Senior NPI Buyer

New Product Introduction Program Buyer/Planner

We are seeking a New Product Introduction Program Buyer/Planner to support our hardware development programs through the product development lifecycle. This is a high-impact, high-visibility role at the intersection of program management and supply chain.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Procurement Requests & Tracking
• Submit and track purchase requests.
• Follow orders through the Supply Chain team's procurement process to delivery and receiving.
• Execute risk-buy requests as necessary for long-lead or high-risk components.
• Maintain sourcing plans and collaborate on identification of alternate suppliers for critical components.
• Track supplier commits, lead times, and delivery schedules. Flag risks early.
• Monitor market conditions and supplier roadmaps for supply challenges.
• Clear-to-Build & Inventory
• Own procurement data integrity and clear-to-build (CTB) analyses.
• Maintain live material availability against build schedules.
• Manage material requirement plans and inventory levels — minimize shortages and excess.
• Manage prototype/temporary inventory (lab stock, dev kits, staging areas).
• Hardware Releases & Engineering Changes
• Track releases through PLM (ECOs, revisions, release gates).
• Keep procurement aligned to current revisions.
• Assess material impact of engineering changes and adjust procurement plan accordingly.
• Manage component phase-in/phase-out and obsolescence.
• Vendor & Contract Manufacturer Coordination
• Track contract manufacturer commits, capacity, and constraints.
• When needed, coordinate movement of raw materials or components between suppliers and manufacturers.
• Support BOM cost tracking and Design for Cost activities.
• Reporting & Continuous Improvement
• Track and report KPIs: CTB, days-on-hand, inventory excess, obsolescence, delivery performance.
• Maintain procurement dashboards (open POs, CTB by subsystem, spend vs. budget).
• Drive process improvements in planning tools and supply chain workflows.
• Program Management Support
• Support the TPM with schedule tracking, milestone reporting, and program review prep as it relates to product development.
• Track and close out material planning-related action items from design reviews, build meetings, and supplier calls.
• Coordinate cross-functionally across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Finance.

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Hardware Build Awareness — Understanding of how hardware components come together in prototype and NPI builds. Comfortable in a lab, shop, or manufacturing environment.
• Procurement & Supply Chain Fundamentals — Familiarity with purchase orders, supplier management, lead time tracking, and basic sourcing concepts.
• Analytical & Detail-Oriented — Ability to maintain accurate trackers, spot discrepancies in data, and synthesize material status into clear summaries for leadership.
• Strong Excel/Sheets skills.
• Tool Proficiency — Comfort with or willingness to learn ERP/MRP systems, PLM tools, and project management platforms (Jira, Asana).
• Knowledge of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software is a plus.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Supply Chain.
• 5+ years of experience in program management, project coordination, supply chain, manufacturing, or engineering operations.
• Preferred: Experience in robotics, automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics, or other hardware-intensive industries.
• Preferred: Exposure to NPI, prototype builds, or early-stage product development.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.
• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen.
• Hearing and speech to communicate.