Senior Buyer

Pacific Defense is seeking an experienced Senior Buyer to support the procurement and strategic sourcing of materials, assemblies, and services used in advanced military electronics and aerospace hardware manufacturing.

About the Role

The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience purchasing electronic components, printed wiring boards (PWBs/PCBs), cable and wire harness assemblies, metal chassis and fabricated assemblies, machined parts and fabricated hardware, and electro-mechanical assemblies within a high-mix, low-volume defense manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement and supplier management activities across commodities.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies to support production, engineering, and PMO requirements.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, delivery schedules, and Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) with suppliers to improve cost, quality, and delivery performance.
• Drive cost reduction initiatives through supplier negotiations, alternate sourcing, value engineering, and strategic sourcing activities.
• Manage long lead-time materials and proactively mitigate supply chain risks impacting production schedules.
• Carefully coordinate with Planning, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Program Management to support production schedules and material readiness.
• Support rapid response activities for material shortages, expedites, and supply disruptions.
• Issue and manage Requests for Quote (RFQs), and bid evaluations.
• Analyze supplier quotations, market conditions, and historical pricing trends to ensure competitive procurement decisions.
• Establish and maintain strong strategic supplier relationships to support long-term business objectives.
• Support inventory optimization initiatives while balancing production continuity and material availability.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, quality requirements, and applicable defense industry regulations.
• Participate in supplier reviews, corrective action activities, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support prototype, NPI, and transition-to-production efforts for advanced military hardware programs.

Supply Management / Contracts Responsibilities

• Demonstrated ability to review, interpret, and negotiate supplier proposals, contracts, and related commercial agreements.
• Strong negotiation skills with a proven track record of optimizing terms and conditions related to price, schedule, compliance, risk, and quality.
• Deep understanding of contractual language, including key clauses such as indemnification, liability, warranty, termination, and intellectual property.
• Skilled at collaborating with legal, finance, engineering, and operational teams to ensure contracts meet organizational requirements and business objectives.
• Capable of managing supplier performance and identifying opportunities to improve cost efficiency, delivery timelines, and overall value.
• Adept at identifying contractual risks and implementing mitigation strategies that protect the company's commercial and operational interests.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive purchasing and procurement experience within aerospace, defense, military electronics, or high-reliability manufacturing environments.
• Proven experience procuring: Electronic components, Printed Wiring Boards (PWBs/PCBs), Cable and wire harness assemblies, Metal chassis and fabricated assemblies, Machined parts and fabricated hardware, Electro-mechanical assemblies.
• Strong understanding of defense and aerospace supply chain requirements, including long lead-time management, supplier risk mitigation, and quality compliance.
• Proven ability to execute strategic cost reduction initiatives and support should-cost analysis activities.
• Experience managing procurement activities for military hardware production programs and prototype/new product introduction (NPI) environments.
• Strong working knowledge of: MRP/ERP systems, PLM systems such as Arena, Agile, or equivalent, Procurement analytics and forecasting.
• Strong understanding of supply chain impacts related to: Obsolescence management, Allocation management, Material shortages management, Counterfeit avoidance, Supplier performance management.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and supplier relationship management skills.
• Strong analytical skills with advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and procurement reporting tools.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-mix, low-volume aerospace and defense manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success in negotiating: Supplier pricing, Long-Term Agreements (LTAs), Blanket purchase orders, Supplier capacity commitments, Lead-time reductions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Sage X3.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field.
• Experience supporting DoD programs and defense prime/subcontractor environments.
• Familiarity with: AS9100 quality systems, FAR/DFARS requirements, Government flow-down requirements, ITAR/EAR compliance.
• Experience supporting rapid production scale-up and manufacturing transition to production efforts.