Senior Buyer, Machining

Responsibilities

• Develop category specific strategies for the machining supply base to deliver high quality and low cost solutions for Vast Engineering and Manufacturing Customers
• Strong understanding of machining processes, including CNC milling, CNC turning, multi-axis machining, complex assemblies, special processes, and inspection requirements
• Experience sourcing tight-tolerance, low-volume/high-mix, prototype, development, or production machined hardware
• Interpret engineering drawings, CAD models, and technical specifications to ensure suppliers have the necessary capabilities.
• End-to-End Commodity Management: Manage assigned commodities from demand to contract fulfillment.
• Strategic & Tactical Execution: Apply sourcing and supplier management expertise across all organizational levels.
• Supply Base Development: Optimize the supply base to meet long-term program needs.
• Cost and Risk Reduction Strategy: Develop strategies to reduce total cost, lead time, and supply chain risk.
• Supplier Research & Negotiation: Conduct market research, assess suppliers, issue RFQs/RFPs, and lead contract negotiations.
• Integrated Sourcing Strategy: Align sourcing with program, customer, product lifecycle, and in-service support strategies.
• Supplier Performance Management: Oversee supply/demand planning, schedule adherence, quality, on-time delivery, and cost for suppliers.
• Supplier Development & Improvement: Lead supplier improvement initiatives and integrate results into strategies.
• Value Engineering & Cost Analysis: Drive value engineering, BOM cost breakdowns, and should-cost analysis.
• Seek alternate and innovative ideas to provide business solutions, challenge requirements and specifications to create competitive advantage

Minimum Qualifications

• 5 years in a Procurement role, 3 years in aerospace industry and/or manufacturing
• Bachelor of Science degree in Business, Engineering or Business-related field

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Ability to create and update request for proposals (RFPs), purchase orders (POs) and facilities work orders in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment
• Ability to make independent judgments with limited information
• Communication skills for relaying data (verbally and in-writing) between other employees, vendors, and customers
• Comfortable working in a high-stress environment balancing several projects at any given time, and the flexibility to adjust for abrupt changes in strategic direction
• Ability to balance multiple priorities with ambiguous instructions

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time
• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones

Pay Range

• Senior Buyer, Machining: $105,000 - $150,000

Pay Range

California $105,000—$150,000 USD

We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package.

Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks.

We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast's ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

U.s. Export Control Compliance Status

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.