Technical Buyer

The Technical Buyer is responsible for the strategic sourcing, procurement, and supplier management of highly engineered materials, components, equipment, and services that support manufacturing, engineering, research and development, and operational requirements. This position serves as the primary liaison between Procurement, Engineering, and Suppliers to ensure continuity of supply, cost competitiveness, technical compliance, and operational excellence. The successful candidate will combine strong technical expertise to evaluate supplier capabilities, support product development initiatives, manage complex sourcing activities, and drive continuous improvement throughout the supply chain.

The Technical Buyer will play a critical role in supporting new product introductions, supplier development, cost reduction initiatives, and long-term sourcing strategies within a technologically advanced manufacturing environment.

Minimum requirements for the position (i.e., academic, number of years of experience required, etc.)

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Supply Chain Management, or a related technical discipline.

Preferred skills or experience

• Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Supply Chain Management, Engineering Management, or a related field.
• Professional certifications such as CPSM, CPM, APICS/ASCM, CSCP, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in technical procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain management, or engineering-related purchasing within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience sourcing engineered products, technical materials, and complex manufacturing components.
• Experience supporting new product introductions and engineering-driven procurement activities.
• Proven track record of supplier development, cost reduction, contract negotiation, and cross-functional collaboration.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Mechanical components, machined parts, castings, and fabricated assemblies.
• Electrical and electronic components, including sensors, connectors, wire harnesses, controls, resistors and power systems.
• Battery technologies, energy storage systems, electrochemical materials, and related manufacturing processes.
• Chemicals, plastics, specialty materials, metals, and manufacturing consumables.
• Supplier qualification methodologies include PPAP, APQP, and FAI.
• Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement principles.
• ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, QAD, Microsoft Dynamics, or equivalent.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel, data analysis, and reporting capabilities.

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies for technical commodities, engineered products, raw materials, capital equipment, and specialized services.
• Identify, evaluate, qualify, and develop suppliers capable of meeting technical, quality, delivery, and cost requirements.
• Lead supplier selection activities through competitive bidding, market analysis, and supplier capability assessments.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, long-term agreements, lead times, payment terms, and commercial conditions to achieve best total cost of ownership.
• Monitor global market trends, supplier risks, capacity constraints, and emerging technologies impacting material availability and pricing.
• Ensure uninterrupted material flow to support production schedules and customer commitments.
• Partner closely with Design Engineering, Process Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to support new product development and product lifecycle management.
• Interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, material standards, and bills of material (BOMs).
• Support Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) and product revisions by coordinating supplier implementation activities.
• Conduct technical reviews of supplier manufacturing processes, production capabilities, and quality systems.
• Develop and implement annual cost reduction initiatives through strategic sourcing, value engineering, supplier negotiations, and process improvements.
• Perform detailed cost analyses and total cost of ownership evaluations.
• Generate and manage purchase orders within ERP/MRP systems (QAD).
• Maintain accurate procurement records, supplier data, contracts, and sourcing documentation.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, ISO requirements, customer specifications, and applicable regulatory requirements in aviation and…