Procurement Manager

Procurement Manager

Location: Bloomfield, CT (Onsite)

About Liquid Piston Liquid Piston is a cutting‑edge engineering company developing advanced rotary internal combustion engines for aerospace, defense, and commercial applications. Our technology enables higher efficiency, compact form factors, and fuel flexibility, supporting mission‑critical and next‑generation systems.

Position Summary Liquid Piston is seeking an experienced Procurement Manager to lead sourcing, purchasing, and supplier management activities across engineering and R&D operations. This role is critical to ensuring timely, cost‑effective, and high‑quality procurement of materials, components, and services while supporting rapid development cycles and production scalability.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute procurement strategies aligned with company growth, engineering needs, and production timelines
• Manage sourcing and purchasing of direct and indirect materials, including machined parts, castings, electronics, raw materials, and specialized services
• Identify, evaluate, negotiate with, and manage suppliers to ensure quality, cost, delivery, and compliance requirements
• Lead contract negotiations, pricing agreements, and long‑term supplier partnerships
• Collaborate closely with Engineering and Program Management to support new product development and production readiness
• Monitor supplier performance, mitigate supply chain risks, and implement continuous improvement initiatives
• Ensure procurement processes comply with company policies, government contracting requirements (as applicable), and export controls
• Manage purchase orders, inventory levels, lead times, and cost controls
• Support make/buy decisions and cost‑reduction initiatives
• Maintain accurate procurement records and reporting for management review

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field (MBA or advanced degree a plus)
• 5+ years of procurement or supply chain experience in a manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or advanced technology environment
• Strong knowledge of sourcing, supplier negotiations, contract management, and cost analysis
• Experience working with engineered components and precision manufacturing suppliers
• Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems and procurement tools
• Understanding of government contracting, FAR/DFARS, or ITAR compliance preferred
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and cross‑functional collaboration skills
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, high‑growth, R&D‑driven environment

Benefits & Perks

• Flexible PTO: Work‑life balance and time to rest and recharge.
• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical and voluntary dental, and vision coverage.
• Equity Participation: Permanent employees receive RSUs (Restricted Stock Units).
• 401(k) Match: 401k with 100% matching up to 3% of salary and 50% of contributions between 3‑5%.
• Career Growth: Ongoing training, mentorship, and learning opportunities to accelerate your growth.

Our Culture At Liquid Piston, we embrace challenges, move fast, and celebrate curiosity. Our team thrives on collaboration, creativity, and perseverance. We understand that innovation involves risk—and we’re not afraid to fail as we move forward.

Equal Opportunity Employer Liquid Piston, Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will not be discriminated against, and receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status or disability.

All offers of employment at Liquid Piston are contingent upon successful completion of a pre‑employment background check and drug screening.

Salary: $145,000 - $165,000 (Bloomfield, CT)