Senior Buyer; DRT

Senior Buyer (DRT)

Req

Location:

GERMANTOWN, MD, US, 20876

Date:
May 28, 2026

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI) is a U.S. company headquartered in Clarksburg, MD that has served domestic and international defense Air, Land and Sea domains for over 60 years. With more than 1,000 employees and four subsidiaries, TDSI supports U.S. Joint Services, special operations forces and multi‑national partners with a variety of communication, visualization, signal intelligence, electronic warfare and sensor/sonar capabilities.

TDSI’s key technologies include tactical handheld radios, expeditionary satellite terminals, helmet‑mounted displays, optics and target recognition capability, advanced radars, undersea sensing and missile systems.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Buyer to support our DRT product line at the Germantown, MD campus. This position reports directly to the Manager of Procurement.

• Competitive Salary
• Yearly Incentive Bonus Program
• Generous 401(k) program – up to 7% company contribution and 100% immediate vesting
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid wellness, vacation, and holiday leave
• Paid maternity, paternity and parental leave
• 9/80 Work Schedule (every other Friday off)

• Network with suppliers, vendors and contract manufacturers for the procurement of various commodities in support of product production.
• Coordinate with other functional teams in support of their requirements and place purchase orders accordingly.
• Ensure that all goods comply with delivery, price and quality requirements as committed to in supplier quotes.
• Fulfill USG‑compliant purchase orders and complete all required compliance‑related documentation for the purchasing goods.
• Evaluate suppliers’ prices, quality of products and average shipping times to determine their capacity to support TDSI’s needs.
• Identify opportunities to establish Long‑Term Agreements (LTAs) with strategic suppliers.

• U.S. Citizenship required. Applicants may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
• BS in Business or Supply Chain Management or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years’ experience in general purchasing.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills – fluent in English.
• Familiarity with contract terms and conditions.
• Knowledge of FAR / DFAR Flow Down requirements.
• Solid negotiation skills.
• Manages Purchase Price Variance (PPV) and evaluates new sources of supply.
• Identify strong buying opportunities by monitoring market trends, fluctuations, and cost drivers.
• Maintain a high ethical standard of practice.
• Support, mentor, and guide junior buyers while serving as backup to the Procurement Manager.
• Able to comply with all company guidelines, policies and procedures and embrace company core values.

• Experience with Printed Circuit Assemblies and Printed Circuit Boards (PCAs and PCBs).
• 3 years of experience in commodity purchasing, with a focus on electronics and mechanical or drawn items.
• CPM / APICS certification.
• Experience with USG CPSR events.
• Understanding of Quality Assurance Provisions.
• Understanding of ERP Systems related to purchase requirements such as MRP, Master Schedule, Planning and Configuration Management. Costpoint is a plus.
• Knowledge of Engineering Data such as specification control drawing & source control drawing.

The annualized pay range for this role is $85,408 - $109,133 USD along with a target incentive compensation plan (ICP) of 5%. The pay range provided is a good faith estimate representative of the experience level for the role described above. TDSI considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.