Senior Buyer

Delivering mission-critical, electronic solutions that protect lives. Use your creativity and critical thinking to take our products from concept to customer.

At CAES, we engineer solutions for the world's most critical missions. We serve customers in the defense and aerospace markets. Seeking a career that offers challenging, diverse projects and opportunities?

Looking for a position with a company that offers long-term professional advancement? Searching for a place that values a diverse, team-based environment? One that values YOU.

Consider CAES. The most important thing we build is TRUST Overview The Senior Buyer position involves collaborating across multiple departments, planning, scheduling and monitoring the movement of materials through the production cycle to determine required material purchases. Scope includes obtaining materials using engineering and production schedules to maintain inventory at planned levels such as just-in-time purchases and use of economic order quantities.

Will be resolving discrepancies, ensuring material standards are met and non-conformances or variances are approved and/or minimized, gathering quotations, examining bids and making awards, evaluating Supplier reliability and developing new supply sources where competition doesn't currently exist. Requires an ability to build positive relationships with key Suppliers while leveraging these relationships to improve Supplier quality, costs, service, and preserve Department of Defense (DOD) certification. This position will act as a lead for Direct Procurement of New Product Introduction at our Defense Systems business area located in San Diego, CA.

Responsibilities Determine material requirements and schedule the ordering thereof; source, negotiate and execute awards for direct material, indirect material and capital equipment at the best value to the organization and on a timely basis to support production schedule. Monitor the addition of new customer requirements and work to ensure timely release of purchase requisition to provide program support.Evaluate current programs to verify that they are being fully supported by evaluating ERP signals, EML and quality issues. Flag production impacts and escalate resolution through appropriate support and management personnel; communicate program impact to appropriate departments.

Create purchase requisitions and purchase orders for accuracy and conformance with established policies and procedures. Obtain oral and/or written quotations from Suppliers; document competitive bidding. Expedite purchase orders if necessary; notify department of the expected delivery date and follow up on back orders.

Negotiate and execute critical, complex, high-value awards; manage price increase situations and cost improvement initiatives with the team; drive all elements of the procurement process with Suppliers resulting in the best value for Cobham. Interface with external suppliers and internal clients including Value Stream, Manufacturing and Engineering. Produce material status reports for program reviews and performance base payments as required by program management.

Represent/support the department in daily huddles and GEMBA with material status updates. Negotiate and execute purchase orders and/or contracts; follow-up and expedite late and pending orders; resolve receiving discrepancies; coordinate Return to Vendor (RTV) and reconcile finance issues (incorrect invoices). Search out alternate Suppliers to establish competition and to help minimize material shortages and stock outages. Meet with Suppliers seeking to establish relationship with the firm; review materials presented and recommend whether the vendor deserves further consideration.

Participate in supplier visits, audits, and performance management conference calls when necessary; in collaboration with the Commodity Managers and Quality Assurance. Provide feedback to support the Supplier Report Card, in order to elevate or maintain corporate expectations of supplier's excellence in delivery. Populate an up-to-date system on pricing and Suppliers to ensure immediate and accurate access to information in the ERP system.

Participate in safety training and actively comply with safety policies and practices. Participate in Lean/Six Sigma activities in own work area as well as events for other areas to enhance cross-functional problem solving. Improve and maintain 5S in your area; make suggestions for improvements.

Support and address KPI matrix and report outs. Qualifications Minimum: Associate's degree and 9+ years, or Bacherlor's degree with 5+ years, purchasing experience to include experience in a manufacturing environment, Purchasing experience should include leading cost savings initiatives Leading or mentoring in Lean initiatives.

Intermediate Excel proficiency, to include familiarity with pivot tables This position requires access to technology, materials, software or hardware that is controlled by US export law. In order to be eligible for this position, you must be a "US Person" under US export laws (or eligible for approval under a U.S. Government export license) Preferred:

Bchaelor's degree Knowledge or background with SAP Strong proficiency with Lean manufacturing methodologies and practices CPM, CPIM, or ISM certifications Aerospace, defense, or automotive industry purchasing, operations, or supply chain experience Strong analytical, time management, and communication skills to work successfully in a matrix environment Experience to negotiate and solve within the electronics industry to solve, negotiate, and build strong relationships internally and with customers Experience dealing with the NPI process Salary Range: $80,000 - $115,000 annually. Applicable pay within the posted range may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, geographical location, job function of the position, education, and experience of the successful candidate. #LI-JM1 BENEFITS We take care of our people and provide competitive health, wealth and wellbeing benefits - from day one. You'll also discover learning and development opportunities so you can take your career to the next level - and beyond.

Other benefits include: Comprehensive PTO, Paid Holiday, and Paid Family Leave Programs Student Loan Repayment Program and Tuition Reimbursement Program 9/80 Alternate Work Week Schedule Tailored Management/Leadership Training Innovative Medical Programs, Including Family Forming ABOUT CAES CAES is the largest provider of analog and radiation hardened technology for the United States aerospace and defense industry. From human spaceflight and space exploration, to missile defense and electronic warfare, to healthcare solutions addressing COVID-19, our talented team develop high performing electronic solutions that work the first time, every time.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER At CAES we welcome differences and celebrate new ideas. We believe the diversity of our people inspires our creativity and drives our innovation. Everyone is welcome here, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation due to a disability for any part of the employment process, please email CAEScareers@caes.com. Please note that this Job Description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.