NPI Buyer

About the Role

Are you passionate about bringing new products to life and working at the intersection of engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing? We're looking for an experienced NPI (New Product Introduction) Buyer to join our growing team and play a key role in successfully launching new products from concept through production. In this role, you'll partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Planning, Quality, and suppliers to ensure materials are sourced, purchased, and delivered on time to support prototype builds, pilot production, and full-scale manufacturing. You'll thrive in a fast-paced environment where priorities shift quickly, collaboration is essential, and every successful product launch depends on proactive planning and supplier engagement. If you enjoy solving supply chain challenges, building strong supplier relationships, and making a direct impact on new product success, we'd love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Manage procurement activities for new product introductions from design release through production launch.
• Partner with Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to support prototype, pilot, and production builds.
• Source components and identify qualified suppliers capable of meeting quality, cost, and delivery expectations.
• Request and evaluate supplier quotations while supporting supplier selection and onboarding activities.
• Create and manage purchase orders, ensuring material availability aligns with project milestones and manufacturing schedules.
• Monitor supplier performance, communicate delivery commitments, and proactively resolve material shortages or supply risks.
• Support engineering change orders (ECOs) by coordinating material transitions, inventory disposition, and supplier communication.
• Maintain accurate procurement data within the ERP system, including supplier information, pricing, lead times, and delivery commitments.
• Work with suppliers to identify opportunities for cost savings, lead time improvements, and alternate sourcing solutions.
• Collaborate across cross-functional teams to ensure successful product launches while maintaining high levels of customer service and responsiveness.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI), product launches, engineering projects, or prototype builds.
• Strong understanding of purchasing processes, supplier management, and material planning.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems for procurement and inventory management.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Analytical problem-solving skills with a proactive, customer-focused approach.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in high-tech, semiconductor, electronics, medical device, or other complex manufacturing industries.
• Knowledge of engineering drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and engineering change processes.
• Experience working with global suppliers and international supply chains.
• Familiarity with supplier qualification, sourcing strategies, and contract negotiations.
• APICS (ASCM), ISM, or other supply chain certifications are a plus.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and ERP platforms such as Oracle, SAP, or Microsoft Dynamics.
• Experience supporting cross-functional product development teams from concept through commercialization.

About Us

Ichor is an experienced leader in the critical subsystems and turnkey process equipment marketplace. Our capabilities enable the design and creation of a complete outsourced solution ranging from product concept to turnkey manufacturing to legacy service. Ichor offers world-class process engineering, value-added manufacturing, materials management, and testing capabilities. Our 1500+ employees are strategically located to provide our customers with the highest level of customer service and support from our program management, sales, engineering, and executive management teams. Our continued expansion of capabilities in Southeast Asia better aligns our production facilities with our customers' supply chain strategies, further enabling our expansion into new products and markets.

Ichor is headquartered in Fremont, California, with manufacturing locations in Oregon, Texas, Singapore, Malaysia, and the UK. Our sales and engineering office is strategically located in Silicon Valley, California.

About the Team

Precision machining is Ichor Precision Machining’s heritage and core strength. IPM's skilled and dedicated employees deliver the most complex, extreme-tolerance, and superior surface-finish components at unsurpassed quality levels. Joining the team at IPM means working with dedicated, highly skilled employees that drive continuous improvement and ensure we deliver superior results to our customers. IPM is excited to share that we are now part of the Ichor Systems family of companies.

Ichor Precision Machining (IPM) is an ITAR-compliant operation. Due to ITAR regulations, Ichor Systems is only able to employ US Persons. A US person is a lawful permanent resident (immigrant with a “green card” permanent authorization to work document) or who is a protected individual (a citizen, national, refugee, or person granted asylum). Individuals with temporary visas are not eligible for hire.