Senior Buyer

D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NASDAQ: QBTS) is a leader in the development and delivery of quantum computing systems, software, and services. It is the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computers, and the only company offering dual-platform quantum computing products and services, spanning both annealing and gate-model quantum computing technologies. D-Wave’s mission is to help customers realize the value of quantum today through enterprise-grade systems available on-premises and via its Leap™ quantum cloud service, which offers 99.9% availability and uptime. More than 100 organizations across commercial, government, and research sectors trust D-Wave to address complex computational challenges using quantum computing.

About the role

D-Wave is seeking a Senior Buyer to join our Supply Chain team. In this role, you will support and collaborate with our R&D Engineering and Production teams to ensure they have the materials needed to build and improve our leading-edge quantum computers. You'll work with a passionate, innovative team developing technology that is transforming how complex problems are solved.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Procurement & Sourcing
  • Manage end-to-end procurement activities for assigned commodities, components, equipment, and services
  • Develop and execute sourcing strategies that balance cost, quality, lead time, technical requirements, and supply continuity
  • Identify, evaluate, qualify, and develop new suppliers, including building and expanding D-Wave's U.S. supplier network
  • Lead RFQ/RFP activities, supplier evaluations, bid analysis, and commercial negotiations
  • Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms, minimum order quantities, delivery schedules, and other commercial terms
  • Identify and execute cost-reduction and cost-avoidance opportunities while maintaining quality and supply continuity
  • Support make/buy and sourcing decisions through market research, supplier analysis, and total-cost-of-ownership considerations
• Supplier & Supply Risk Management
  • Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships and serve as a primary commercial point of contact for assigned suppliers
  • Monitor supplier performance related to quality, delivery, cost, responsiveness, and overall business performance
  • Proactively identify supply risks, material shortages, capacity constraints, and long-lead-time issues and develop appropriate mitigation plans
  • Work with suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve delivery, quality, pricing, and commercial issues
  • Support supplier performance reviews and continuous improvement initiatives
  • Develop alternate and second-source strategies for critical components where appropriate
• Engineering, NPI & Production Support
  • Partner closely with Engineering and Production teams to support prototype builds, NPI activities, production requirements, and engineering changes
  • Review BOMs, drawings, specifications, and material requirements to identify sourcing risks and procurement requirements
  • Work proactively with Engineering to identify supplier capabilities, alternative materials, and sourcing options during the design and development process
  • Support ECO/ECR implementation and ensure purchasing requirements are updated appropriately
  • Respond to urgent production requirements and material shortages while balancing immediate needs with long-term supply strategy
• Purchasing Execution & Operational Excellence
  • Manage purchase orders from requisition through delivery, ensuring accurate pricing, quantities, delivery dates, and commercial terms
  • Maintain accurate purchasing and supplier information within D-Wave's ERP system
  • Monitor open purchase orders, supplier commitments, and material availability to support production and project schedules
  • Collaborate with Planning, Inventory, Logistics, Receiving, Finance, and Quality to resolve supply chain issues
  • Support inventory optimization and minimize excess, obsolete, and slow-moving material where possible
  • Identify opportunities to improve procurement processes, supplier management practices, reporting, and data quality

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business, Engineering, Operations, or related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience
• 5–8 plus years of progressive procurement, purchasing, or strategic sourcing experience, preferably within high-tech, electronics, semiconductor, scientific instrumentation, or complex manufacturing environments
• Demonstrated experience independently managing suppliers and procurement activities
• Strong negotiation and commercial decision-making skills; demonstrated success in supplier negotiations and cost reduction
• Experience sourcing technical components, mechanical/electrical assemblies, electronics, capital equipment, or specialized manufacturing services
• Strong understanding of supplier selection, qualification, performance management, and supply risk mitigation
• Experience supporting Engineering, NPI, prototype builds, and production environments
• Ability to interpret BOMs, technical specifications, drawings, and engineering requirements
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate pricing, supplier proposals, lead times, and total cost
• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems; NetSuite experience is an asset
• Strong Microsoft Excel and data-analysis skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to build productive relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work independently, take ownership, and make sound procurement decisions with limited day-to-day supervision

Pay

The base pay range for this role is $89,000 - $134,000 USD (New Haven).