Job Title: Direct Buyer
Location: Multiple- El Segundo, CA; Altadena, CA; Kent, WA
Travel: N/A
Job Type: Full Time, Contract
Expected hours per week: 40
Schedule: Morning Shift
Pay: $65.00-$80.00/hr
*Pay dependent on candidate location*
*Sponsorship not available for this opportunity*
Job Description:
We are seeking an experienced Direct Buyer to support procurement activities within a fast-paced aerospace manufacturing environment.
In this role, you’ll manage the full purchasing lifecycle for direct materials, electronic components, COTS products, and aerospace-related goods and services. You’ll work closely with suppliers, engineering, quality, and internal stakeholders to ensure materials are sourced at the right cost, quality, and delivery schedule.
This is a great opportunity for a procurement professional with strong direct buying, supplier management, negotiation, and electronics or aerospace purchasing experience.
What You’ll Do
Direct Procurement & Sourcing
- Manage the end-to-end procurement process for direct materials, COTS products, discrete electronic components, and aerospace goods/services
- Convert purchase requisitions into purchase orders while following company purchasing procedures
- Source and evaluate suppliers based on cost, quality, delivery, and service
- Prepare and manage RFQs and RFPs, analyze bids, and support supplier selection
- Monitor supplier commitments and drive on-time delivery
- Identify opportunities for catalog purchasing and standardization
Supplier Management & Negotiation
- Build and maintain strong relationships with manufacturers, distributors, and other suppliers
- Negotiate pricing, terms, conditions, lead times, and overall value
- Track supplier performance and resolve delivery, quality, and invoice issues
- Partner with suppliers to maintain schedules and prevent supply disruptions
Aerospace Procurement
- Purchase materials, components, hardware, and services used in aerospace applications
- Work with engineering and quality teams to understand technical requirements
- Ensure suppliers meet applicable quality, traceability, certification, and compliance requirements
- Maintain accurate purchasing records and documentation to support audits and reporting
What We’re Looking For
- 5+ years of procurement or purchasing experience, ideally in a direct buying environment
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
- Hands-on experience purchasing COTS products and electronic hardware/components
- Strong supplier sourcing and management experience
- Proven ability to negotiate pricing, commercial terms, and delivery commitments
- Experience with ERP or procurement platforms such as SAP, Oracle, or Coupa
- Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple suppliers and priorities in a fast-paced environment
Preferred Experience
- Aerospace, defense, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment
- Knowledge of aerospace quality and procurement compliance requirements
- Experience with Coupa and/or Costpoint
- Strategic sourcing or category management experience
- CPM, CPSM, or similar supply chain/procurement certification
Why This Role?
You’ll have the opportunity to apply your procurement expertise in a technically challenging aerospace environment where supplier performance, quality, cost, and delivery directly impact critical programs. This position offers exposure to engineering, quality, supply chain, and highly specialized suppliers while managing meaningful direct-spend categories.
Benefits: 80 hours paid time off, and medical insurance contributions, dental vision and our 401k retirement savings plan
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