Buyer, Electronics, Interconnect & General Procurement
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Job Summary
Role Overview
This role owns sourcing for the electronics and interconnect category wire harnesses connectors PCBs PCBAs and electrical components while carrying a full tactical procurement load across direct and indirect categories as OW scales from first launch toward multi-program production.
It is a both-hands role: one hand builds multi-month category strategies coordinates FAI campaigns and presents sourcing recommendations to engineering finance and leadership; the other runs the daily PO rhythm requisitions to purchase orders expediting frame agreements and blanket orders indirect buys and tight coordination with production and material planners. Honest split: roughly 6070% tactical execution 3040% category building flexing with launch campaigns and program tempo.
The person who succeeds treats no task as beneath them presenting a category strategy one week helping close a cycle count or untangle a NetSuite reconciliation the next. Works most closely with: the peer buyer (mechanical) material & production planners Engineering/D2M Quality and Finance.
Responsibilities Overview
- Own sourcing activities for electronics and interconnect categories including wire harnesses connectors PCBs PCBAs and electrical components.
- Identify evaluate and onboard suppliers through RFQs commercial negotiations supplier selection and contract awards.
- Develop and maintain the sourcing strategy for assigned categories including supply base mapping dual-source planning localization opportunities cost optimization and lead-time reduction.
- Present category strategies and sourcing recommendations to Engineering Quality Finance and leadership stakeholders.
- Partner with Engineering and Design-to-Manufacturing (D2M) teams on component selection approved alternates obsolescence management and design-for-sourcing improvements.
- Coordinate First Article Inspection (FAI) activities with Engineering and Quality to support successful supplier qualification.
- Lead supplier qualification activities in accordance with the Orbitworks Approved Supplier List (ASL) process.
- Support the development of local UAE suppliers in line with localization and In-Country Value (ICV) objectives.
- Manage the full purchase order lifecycle in NetSuite including requisition review PO creation technical and quality flow-down supplier acknowledgements expediting and delivery tracking.
- Procure indirect goods and services including marketing communications office services facilities and operational consumables.
- Establish and manage procurement automation mechanisms such as blanket purchase orders purchase contracts framework agreements Not-to-Exceed (NTE) POs and Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) arrangements.
- Work closely with Production and Material Planning to align procurement activities with the master production schedule and proactively mitigate shortages and long-lead risks.
- Resolve supplier delivery quality and commercial issues while maintaining an accurate discrepancy tracker.
- Maintain accurate compliant and audit-ready procurement records within NetSuite to support AS9100 requirements.
- Collaborate with the wider Supply Chain Management (SCM) buying team by providing category coverage and workload support as required.
- Support broader SCM operations including inventory cycle counts logistics coordination receiving activities and NetSuite reconciliations when needed.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across SCM by developing standardized templates improving procurement processes and reinforcing NetSuite data discipline.
Must-Have Skills (Requirements)
- 36 years of procurement experience in manufacturing or industrial environments including hands-on tactical buying purchase order management expediting and supplier follow-up.
- Proven ability to manage high-volume tactical procurement activities while balancing strategic sourcing responsibilities.
- Experience sourcing electronics PCB/PCBA cable and wire harnesses connectors electro-mechanical components or the technical aptitude to rapidly develop expertise in these categories.
- Ability to engage confidently with both suppliers and engineering teams on technical sourcing decisions.
- Experience within aerospace defense space or another highly regulated industry.
- Working knowledge of AS9100 AS9102 First Article Inspection (FAI) counterfeit-part prevention Certificates of Conformance (CoC) and material traceability requirements.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings Bills of Materials (BOMs) specifications and other technical documentation.
- Experience collaborating closely with Engineering and Design-to-Manufacturing (D2M) teams on component selection approved alternates and obsolescence management.
- Experience establishing and managing procurement contract mechanisms including blanket purchase orders purchase contracts and framework agreements.
- Understanding of procurement automation and continuous improvement initiatives to streamline repeat purchasing activities.
- Strong analytical and communication skills with the ability to develop sourcing recommendations and present them to technical commercial and leadership stakeholders.
- Experience developing and presenting category strategies to cross-functional teams.
- Proficiency with ERP systems preferably NetSuite for procurement and supplier management.
- Experience working with global suppliers across multiple time zones.
- UAE-based with valid residency and work authorization.
- Ability to work effectively in a full-time on-site environment.
Nice-to-Have Skills
- Experience managing both direct and indirect procurement categories including services facilities office operations and marketing spend.
- Previous experience in a startup scale-up or new manufacturing facility where procurement processes and systems were being established.
- Demonstrated ability to thrive in fast-paced evolving environments with a proactive process-improvement mindset.
- Experience building standardizing and improving procurement processes and operational workflows.
About Company
Loft Orbital builds software and hardware products to fly and operate any payload on a standard satellite bus. See how we're making space simple.
