Purchasing Agent

Are you looking for a new career opportunity with an exciting company?! Then we've got the right team for you! In this role, you're responsible for the duties listed below.

Immediate opening for a Purchasing Agent in Vista, CA who possesses:

• 3+ years of purchasing or buyer experience within a manufacturing environment
• Experience purchasing machine tooling for machining or CNC operations, including cutting tools, inserts, holders, fixtures, and related consumables
• Experience sourcing raw materials, purchased parts, and/or outside processing services
• ERP system experience;
  Epicor strongly preferred
• Strong supplier communication, negotiation, organization, and problem-solving skills

We are seeking an experienced Purchasing Agent to support procurement activities within a growing aerospace manufacturing environment. This direct-hire role will be responsible for purchasing machine tooling, raw materials, purchased parts, outside processing services, packaging materials, and other production-related goods. The Purchasing Agent will work closely with suppliers, Machining, Shipping, Receiving, Assembly, and other internal departments to support production requirements, optimize inventory, improve cost and lead-time performance, and maintain accurate purchasing documentation.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on manufacturing purchasing experience, strong knowledge of CNC tooling requirements, solid supplier negotiation skills, ERP experience, and the ability to balance job-specific needs with broader inventory and production priorities.

• Purchasing machine tooling including cutting tools, inserts, holders, fixtures, and related consumables
• Purchasing raw materials, purchased components, packaging materials, and outside processing services
• Working closely with the Machining Supervisor to identify tooling requirements for production and new jobs
• Supporting tooling trials, replacements, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Evaluating tooling performance with consideration for tool life, cost-per-part, and production impact
• Requesting and evaluating supplier quotations
• Issuing RFQs to potential suppliers
• Negotiating pricing, lead times, and commercial terms
• Following up on RFQs, open purchase orders, order status, and supplier commitments
• Preparing purchase orders and distributing copies to suppliers and originating departments
• Updating purchase orders when pricing, delivery, quantity, or other requirements change
• Tracking requests, contracts, purchase orders, and deliveries
• Purchasing goods as economically and efficiently as possible
• Calculating order costs and assigning or forwarding charges to appropriate accounts
• Contacting suppliers to schedule or expedite deliveries
• Resolving shortages, late deliveries, missed deliveries, and other supplier issues
• Responding to supplier inquiries regarding order status, changes, and cancellations
• Following up with vendors before parts and materials are due
• Providing internal teams with timely updates regarding order status, shipments, purchase order tracking, and deliveries
• Coordinating deliveries with Shipping, Receiving, Assembly, Production, and other departments
• Maintaining positive and professional supplier relationships
• Supporting documentation related to purchasing contracts, transactions, and regulatory compliance
• Working collaboratively with other purchasers across defined purchasing categories
• Coordinating purchasing activities with overall production and business priorities
• Building appropriate stock levels of commonly used materials and repeat-use components
• Optimizing order quantities based on pricing, lead times, usage, and anticipated future demand
• Monitoring and balancing reorder points, min/max levels, usage trends, and job-specific inventory controls
• Identifying potential shortages and supply risks before they impact production
• Supporting strategic inventory planning and demand-driven purchasing activities
• Maintaining accurate purchasing, inventory, supplier, and transaction records
• Entering and updating purchasing information within the ERP system
• Reviewing blueprints and engineering drawings as needed to verify specifications identified on travelers and routers
• Supporting scheduling of maintenance for equipment and company vehicles as assigned
• Discussing supplier account status and activity with internal departments as needed
• Providing backup and assistance across purchasing functions as priorities shift
• Supporting continuous improvement within…