supplier relationships, coordinate delivery schedules, track performance, and help mitigate supply-chain risks in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment.

Responsibilities include leading supplier coordination, monitoring orders, and ensuring on-time delivery across programs while aligning with regulatory requirements and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business, engineering, or a related field.
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office, Excel, and Outlook.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in procurement or strategic sourcing, preferably within the space, aerospace, or defense industries.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong time‑management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical practices and strong attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Builds relationships with existing and internal suppliers, coordinates delivery schedules, and evaluates supplier performance.
• Leads regular supplier tag-ups to monitor open orders, address bottlenecks, and mitigate delivery risks.
• Monitors market trends and supply-chain material shortages to support proactive procurement planning.
• Coordinates Manufacturing Readiness Reviews with suppliers to assess production capacity, delivery performance, quality reliability, and compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements.
• Supports risk‑mitigation efforts by evaluating supply‑base strengths and weaknesses and developing contingency plans for critical components.
• Processes purchase requisitions to issue purchase orders and tracks part deliveries across programs and departments.

Skills

Microsoft Office

Excel

Outlook

Communication skills

Time management

Ethical practices

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business, engineering, or related field

Tools

Epicor ERP

Job description

Karman Space and Defense is seeking a Buyer to support production and development programs by acquiring critical materials, components, and services. You will strengthen supplier relationships, coordinate delivery schedules, track performance, and help mitigate supply-chain risks in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment.

Responsibilities include leading supplier coordination, monitoring orders, and ensuring on-time delivery across programs while aligning with regulatory requirements and