Buyer - Engine Programs

Columbia Helicopters•Aurora, OR

About The Position

The Buyer – Engine Programs is responsible for planning, sourcing, purchasing, expediting, and supplier coordination for materials, parts, services, and outside processing required to support the CT-58, T-55, and 5512 engine programs. This role ensures the right material is available at the right time, at the right cost, and in compliance with customer, regulatory, quality, and program requirements. The Buyer will serve as a key point of accountability between operations, maintenance, engineering, quality, program management, finance, and suppliers to protect schedule, reduce risk, control cost, and improve supplier performance across assigned engine programs.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, aviation maintenance, operations, or a related field preferred.
Minimum of 3 years of experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, inventory control, production planning, aviation maintenance, or a related technical environment.
Prior experience purchasing aircraft engine parts, gas turbine engine components, repair services, or outside processing.
Experience supporting aviation, aerospace, defense, MRO, manufacturing, or highly regulated technical operations preferred.
Working knowledge of purchase orders, RFQs, supplier follow-up, lead-time management, inventory control, and material planning.
Ability to read and interpret part numbers, bills of material, technical requirements, purchase specifications, and supplier documentation.
Strong proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel and Outlook.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, follow up consistently, and communicate clearly with internal teams and external suppliers.

Responsibilities

Own purchasing execution for assigned CT-58, T-55, and 5512 engine program requirements, including parts, components, consumables, tooling, repair services, outside processing, and related support items.
Review demand signals, work orders, forecasts, inventory levels, minimum and maximum settings, and program schedules to ensure timely placement of purchase orders.
Issue RFQs, evaluate supplier quotations, negotiate pricing, lead times, terms, and delivery commitments, and award purchase orders in alignment with company policies and approval requirements.
Monitor open purchase orders, expedite critical shortages, resolve delivery issues, and communicate risks early to internal stakeholders.
Partner with maintenance, production, engineering, quality, and program teams to clarify technical requirements, confirm approved sources, resolve nonconformances, and support engine program priorities.
Maintain accurate procurement data in the ERP/MRP system, including supplier information, pricing, lead times, promise dates, order notes, and delivery status.
Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships, including regular follow-up on delivery performance, responsiveness, quality issues, and corrective actions.
Identify supply chain risks, long-lead items, obsolete parts, single-source dependencies, and material constraints that may affect engine program execution.
Support cost-reduction initiatives, alternate sourcing efforts, inventory optimization, and supplier performance improvement activities.
Ensure purchasing activity complies with applicable company procedures, quality requirements, customer flow-downs, export control requirements, and aviation/aerospace standards.
Coordinate with receiving, inspection, accounts payable, and suppliers to resolve receiving discrepancies, invoice issues, return material authorizations, warranty claims, and purchase order corrections.
Provide regular status updates on material availability, shortages, supplier commitments, and procurement risks for the CT-58, T-55, and 5512 programs.