Technical Purchasing Specialist

Socket.dev; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 105,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SIXGEN is seeking a Technical Purchasing Specialist in Columbia, MD. This full-time, on-site role focuses on IT hardware, software licenses, warranties, and related services, coordinating with technical teams and vendors to ensure accurate specifications and compliant procurement.

You will review requests, translate requirements into procurement packages, and manage documentation throughout the lifecycle. Strong writing and collaboration skills are essential for success in this hybrid,

Qualifications

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business administration, information technology, communications, English, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience may be considered.
• Experience supporting purchasing, procurement, supply-chain operations, technical writing, or a combination of these functions.
• Working knowledge of enterprise IT products, including servers, networking equipment, storage platforms, workstations, software, and related components.
• Ability to read and interpret technical specifications, product data sheets, bills of materials, configuration information, and vendor quotations.
• Demonstrated ability to produce clear, concise, and technically accurate documentation.
• Strong written communication, editing, proofreading, research, and information-organization skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the procurement of enterprise IT hardware, software, licenses, warranties, maintenance agreements, and related services.
• Review purchase requests for completeness, technical accuracy, funding information, required delivery dates, and applicable approvals.
• Translate technical requirements into clear requests for quotation, bills of materials, procurement packages, and product comparison documents.
• Read, understand, and comply with current purchasing policies.
• Create, review, and revise existing processes to comply with purchasing policies.
• Research manufacturers, authorized resellers, distributors, and alternative products to identify suitable purchasing options.
• Obtain and evaluate vendor quotations based on price, technical compliance, availability, warranty coverage, lead time, and total cost of ownership.
• Prepare purchase orders and maintain supporting documentation throughout the procurement lifecycle.
• Work with technical personnel to validate model numbers, configurations, compatibility requirements, licensing terms, and product specifications before purchase.
• Communicate with vendors regarding quotations, order status, shipping schedules, backorders, substitutions, returns, and warranty claims.
• Monitor open purchases and proactively address delivery delays, product discontinuations, configuration discrepancies, and other fulfillment issues.
• Coordinate with receiving, inventory, and asset-management personnel to verify that delivered items match approved orders.
• Maintain organized procurement records, including quotations, approvals, purchase orders, invoices, packing slips, warranties, and product documentation.
• Support invoice reconciliation by identifying and resolving discrepancies among purchase orders, received goods, and vendor invoices.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, purchasing consolidation, standardization, and improved procurement processes.
• Ensure purchasing activities comply with organizational policies, contractual requirements, cybersecurity requirements, and applicable acquisition regulations.

Skills

Procurement coordination

Vendor communication

Technical documentation

MS Office proficiency

BOM interpretation

Cross-functional collaboration

Vendor research

Policy compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain management or related field

Tools

ERP systems

SharePoint

Confluence

Jira

ServiceNow

Job description

SIXGEN’s mission is to deliver agile, mission-ready cybersecurity solutions that empower government and critical infrastructure organizations to stay ahead of advanced cyber threats. We combine innovation, deep expertise, and cutting‑edge capabilities to uncover vulnerabilities, protect vital systems, and ensure operational superiority in an ever‑evolving digital landscape.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Position: Technical Purchasing Specialist Job Type: Full Time On-site Location: Columbia, MD Clearance Requirements: TS SCI Eligible with ability to pass CI polygraph Travel: 0%

WHAT YOU’LL DO

We are seeking a detail‑oriented Purchasing Specialist to support the acquisition, documentation, and process management of information technology equipment. This hybrid position combines procurement coordination with the development of clear, accurate technical and administrative documentation. The successful candidate will work closely with technical teams, vendors, program managers, finance personnel, and end users to ensure IT products are properly specified, competitively sourced, purchased, received, documented, and tracked.

The primary goods supported by this position include servers, networking equipment, storage systems, workstations, mobile devices, cybersecurity appliances, software licenses, warranties, maintenance agreements, cables, components, and related infrastructure.

