R&D Procurement Specialist

About the role

We are hiring an R&D Procurement Specialist within the Operations, Logistics & Supply Chain organization to support the procurement of critical materials, components, equipment, and services that enable LeoLabs' advanced radar and sensing technology development. This role will translate engineering requirements, prototype build needs, program schedules, and budget inputs into actionable sourcing and purchasing plans that support rapid development and deployment. This position sits at the center of Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain, ensuring that specialized technical items are sourced, ordered, and delivered in alignment with cost, quality, schedule, compliance, and contract requirements.

The ideal candidate will have experience supporting research and development, aerospace, defense, electronics, RF, radar, or advanced technology environments and will be comfortable operating through ambiguity, shifting priorities, long lead times, and low-volume or prototype production cycles. You will be responsible for identifying and managing suppliers, negotiating pricing and delivery terms, monitoring procurement risks, and ensuring material readiness for engineering builds, testing activities, and production readiness milestones. This role requires strong attention to detail, proactive communication, and the ability to work closely across technical and business teams to resolve sourcing constraints, accelerate time-sensitive procurement actions, and support LeoLabs' mission.

It is important that you are comfortable joining a fast-paced, high-growth environment where priorities can evolve quickly and where team members are expected to step in where they can best support company objectives. This is a full-time hybrid role based in Menlo Park, CA.

Responsibilities

• Procure technical components, materials, equipment, and services supporting R&D, prototype, testing, and manufacturing activities.
• Partner with Engineering, Program Management, Manufacturing, and Finance to translate technical requirements, build schedules, and budget inputs into sourcing and purchasing plans.
• Identify, evaluate, onboard, and manage suppliers supporting complex hardware, electronics, RF/radar, and technology development efforts.
• Solicit and analyze quotations, negotiate pricing and delivery terms, and issue purchase orders in alignment with program needs and internal approvals.
• Monitor supplier performance, delivery schedules, cost impacts, and procurement risks; proactively escalate constraints that may affect program milestones.
• Support long-lead material planning, alternate sourcing, and supply chain risk mitigation for prototype builds and low-volume production.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Manufacturing to support prototype builds, test events that will translate to NPI ramp up activities.
• Maintain accurate procurement records and support compliance with company policies, contractual requirements, and applicable government procurement requirements.
• Help improve procurement workflows, cost controls, data accuracy, and supply chain resilience as the organization scales.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Personnel Security Clearance.
• 5+ years of procurement, sourcing, purchasing, or supply chain experience in a technical, engineering-focused, or hardware development environment.
• Experience procuring specialized technical components, electronics, RF/radar hardware, test equipment, fabricated parts, or engineering services.
• Ability to manage competing procurement priorities and time-sensitive purchases in a fast-paced, ambiguous development environment.
• Experience soliciting quotes, evaluating supplier proposals, negotiating pricing and lead times, and issuing purchase orders.
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, lookup functions, formulas, filtering, sorting, and data analysis.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with ERP, procurement, and inventory management systems.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively with engineering, manufacturing, finance, and program stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting R&D, aerospace, defense, radar, RF, electronics, or advanced manufacturing organizations.
• Familiarity with sourcing electronic components, RF hardware, test equipment, custom fabricated parts, and specialized engineering materials.
• Experience supporting government-funded programs and associated procurement requirements, including FAR/DFARS flow-down awareness where applicable.
• Knowledge of supplier quality management, obsolescence management, and supply chain risk mitigation practices.
• Experience supporting prototype development, new product introduction (NPI), engineering change processes, or low-volume production environments.
• Experience supporting classified programs and secure supply chain environments.

Onboarding Milestones

Within 1 month, you'll:

• Complete onboarding and learn LeoLabs' procurement workflows, ERP and procurement systems, approval processes, supplier base, and material flow.
• Build relationships with the Associate Inventory Manager and key stakeholders across Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain.
• Learn active R&D programs, prototype build needs, key suppliers, long-lead materials, and current procurement risks.

Within 3 months, you'll:

• Manage procurement activity for select R&D, prototype, or program workstreams from requirements intake through purchase order issuance and delivery follow-up.
• Identify and communicate supplier risks, lead-time constraints, cost impacts, and material shortages that could affect development, test, or build schedules.
• Maintain accurate procurement status updates, records, and escalation paths for assigned suppliers and purchasing activity.

Within 6 months, you'll:

• Independently own procurement execution for multiple R&D and prototype workstreams, including supplier communication, quote analysis, purchase order management, and schedule tracking.
• Develop proactive sourcing strategies for long-lead, high-risk, or specialized technical materials to reduce schedule risk.
• Support supplier performance reviews, alternate-source identification, and risk mitigation plans for critical materials or services.

Within 12 months, you'll:

• Serve as a trusted procurement partner for Engineering and Supply Chain stakeholders across R&D builds, NPI activities, and production readiness milestones.
• Establish scalable procurement practices for technical sourcing, supplier engagement, and material readiness as programs increase in complexity and volume.
• Drive measurable improvements in supplier responsiveness, lead-time visibility, purchasing accuracy, and procurement cycle time.