Purchase Specialist

Responsibilities

• Purchasing Execution: Handle the daily lifecycle of an order by creating Purchase Orders (POs), submitting them to vendors, and tracking every shipment until it is physically received and verified at our facility
• Vendor Management: Build and maintain professional relationships with suppliers; negotiate basic terms, request formal quotes, and hold vendors accountable to delivery dates
• Lead Time Tracking: Proactively monitor order statuses and alert engineering and leadership of any potential delays that could impact project timelines
• Financial Accuracy: Reconcile invoices with packing slips and POs to ensure we are billed correctly before passing documentation to the finance team
• Inventory Oversight: Work closely with the operations team to monitor stock levels and trigger re-orders for mission-critical supplies before they run out
• Process Improvement: Develop and refine digital filing systems and workflows to make the purchasing process more efficient as the company scales

Requirements

• 1–2 years of experience in a role involving purchasing, inventory management, logistics, or high-volume administrative coordination
• Strong Negotiation & Math Skills: Ability to compare complex quotes and ensure unit pricing and shipping costs align with our budget
• Excellent Communication: Professional and assertive communication style for navigating vendor delays and internal team requests
• Extreme Attention to Detail: A "double-check everything" mindset, particularly when dealing with technical part numbers and quantities
• Time Management: Ability to prioritize urgent "hot" orders while maintaining steady progress on long-lead-time items
• Resourcefulness: A knack for finding hard-to-reach parts or alternative suppliers when a standard vendor is out of stock
• Passion for Space: A desire to contribute to the success of an aerospace company and learn the technical side of the industry

Preferred Experience

• Bachelor's degree in related field
• Proficiency in Google Workspace (Drive, Docs, Sheets) or Microsoft 365 for tracking orders, managing contracts, and setting reminders
• Experience using Slack or similar platforms for real-time internal coordination and status reporting
• Ability to use Excel or Google Sheets to create trackers, compare vendor pricing, and run basic spend reports
• Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to build processes from scratch rather than just following a manual
• Basic understanding of shipping terms (e.g., freight, lead times, and customs)