Associate Purchasing Manager

L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

About the role

As an Assistant Purchasing Manager, you will play an important role in supporting the procurement of materials, equipment, and services for exciting defense and aerospace programs. This is a great opportunity to be part of a collaborative team that helps deliver solutions for U.S. Government, DoD, and commercial customers.

In this role, you will assist with a variety of purchasing activities, including supplier selection, purchase order and subcontract administration, cost and price analysis, compliance oversight, and supplier performance management. You will use your knowledge of defense procurement practices, including FAR, DFARS, customer flow-down requirements, and internal purchasing policies, to help ensure work is completed accurately and in compliance with requirements.

You will work closely with teams across Program Management, Contracts, Subcontracts, Engineering, Quality, Operations, Finance, and Legal, giving you the opportunity to build strong partnerships and contribute to important business and program goals. Your work will help ensure procurement activities support quality expectations, cost objectives, and delivery schedules.

This role is a strong fit for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and contributing to meaningful, mission-driven programs. The position requires up to 20% travel.

Responsibilities

• Supports procurement operations for defense and aerospace programs.
• Assists with the procurement of materials, services, equipment, and subcontracted work for commercial and U.S. Government-funded programs.
• Prepares, issues, evaluates, and administers purchase orders and subcontracts in compliance with company procedures and FAR/DFARS requirements.
• Reviews purchase requisitions and statements of work to ensure clear requirements, proper documentation, and appropriate sourcing methods.
• Solicits supplier quotes and proposals, supports source selection, and performs price and cost analysis to ensure fair and reasonable pricing.
• Monitors supplier performance and helps resolve quality, delivery, compliance, and other supply chain issues impacting program execution.
• Maintains procurement documentation, tracks key metrics, supports audits and CPSR readiness, and provides guidance on compliance and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum 6 years prior relevant purchasing experience.
• Graduate Degree with a minimum of 4 years of prior related purchasing experience.
• In lieu of a degree, minimum of 10 years of prior related purchasing experience.
• 4 years of purchasing, subcontracting, procurement, or supply chain experience in a defense, aerospace, or other highly regulated environment.

Skills

• Experience supporting DoD, prime contractor, or major aerospace program procurement activities.
• Familiarity with CPSR requirements and purchasing system compliance expectations.
• Knowledge of FAR Part 15, FAR Part 44, and relevant DFARS clauses related to subcontracting and supplier management.
• Experience with cost-reimbursable, fixed-price, and time-and-material procurement environments.
• Familiarity with ITAR, EAR, counterfeit parts prevention requirements, and cybersecurity flow-downs such as DFARS 252.204-7012 or related clauses, as applicable.
• Knowledge of AS9100, DCMA, DCAA, and defense quality/compliance expectations.
• Prior team lead, supervisory, or formal/informal leadership experience.
• Professional certification such as CPSM, CPM, CPCM, or related certification preferred.
• Working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and U.S. Government contracting requirements applicable to purchasing and subcontracting activities.
• Experience with purchase order and subcontract administration, supplier negotiations, and procurement file documentation.
• Experience performing price analysis and understanding basic cost analysis principles.
• Familiarity with customer flow-down requirements and procurement compliance expectations for defense contracts.
• Strong understanding of supplier management, delivery assurance, and quality coordination in a regulated manufacturing or program environment.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and procurement reporting tools.

Schedule

9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days—totaling 80 hours worked—and have every other Friday off.