Technical Buyer

Actalent; Sugar Land (TX); On-site; USD 62,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Disability insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Technical Buyer in Sugar Land, TX to lead sourcing and procurement for complex projects. You will manage the full source‑to‑pay lifecycle, interpret specs and drawings, negotiate favorable terms, and coordinate with Engineering, Project Management, and Quality to ensure on‑time delivery and compliance.

The role emphasizes cost optimization, supplier risk assessment, and strong documentation control in a contract‑to‑hire setup with 30% travel and onsite work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, or Business.
• Experience in engineering or project-based procurement.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, BOMs, data sheets, and scopes of work.
• ERP/MRP experience for purchasing and supply chain management.
• Strong negotiation and supplier evaluation abilities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary procurement contact through full source-to-pay process.
• Review technical specs, drawings, BOMs to identify procurement needs.
• Source, evaluate, and negotiate with suppliers for best overall value.
• Manage RFQs, bid evaluations, POs, expediting, change orders, and invoice resolution.
• Collaborate with Engineering, PM, Quality, Supply Chain to meet specs, budgets, and schedules.
• Develop supplier relationships, assess capabilities and risks, drive cost savings.
• Create and manage POs with accurate pricing, scope, and delivery.
• Coordinate with logistics and project stakeholders to track orders and shipments.
• Monitor supplier performance and mitigate schedule or quality risks.
• Analyze quotations, market conditions, and total cost factors for decisions.
• Maintain procurement documentation and reporting; drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Procurement

ERP/MRP

Sourcing

Negotiation

Engineering drawings

Vendor management

Communication

Cost optimization

Attention to detail

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, or Business

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Job Description

The Technical Buyer is responsible for sourcing and procuring equipment, construction materials, fabrication services, specialized labor, and other goods and services required to support complex project execution. This role partners closely with Engineering, Project Management, Supply Chain, Quality, Logistics, Finance, and suppliers to ensure all purchases meet technical specifications, quality standards, project budgets, contractual obligations, and schedule commitments. The Technical Buyer leads the full source-to-pay process, secures competitive total cost and favorable commercial terms, and supports project profitability while mitigating risk and achieving overall business objectives.

Job Description

The Technical Buyer is responsible for sourcing and procuring equipment, construction materials, fabrication services, specialized labor, and other goods and services required to support complex project execution. This role partners closely with Engineering, Project Management, Supply Chain, Quality, Logistics, Finance, and suppliers to ensure all purchases meet technical specifications, quality standards, project budgets, contractual obligations, and schedule commitments. The Technical Buyer leads the full source-to-pay process, secures competitive total cost and favorable commercial terms, and supports project profitability while mitigating risk and achieving overall business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary procurement contact for assigned suppliers throughout the full source-to-pay process, including requests for information (RFIs), requests for quotation (RFQs), bid analysis, supplier selection, negotiations, purchase order placement, expediting, change management, invoice resolution, and project closeout.
• Review and interpret technical specifications, engineering drawings, bills of materials, data sheets, and scopes of work to identify procurement requirements and support effective supplier selection.
• Source, evaluate, and negotiate with suppliers to secure the best combination of cost, quality, delivery performance, and commercial terms in line with project and business objectives.
• Manage the full procurement lifecycle, including RFQs, bid evaluations, purchase order creation, expediting activities, change order management, and resolution of invoice issues.
• Partner with Engineering, Project Management, Quality, Supply Chain, and other stakeholders to ensure purchased goods and services meet technical requirements, budget constraints, and project schedules.
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships, assess supplier capabilities and risks, and drive cost savings, supply continuity, and overall procurement performance.
• Create, issue, and manage purchase orders, ensuring accurate pricing, scope, delivery requirements, and compliance with project specifications and contractual terms.
• Coordinate closely with suppliers, logistics teams, and project stakeholders to track orders, manage shipments, and ensure on‑time delivery of materials and services.
• Monitor supplier performance and expedite critical orders to proactively mitigate risks related to schedule delays, quality issues, capacity constraints, and other supply chain disruptions.
• Analyze supplier quotations, market conditions, and total cost factors to support sourcing decisions, negotiations, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Resolve purchase order changes, invoice discrepancies, nonconforming materials, warranty claims, and other commercial issues while maintaining proper documentation and approvals.
• Maintain accurate and complete procurement documentation, including sourcing records, supplier agreements, purchase orders, change orders, and delivery status updates.
• Track and report key procurement metrics such as cost savings, committed spend, supplier performance, delivery status, and project risks, and use these insights to drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure all procurement activities align with organizational policies, project requirements, and contractual obligations while supporting overall business objectives.

Essential Skills

• 6+ years of experience as a Technical Buyer or in a similar technical procurement role.
• Proven experience in purchasing and procurement within an engineering or project-based environment.
• Strong ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, bills of material, technical specifications, data sheets, and scopes of work.
• Hands‑on experience using ERP and MRP systems to manage purchasing and supply chain activities.
• Demonstrated buying experience, including vendor management, supplier evaluation, and negotiation.
• Solid understanding of supply chain principles and practices, including sourcing, logistics, and inventory considerations.
• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to secure competitive total cost and favorable commercial terms.
• Experience managing purchase orders, including creation, tracking, expediting, and change management.
• Ability to monitor and manage supplier performance, including cost, quality, delivery, and service levels.
• Bachelors degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, or Business.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross‑functional teams and external suppliers.
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate supplier quotations, assess market conditions, and support cost optimization.
• High attention to detail and accuracy in documentation, pricing, terms, and delivery requirements.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Professional certifications such as APICS, CPSM, or CIPS are highly desirable.
• Training or certification in Lean, Six Sigma, or Lean Six Sigma methodologies is a plus.
• Experience working with complex, technical projects involving equipment, construction materials, fabrication services, and specialized labor.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain strategic supplier relationships and assess supplier risk.
• Experience tracking and reporting procurement metrics such as cost savings, committed spend, and supplier performance.
• Ability to travel up to approximately 30% of the time, both domestically and internationally, to visit suppliers and support project needs.
• Strong problem‑solving skills with the ability to resolve commercial issues such as nonconforming materials, warranty claims, and invoice discrepancies.
• Comfort working in a dynamic, project‑driven environment with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.

Work Environment

The role is primarily office‑based, with approximately 90% of the time spent in a professional office environment and about 10% spent onsite with vendors. The position involves frequent collaboration with cross‑functional teams and regular interaction with suppliers, both in person and remotely. The Technical Buyer uses ERP and MRP systems and other standard business tools to manage procurement activities, documentation, and reporting. The role includes up to around 30% travel, domestically and internationally, to visit supplier facilities, support project needs, and oversee critical orders. The work environment emphasizes structured processes, clear documentation, and close coordination across Engineering, Project Management, Supply Chain, Quality, Logistics, and Finance to ensure timely and cost‑effective delivery of materials and services.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Sugar Land, TX.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $50.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long‑term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Sugar Land, TX.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 30, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Sugar Land,TX.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News‑Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.