Strategic Buyer

Machinalabs; West Chatsworth (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Machina Labs seeks a Strategic Buyer to manage procurement and material planning for the Robocraftsman production team. You will execute day-to-day purchasing, manage supplier relationships, and ensure on-time, on-spec delivery within budget.

You will own the full purchasing lifecycle, leveraging MRP/ERP, and collaborate with Engineering, Program Management, Quality, and Finance to align supply chain with production goals.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of procurement experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and blueprints.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and supplier management.
• Strong data analysis skills using BI tools and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Execute day-to-day procurement activities supporting Aerospace & Defense programs.
• Maintain MRP Schedule for assigned product line.
• Source and onboard suppliers, focusing on CNC & Sheet Metal Fabricators and COTS suppliers.
• Review and process purchase requisitions; create and manage purchase orders.
• Monitor supplier performance and deliverables; mitigate risks.
• Develop supplier forecasts aligned with production schedules.
• Support continuous improvement and cost-reduction initiatives.

Skills

Data analysis

Attention to detail

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, engineering, operations, accounting, or related field

APICS CPIM/CSCP certification

Tools

Sigma Computing

Power BI

Tableau

Excel

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

About Machina Labs:

Engineering moves at software speed. Manufacturing doesn't. Yet.

Machina Labs is changing that. We build intelligent, software-defined factories that produce complex metal structures directly from digital design. By integrating advanced metal forming, robotics, and automated production inside a flexible factory architecture, we enable customers to move from prototype to production in weeks, not years.

Backed by Lockheed Martin, Toyota, and NVIDIA, we're building the manufacturing infrastructure that defense, aerospace, and advanced mobility programs will run on.

If you want to work on hard problems that matter and see them fly, drive, and defend, this is the place.

Machina Labs is seeking a Strategic Buyer to support procurement and material planning activities for our Robocraftsman production team. This role is responsible for executing day-to-day purchasing operations, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring materials and services are delivered to specifications, on schedule, and within budget.

This individual will own the full purchasing lifecycle, implementing plans through MRP/ERP and partnering closely with Engineering, Program Management, Quality, and Finance to align our supply chain execution with production schedules and company goals. Success in this role requires strong attention to detail, technical and analytical problem solving, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional manufacturing environment.

• Execute day-to-day procurement activities supporting Aerospace & Defense programs.
• Maintain Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) Schedule for assigned product line.
• Source and support onboarding of suppliers, with a main focus on CNC & Sheet Metal Fabricators, and COTS suppliers.
• Review and process purchase requisitions.
• Create, Monitor, and manage purchase orders through receipt/closure, expedite critical materials, and adjust delivery schedules as production demands change.
• Monitor supplier performance, on time delivery, and quality metrics to support project objectives.
• Develop and issue supplier forecasts aligned with production schedules and project demand.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks to prevent production disruptions.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and contractual obligations.
• Work within ERP/MRP systems to track purchasing activity, inventory levels, and material status.
• Partner with Quality, Engineering, Product, and Finance, to support program milestones, resolve non-conforming materials, and documentation issues.
• Support continuous improvement and cost reduction initiatives across procurement and planning processes.

• 5+ years of procurement experience in a manufacturing environment
• Strong data analysis skills; proficiency with Sigma Computing, Power BI, Tableau, or similar BI tools, plus advanced Excel.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and blueprints.
• Experience working within ERP/MRP systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience sourcing make-to-print components.

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, engineering, operations, accounting, or another related field.
• APICS/ASCM CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent supply chain certification.
• Experience with continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma); familiarity with quality systems (ISO 9001 or similar) a plus.
• Proficiency in a second language — Mandarin, Spanish, Thai — a plus
• Experience sourcing across both North American and overseas supply bases.
• A proven track record sourcing build-to-print components and mechanical assemblies (CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, mechanical/hydraulic assemblies, cable and harness assemblies, box builds).

Machina Labs is an affirmative action and Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or status as a protected veteran in accordance with state and federal law.

We endeavor to make the job application process accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability that impacts your ability to complete the job application process and would like to request assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please contact us at [phone]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only, not to inquire about the status of applications.