Buyer — Defense Manufacturing

Buyer — Defense Manufacturing

Location: Stafford, VA

Employment Type: Full-time

Department: Supply Chain / Procurement

Reports to: Head of Supply

Pay Range: $75,000–$90,000 annually

Position Summary

The Buyer is responsible for procuring materials, components, equipment, and services required to support defense manufacturing operations. The position works closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Program Management, and Supply Chain teams to ensure materials are available on schedule, meet technical and quality requirements, and are purchased at competitive costs.

The ideal candidate will have purchasing experience in defense, aerospace, manufacturing, or another highly regulated industry, with experience managing suppliers, purchase orders, lead times, and material requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Procure raw materials, components, hardware, electronics, and production supplies.

• Create and manage purchase orders in the company's ERP/MRP system.

• Review MRP requirements, inventory, forecasts, and production schedules.

• Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations, pricing, and lead times.

• Negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, payment terms, and commercial conditions.

• Manage supplier relationships and monitor supplier performance.

• Track critical and long-lead materials and proactively address potential shortages.

• Coordinate with Engineering and Quality regarding drawings, specifications, certifications, and supplier requirements.

• Resolve purchasing, delivery, quality, and invoice issues.

• Support cost-reduction and supplier-development initiatives.

• Identify alternate suppliers and help mitigate supply-chain risks.

• Maintain accurate purchasing and supplier documentation.

• Ensure procurement activities comply with applicable company, customer, contractual, and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of purchasing/buying experience in a manufacturing environment.

• Defense, aerospace, government contracting, or precision manufacturing experience preferred.

• Experience with ERP/MRP systems.

• Strong understanding of purchase orders, supplier negotiations, inventory, and material lead times.

• Ability to interpret basic engineering drawings, specifications, and bills of material.

• Strong analytical, organizational, negotiation, and communication skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven manufacturing environment.

• U.S. work authorization required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Engineering, or related field.

• Experience with FAR/DFARS requirements.

• Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, or similar quality systems.

• Experience purchasing metals, machined components, electronics, castings, forgings, or other defense-related materials.

• Experience with government/defense contracts.

• Experience with ERP systems, Business Central a plus

Pay Details: $70,000.00 to $90,000.00 per year

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Military connected talent encouraged to apply

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The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act

• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance

• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers

• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Massachusetts Candidates Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.