Electronics & Functional Systems Buyer

Essential Duties

• Source and manage electronic components, electronic systems, electrical items, and engineered mechanical products and assemblies that interface with or support electronic systems.
• Partner with Engineering early in the design process to provide cost, availability, supplier capability, and risk input before designs are finalized.
• Evaluate functionally equivalent electronic components and systems across multiple suppliers to determine best overall value, considering cost, availability, lead time stability, and lifecycle risk.
• Manage supplier relationships including pricing, lead times, MOQs, capacity, delivery performance, testing, and certification requirements.
• Issue and manage purchase orders; resolve delivery, quality, or specification issues.
• Support Quality and Engineering with supplier corrective actions, APQP/PPAP activities, and validation or qualification requirements.
• Identify and manage supply risks including single-source exposure, long lead times, capacity constraints, testing requirements, and regulatory or certification impacts.
• Monitor component and system lifecycles; manage obsolescence risk, PCNs, and end-of-life transitions.
• Interface with the VA/VE Buyer by providing supplier data, feasibility input, and implementation support for approved initiatives.
• Maintain accurate item, supplier, and pricing data in the ERP system.
• Work with internal team and external suppliers on managing change requests and implementation process.
• Occasional travel domestic and international.
• Work with engineering and quality to conduct supplier audits and qualification process.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of buying or sourcing experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience sourcing electronics, electrical components, and engineered mechanical or validated systems.
• Ability to interpret technical requirements, drawings, specifications, and validation constraints.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and strong Excel skills.
• Experience with electronics-driven or electromechanical products.
• Familiarity with electronic component lifecycle and obsolescence management.
• Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, and supplier quality processes.
• Experience working with domestic and international suppliers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to read mechanical blueprints.
• ISO auditor training/Lean concepts.
• Knowledge of CE and TUV requirements.
• Negotiation of long and short-term contracts.