Buyer/Purchaser, Senior

About the role

Join a defense technology company building counter-drone systems as its first dedicated Senior Buyer/Purchaser. You will establish and manage the entire procurement process, from sourcing critical components to negotiating with vendors and ensuring compliance. This role is crucial for scaling production of advanced robotics hardware.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Source and acquire all components for robotics bills of materials, including custom electronics, machined parts, actuators, cables, and cameras.
• Locate hard-to-find and allocated electronic components, such as NVIDIA Jetson modules and specialty sensors, through various channels while mitigating counterfeit risks.
• Manage the quote-to-purchase order cycle, negotiating terms, placing orders, and tracking deliveries to meet build schedules.
• Select and manage vendors, ensuring compliance with trade regulations, excluding Chinese suppliers, and prioritizing US-based sources.
• Develop and implement all purchasing processes, including PO workflows, vendor onboarding, and spend tracking.
• Choose and set up purchasing tools, from initial spreadsheets to an ERP/MRP system for production volumes.
• Maintain the approved vendor list and collaborate with engineering on part numbering and BOM accuracy.
• Provide regular reports on spend, open orders, lead-time risks, and cost trends to support planning.
• Transition the supply base from prototype to production volumes, qualifying vendors and negotiating volume pricing.
• Plan procurement based on production schedules, managing long-lead items and safety stock for critical parts.
• Work with engineering to optimize BOM health, monitor component lifecycles, and identify cost-reduction opportunities.
• Ensure procurement adheres to ITAR constraints, maintaining necessary documentation and traceability.
• Screen the supply chain to exclude prohibited sources and prevent Chinese-origin content in products.
• Implement strategies to prevent counterfeit components, prioritizing authorized channels and rigorous vetting for secondary markets.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in procurement or purchasing for physical hardware products (robotics, defense, aerospace, automotive, industrial equipment, or similar electromechanical systems).
• Demonstrated ability to source scarce and allocated electronics, including GPU modules, embedded compute, or image sensors.
• Experience purchasing custom PCB assemblies, machined metal parts, actuators/motors, cable assemblies, and cameras/sensors.
• Experience transitioning a product from prototype/low-volume to production purchasing, including vendor qualification and volume negotiation.
• A track record of establishing or significantly defining purchasing processes.
• Ability to work independently as a department of one, setting priorities and resolving issues without constant oversight.
• Strong negotiation skills with a range of vendors, from large distributors to small machine shops.
• Must be a US person (citizen or lawful permanent resident) for ITAR compliance.

Nice to have

• Experience in a defense or ITAR-regulated environment, familiar with NDAA Section 889 and country-of-origin verification.
• Experience selecting or implementing an ERP/MRP system in a growing hardware company.
• Existing relationships with electronics distributors (e.g., Arrow, Avnet, Digi-Key, Mouser), embedded-compute vendors, and domestic manufacturers.
• Experience with formal supplier qualification, audits, or purchasing in an AS9100/ISO 9001 environment.
• Early-stage startup experience, comfortable with ambiguity and building processes from scratch.

Skills & tools

• Procurement
• Vendor management
• Negotiation
• Supply chain compliance (ITAR, NDAA Section 889)
• ERP/MRP systems
• Bill of Materials (BOM) management
• Counterfeit risk mitigation

Practical notes

This is an on-site role in Austin, TX, working in an R&D and manufacturing facility for weapons systems. Expect an active shop floor and proximity to live-fire testing, with strict safety protocols. Occasional travel for vendor visits, audits, and industry events may be required. The interview process includes an initial phone screen, a virtual interview, and an on-site interview.