Buyer I

Responsibilities

Support end-to-end sourcing activities for assigned commodities/categories, from demand identification through supplier selection and purchase order placement.

Conduct ongoing market research to identify potential suppliers/subcontractors, assess capabilities, and support RFQ/RFP execution.

Assist with source selection, negotiations, and contracting strategies aligned to program, customer, product, and in-service needs.

Own/maintain sourcing documentation, including RFQs/RFPs, bid analyses, supplier records, and purchase orders in ERP systems.

Track supply and demand signals and coordinate with planning/program teams to support schedule alignment and on-time delivery.

Partner with quality, engineering, manufacturing, finance, legal/contracts, and program management to support supplier performance (quality, delivery, cost).

Support supplier performance management and continuous improvement efforts (QCD), including corrective actions and recovery plans as needed.

Identify cost and lead time opportunities through basic cost analysis, pricing reviews, and value-focused sourcing recommendations.

Qualifications

• 0–2 years of experience in sourcing, procurement, supply chain, or a related role (internships/co-ops acceptable)
• Basic understanding of procurement processes (RFQ, PO lifecycle, supplier communication, lead times, Incoterms a plus)
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal) and attention to detail

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience creating/updating RFPs/RFQs, purchase orders (POs), and work orders within an ERP (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, etc.)
• Ability to analyze quotes and build basic cost/price comparisons; familiarity with BOMs is a plus
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities with ambiguous inputs and shifting timelines
• Strong organizational skills and ability to make sound decisions with limited information
• Team-oriented and able to collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, quality, ops, planning, contracts/legal, and finance
• Comfortable working in a high-intensity environment supporting critical mission milestones

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 20%
• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones

Pay Range

Buyer I: $65,000 - $90,000

Benefits

Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents
• Generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually
• Paid parental leave
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan
• ClassPass credits
• Personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health
• Other discounts and perks

We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.