Senior Procurement Engineer - Capital Equipment

Senior Procurement Engineer
- Capital Equipment

Location:

Torrington, CT, US, 06790

Sep 1, 2026

We are currently seeking a highly motivated Senior Purchasing Engineer
- Capital Equipment to join our team. Reporting to the Vice President of Supply Chain, this role is responsible for leading the technical and commercial sourcing of capital equipment, manufacturing systems, and engineered solutions required to support capacity expansion, technology development, and operational excellence initiatives across Fuel Cell Energy.

This position serves as the critical interface between Engineering, Manufacturing, Project Management, Operations, and Suppliers to ensure the successful specification, sourcing, qualification, installation, and lifecycle management of capital assets. The successful candidate will combine strong technical expertise with strategic sourcing capabilities to optimize total cost of ownership, mitigate supplier risk, and support business growth objectives.

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for capital equipment including manufacturing automation, robotic systems, tooling, fabrication equipment, assembly systems, material handling equipment, testing equipment, process systems, utilities infrastructure, and facility expansions.
• Lead all phases of the capital procurement process including:
• Requirements definition
• Scope development
• RFQ/RFP creation
• Supplier selection
• Commercial negotiations
• Contract execution
• Equipment commissioning support
• Collaborate with Engineering and Operations to establish technical specifications, performance requirements, acceptance criteria, and lifecycle cost analyses for capital projects.
• Drive competitive bidding processes and perform technical/commercial evaluations of supplier proposals.

• Evaluate equipment designs, manufacturability, reliability, maintainability, and supportability to ensure alignment with company objectives.
• Provide technical procurement expertise during new facility development, manufacturing capacity expansions, and new product introduction programs.
• Conduct supplier technical reviews, design reviews, factory acceptance tests (FAT), and site acceptance tests (SAT).
• Support make-versus-buy and outsourcing decisions through detailed technical and financial analysis.
• Ensure purchased equipment complies with applicable safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory requirements.

• Build strategic relationships with OEMs, system integrators, automation providers, and capital equipment manufacturers.
• Lead commercial negotiations covering pricing, warranties, payment milestones, delivery schedules, installation support, spare parts, service agreements, and long-term maintenance requirements.
• Develop and manage supplier scorecards focused on quality, delivery, cost, innovation, responsiveness, and technical performance.
• Identify and qualify alternative suppliers to reduce risk and improve competitiveness.
• Manage contract administration and supplier performance throughout the project lifecycle.

• Support cross-functional capital projects from concept through commissioning and handoff.
• Monitor supplier schedules and key project milestones to ensure on-time delivery and installation.
• Drive issue resolution related to technical scope, schedule delays, commercial disputes, and equipment performance.
• Participate in project reviews and provide procurement status updates to stakeholders and executive leadership.
• Develop contingency plans and risk mitigation strategies for critical capital projects.

• Develop total cost of ownership (TCO) models for capital investments including acquisition, installation, operation, maintenance, and end-of-life costs.
• Drive cost reduction initiatives through value engineering, standardization, supplier collaboration, and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Analyze market conditions, technology trends, and supplier capabilities to support investment decisions.
• Establish and maintain metrics related to capital spending, project savings, supplier performance, and procurement effectiveness.
• Maintain capital procurement records and project documentation within ERP and project management systems.

• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Facilities Engineering, Operations, Quality, EH&S, Finance, and Project Management teams throughout project execution.
• Support capital budgeting and expenditure approval processes.
• Provide technical procurement expertise during audits and supplier assessments.
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Chemical, or related discipline) required.

• Experience: Minimum 7 years of experience in purchasing engineering, capital equipment procurement,…