This role requires a strong ability to manage coordination and deconfliction across multiple stakeholders who may have competing opinions on purchasing objectives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate the procurement of enterprise IT hardware, software, licenses, warranties, maintenance agreements, and related services.
• Review purchase requests for completeness, technical accuracy, funding information, required delivery dates, and applicable approvals.
• Translate technical requirements into clear requests for quotation, bills of materials, procurement packages, and product comparison documents.
• Read, understand, and comply with current purchasing policies.
• Create, review, and revise existing processes to comply with purchasing policies.
• Research manufacturers, authorized resellers, distributors, and alternative products to identify suitable purchasing options.
• Obtain and evaluate vendor quotations based on price, technical compliance, availability, warranty coverage, lead time, and total cost of ownership.
• Manage organization cryptocurrency storage and trading policies.
• Prepare purchase orders and maintain supporting documentation throughout the procurement lifecycle.
• Work with technical personnel to validate model numbers, configurations, compatibility requirements, licensing terms, and product specifications before purchase.
• Communicate with vendors regarding quotations, order status, shipping schedules, backorders, substitutions, returns, and warranty claims.
• Monitor open purchases and proactively address delivery delays, product discontinuations, configuration discrepancies, and other fulfillment issues.
• Coordinate with receiving, inventory, and asset‑management personnel to verify that delivered items match approved orders.
• Maintain organized procurement records, including quotations, approvals, purchase orders, invoices, packing slips, warranties, and product documentation.
• Support invoice reconciliation by identifying and resolving discrepancies among purchase orders, received goods, and vendor invoices.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, purchasing consolidation, standardization, and improved procurement processes.
• Ensure purchasing activities comply with organizational policies, contractual requirements, cybersecurity requirements, and applicable acquisition regulations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business administration, information technology, communications, English, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience may be considered.
• Experience supporting purchasing, procurement, supply‑chain operations, technical writing, or a combination of these functions.
• Working knowledge of enterprise IT products, including servers, networking equipment, storage platforms, workstations, software, and related components.
• Ability to read and interpret technical specifications, product data sheets, bills of materials, configuration information, and vendor quotations.
• Demonstrated ability to produce clear, concise, and technically accurate documentation.
• Strong written communication, editing, proofreading, research, and information‑organization skills.
• Experience using procurement, enterprise resource planning, inventory‑management, or financial‑management systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Sharepoint, and document collaboration platforms.
• Ability to create and maintain spreadsheets for cost comparisons, purchasing status, delivery tracking, and equipment inventories.
• Strong attention to detail, particularly when reviewing part numbers, configurations, quantities, prices, licensing terms, and shipping information.
• Ability to manage multiple purchasing and documentation assignments with competing deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to coordinate effectively with vendors, technical personnel, management, finance teams, and end users.
• Ability to independently research products, identify discrepancies, and recommend practical solutions.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Three or more years of experience in IT purchasing, technology procurement, technical writing, or IT asset management.
• Familiarity with enterprise hardware manufacturers, authorized resellers, distributors, and software‑licensing models.
• Experience with competitive purchasing, vendor evaluation, contract purchasing, or government acquisition processes.
• Working knowledge of cryptocurrency acquisition, security, and transfer basics.
• Familiarity with federal purchasing considerations, including Trade Agreements Act compliance, authorized sourcing, country‑of‑origin restrictions, and supply‑chain risk management.
• Experience developing standard operating procedures, user guides, technical manuals, configuration documents, and procurement justifications.
• Familiarity with document‑management, ticketing, inventory, or workflow platforms such as SharePoint, Confluence, Jira, ServiceNow, or comparable systems.
• Relevant certifications in procurement, supply‑chain management, technical communication, project management, or information technology.
• Experience working in a government contracting, regulated, or security‑conscious environment.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Procurement lifecycle and process coordination
• Cross‑functional coordination and conflict resolution
• Vendor and stakeholder communication
• Cost and quotation analysis
• Records and document management
• Process development and standardization
• IT product and configuration awareness
• Accuracy, organization, and follow‑through

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary range: $105,000 to $130,000

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. The final salary offer will be determined after a thorough review of the candidate's background and alignment with the role. Additionally, SIXGEN offers top‑tier benefits for full‑time employees, including:

• Employer‑paid health insurance premiums (medical, dental, vision) for you and your family
• Employer‑paid short/long term disability insurance and basic life/AD&D insurance
• 401K with a 4% employer contribution
• Professional development reimbursement options available (training, certification, education, etc.)
• Flexible PTO and holiday schedule

OUR COMMITMENT

SIXGEN is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We ensure that all applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, marital status, ancestry, projected veteran status, or any other protected group or class.