Strategic Aerospace Buyer: Materials & Suppliers

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Burbank (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Senior Aerospace SSP is seeking a Senior Buyer to lead strategic sourcing for aerospace components, raw materials, and outside processing services, supporting production, engineering, and delivery requirements.

The role requires managing supplier performance, negotiating LTAs, analyzing capacity and risk, and coordinating with Planning, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality to meet cost, quality, and on-time delivery targets in a regulated aerospace environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Engineering, or related field preferred; OR ten (10) years of progressively responsible procurement experience in lieu of degree.
• Minimum 7 years of purchasing experience in a manufacturing environment, including at least 5 years purchasing aerospace manufactured components and/or raw materials.
• Strong negotiation, supplier management, and cost-analysis experience.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems such as Infor, Mapics, Epicor, SAP, Oracle, LN, Global Shop, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar.
• Working knowledge of metals terminology, record-keeping, and purchasing policy, procedure, and ethics.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and shift quickly between tasks.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to interact professionally with employees, suppliers, and customers at all levels.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency; proficient in Microsoft Word and general PC skills.

Responsibilities

• Procure aerospace components, assemblies, raw materials, and outside processing services in support of production schedules and customer requirements; quote, buy, and maintain assigned commodities at the best price consistent with quality and MRP requirements.
• Manage an assigned supplier portfolio, including commercial negotiations, on-time delivery, quality performance, capacity, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Review MRP-generated purchase recommendations and material requirements, and convert them into purchase orders while balancing inventory investment against customer demand.
• Negotiate pricing, long-term agreements (LTAs), lead times, payment terms, material lots, and cost reduction initiatives; identify and implement cost savings and cost-avoidance opportunities.
• Analyze supplier capacity, manufacturing constraints, and market conditions to proactively identify and mitigate supply chain risk; evaluate alternate materials and sources.
• Coordinate with Planning, Engineering, Manufacturing, Program Management, and Quality to resolve material shortages, clarify specifications, and expedite critical deliveries.
• Lead supplier recovery efforts and resolve delivery, quality, receiving, and invoice/accounting discrepancies within delegated authority.
• Select, evaluate, and qualify suppliers to meet AS9100/ISO-9001 quality standards and applicable government compliance requirements; support supplier audits and corrective action activities.
• Support new product introductions by sourcing qualified suppliers and ensuring material availability.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, and Bills of Material to ensure procurement requirements are clearly understood.
• Monitor and report supplier performance through key performance indicators, including on-time delivery, quality performance, lead time, cost savings, and supplier responsiveness.
• Ensure all purchasing activities comply with AS9100, ITAR/EAR, FAR/DFARS, customer requirements, and company procurement policy and ethics.
• Maintain accurate supplier and purchasing data within the ERP system; maintain MRP messages and notify suppliers of changes in a timely manner.
• Serve as liaison between the company and suppliers to ensure suppliers have the tools, specifications, and drawings needed, and to resolve procurement issues.
• Mentor junior buyers and contribute to the development of purchasing best practices.
• Maintain an organized, clean, and safe work area in accordance with safety standards; perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Negotiation

Supplier management

Cost analysis

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management

10 years procurement experience in lieu of degree

Tools

Infor

Mapics

Epicor

SAP

Oracle

LN

Global Shop

Microsoft Dynamics

Job description

Senior Aerospace SSP is seeking a Senior Buyer to lead strategic sourcing for aerospace components, raw materials, and outside processing services, supporting production, engineering, and delivery requirements.

The role requires managing supplier performance, negotiating LTAs, analyzing capacity and risk, and coordinating with Planning, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality to meet cost, quality, and on-time delivery targets in a regulated aerospace environment.