Principal Buyer

Job Summary

The Principal Buyer plays a critical role in ensuring material readiness, supplier performance, and operational continuity for Mercury’s rapidly expanding Phoenix manufacturing campus. This role is designed for a highly skilled supply chain professional with deep mechanical aptitude, strong analytical capability, and the ability to influence cross‑functional teams. As Mercury brings its new facility online, the Principal Buyer will serve as a technical procurement leader, driving sourcing strategy, mitigating risk, and enabling seamless production scale‑up.

• Lead procurement activities for complex mechanical commodities, including machined parts, electromechanical assemblies, and precision components.
• Serve as the primary technical interface between suppliers, engineering, quality, and operations to ensure manufacturability, cost competitiveness, and supply continuity.
• Support the launch and ramp‑up of the new Phoenix facility by establishing sourcing strategies, aligning material readiness plans, and coordinating with program and operations leadership.
• Analyze engineering drawings, specifications, and change notices to ensure accurate sourcing, cost impacts, and supplier capability alignment.
• Drive supplier performance through proactive engagement, root‑cause analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead negotiations for pricing, terms, and long‑term agreements to optimize cost, lead time, and risk posture.
• Utilize MRP, LeanDNA, and Mercury’s digital supply chain tools to manage demand, identify constraints, and drive data‑based decision‑making.
• Mentor and support junior buyers, elevating team capability and strengthening procurement discipline across the organization.
• Ensure compliance with AS9100, ITAR, and Mercury’s internal quality and procurement standards.
• Provide strategic insight and recommendations to leadership regarding supplier capacity, market conditions, and long‑term sourcing risks.

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field. Equivalent hands‑on experience will be considered.
• Typically requires a minimum of 6 years of procurement experience in aerospace, defense, or complex manufacturing environments.
• Strong mechanical expertise with the ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrated success managing high‑complexity commodities and supplier portfolios.
• Proficiency with MRP/ERP systems and data‑driven supply‑chain tools.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and cross‑functional leadership skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, growth‑oriented environment with evolving operational needs.

• Experience supporting facility expansions, production transitions, or new product introductions.
• Background in machining, fabrication, or electromechanical assembly supply chains.
• Lean, Six Sigma, or APICS certification.
• Prior experience in a defense‑regulated environment.

This position requires you to access information that is subject to U.S. export regulations. You may only access such information if you are a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. government.

Mercury Systems is a technology company that makes the world a safer, more secure place. We push processing power to the tactical edge, making the latest commercial technologies profoundly more accessible for today's most challenging aerospace and defense missions. From silicon to system scale, Mercury enables customers to accelerate innovation and turn data into decision superiority. Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, Mercury employs more than 2,300 people in 24 locations worldwide.

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We are committed to making Mercury a great place to work, no matter where our employees are located. We offer a casual and enjoyable atmosphere that allows employees to learn and grow. We help and care for one another and work as one to achieve results for us and for our customers. We…