Buyer, Engineering

Summary

This role is pivotal in acquiring critical materials, components, and services to support advanced aerospace and defense programs, including mission‑critical technologies. With a primary focus on supplier relationship management and strategic sourcing, the Buyer will contribute to the success of Production and Developmental programs in a fast‑paced, highly regulated environment. Reports to the Supply Chain Manager.

Karman Space & Defense provides concept‑to‑production solutions for mission‑critical systems on spacecraft, launch vehicles, missiles, hypersonics, and integrated defense systems. We believe that solving the industry’s most complex and mission‑critical challenges requires relentless determination and a willingness to push the boundaries of possibility. Karman Space & Defense brings to bear unparalleled production capabilities, unmatched engineering expertise, and unflinching analysis to render the impossible, possible.

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement

• Responsible for building partnerships with existing and internal suppliers, coordinating delivery schedule, and assessing supplier performance.
• Coordinate daily or weekly tag‑ups with suppliers to monitor open order reports, identify production bottlenecks, and mitigate delivery risks.
• Monitor market trends and supply chain material shortages.
• Coordinate Manufacturing Readiness Reviews with key suppliers to assess production capacity, on‑time delivery performance, quality reliability, and adherence to contractual and regulatory obligations.
• Support risk mitigation efforts by identifying strengths/weaknesses of current supply base and developing contingency plans for critical hardware and components.
• Process purchase requisitions (PRs) on behalf of company Program and departments to issue Purchase Orders (POs) and track part deliveries.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Required
  
  Education:
  
  Bachelors Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field
• Strong computer skills (MS Office, Excel, and Outlook)
• Epicor ERP experience preferred
• Minimum Experience:
  
  5+ years in procurement and strategic sourcing, preferably within the Space, Aerospace, or Defense industries
• Preferred Experience:
  
  10+ years in Supplier Management or Supply Chain Administration
• Preferred:
  Experience in the space and defense industry
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong relationships across diverse stakeholders
• Strong time management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, organize tasks and maintain attention to detail in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical practices and attention to detail

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Karman is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”) including, but not limited to race; color; religion; genetic information; national origin; sex; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; citizenship status; uniform service member status; or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.

Our management is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruitment advertising, pay, and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment.

Mid‑Senior level

Full‑time

Purchasing and Supply Chain

Defense and Space Manufacturing