Procurement Manager, Program ; NPI & Engineering Support

Important Notice

To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At Cesium Astro, we are developers and pioneers of out‑of‑the‑box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross‑functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands‑on, interactive, and autonomous work, Cesium Astro is the place for you.

We are looking to add a Program Procurement Manager to our growing team. If you enjoy working in a startup environment and are passionate about supporting new product development and manufacturing for an exciting product line of satellite communications equipment, we would like to hear from you.

The Program Procurement Manager is responsible for leading procurement activities supporting engineering, NPI, test, prototype, indirect, and program‑driven procurement demand. This role manages high‑volume, high‑touch procurement workflows that require rapid responsiveness, cross‑functional coordination, and operational prioritization.

This role partners closely with Engineering, Program Management, Manufacturing, Operations, and Supply Chain teams to improve procurement responsiveness, operational alignment, and procurement scalability as the company continues to grow.

• Develop and lead a team of buyers supporting engineering, NPI, prototype, test, program‑driven, and indirect procurement activities.
• Manage purchase request workflows and program procurement prioritization.
• Partner closely with Engineering, Program Management, Manufacturing, and Operations teams to support program‑driven and rapid‑turn procurement requirements.
• Improve procurement responsiveness, workload balancing, and communication across procurement support activities.
• Support sourcing and supplier engagement activities for NPI, prototype, and engineering programs.
• Develop procurement intake governance, escalation workflows, and service expectations.
• Coordinate procurement activities across programs and sites.
• Ensure procurement activities remain compliant with applicable regulatory, contractual, and customer requirements, including FAR, DFARS, DPAS, and internal procurement policies.
• Support transition of recurring production demand into MRP/direct procurement workflows.
• Develop workload planning and resource balancing strategies across program procurement activities.
• Help standardize procurement processes, reporting, and workflow management.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives tied to procurement responsiveness and execution.
• Partner with Supplier Relationship Management, Quality, and Engineering to support supplier issue resolution, alternate source development, and program supply continuity.

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Engineering, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 7–10+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, supply chain operations, or manufacturing support environments.
• Experience supporting engineering, prototype, NPI, program, or indirect procurement activities within fast‑paced environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing procurement prioritization, responsiveness, and cross‑functional stakeholder communication.
• Strong understanding of procurement workflows, purchase request processes, and supplier coordination.

• Experience supporting aerospace, electronics, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience managing buyers or procurement support teams in high‑volume operational environments.
• Familiarity with engineering procurement, prototype sourcing, rapid‑turn procurement, and program support workflows.
• Experience partnering closely with Engineering, Program…