Strategic Materials Planner & Buyer — Aerospace

Competitive Engineering Inc; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Competitive Engineering Inc. is seeking a Buyer/Planner to ensure materials, hardware, tooling, and services are planned and available to meet production schedules and customer commitments.

The role owns supplier relationships end to end, quotes, negotiates, and uses the ERP system to determine what to buy and when. The position supports production with material readiness, lead-time management, and coordination with Shipping, Receiving, and Quality.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of purchasing, procurement, planning, or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience negotiating pricing, terms, and delivery commitments with suppliers.
• Experience using an ERP system to plan material needs, including shortages, open orders, and inventory levels.
• Working knowledge of outside processing services and lead-time realities for machined/finished parts.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, bills of material, and routers to plan and buy to specification.
• Experience managing purchase orders and supplier data in an ERP system.
• Strong follow-through and clear written communication, including the willingness to escape early.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, particularly Excel and Outlook.
• Must be a U.S. Person as defined by ITAR 22 CFR 120.62.

Responsibilities

• Material Planning: review job requirements, BOMs, on-hand inventory, and open POs to determine what to buy and when.
• Purchase materials, hardware, tooling, and services, managing lead times to support production.
• Create and manage purchase orders for outside processing services.
• Request and evaluate supplier quotations and negotiate terms to maximize value.
• Identify and qualify new suppliers when current vendors fail to meet requirements.
• Monitor supplier performance and resolve supply chain, quality, and delivery issues.
• Coordinate daily with Shipping/Receiving to ensure on-time delivery and handoffs.
• Maintain accurate PO, supplier, pricing, and planning data in the ERP system.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Vendor management

Reading engineering drawings

Education

Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field

APICS/ASCM CPIM/CSCP or ISM CPSM certification

Tools

Epicor

ERP systems

Microsoft 365 (Excel, Outlook)

Job description

Competitive Engineering Inc. is seeking a Buyer/Planner to ensure materials, hardware, tooling, and services are planned and available to meet production schedules and customer commitments.

The role owns supplier relationships end to end, quotes, negotiates, and uses the ERP system to determine what to buy and when. The position supports production with material readiness, lead-time management, and coordination with Shipping, Receiving, and Quality.