Buyer

Rocket EMS•Carson City, NV

About The Position

The Buyer manages purchasing activities to support production schedules, customer requirements, inventory targets, and business needs. The role owns supplier relationships and manages purchase orders from placement through tracking, expediting, and resolution to ensure material availability, cost control, and supplier performance. The Buyer works with Program Management, Planning, Production, Engineering, Quality, Sales, and Finance to address material shortages, supplier issues, pricing concerns, account discrepancies, and delivery risks. The position requires sound judgment and independent decision-making in a fast-paced contract manufacturing environment. The role operates in a manufacturing and office environment and involves frequent communication with suppliers, internal departments, and production teams. The Buyer must be comfortable managing changing priorities, urgent material needs, supplier escalations, and production-driven deadlines. The pay range is $60,000–$80,000 USD. Due to the nature of Rocket EMS’s work, the position may require access to export-controlled technical data or technology. The successful candidate must be eligible to access this information under applicable U.S. export-control laws or be eligible for any required government authorization. Rocket EMS considers qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the California Fair Chance Act. Candidates need not disclose criminal history or participate in a background check before a conditional offer; a final offer may be conditioned on a background check consistent with applicable law.

Requirements

Minimum of 5 years of purchasing experience in contract manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, PCBA, or a similar production environment.
Previous experience working with ERP/MRP systems.
Strong understanding of purchasing, supply chain, and material planning processes in a manufacturing environment.
Ability to read and interpret material requirements, purchase reports, supplier quotes, and production schedules.
Strong negotiation, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Ability to work independently with minimal day-to-day direction.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
Ability to work under pressure and respond quickly to production and customer needs.
Strong communication skills with suppliers, internal teams, and management.
Demonstrated ability to build effective supplier and internal customer relationships.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, with strong Excel skills required.
Must be able to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.
Must be eligible to access export-controlled technical data or technology under applicable U.S. export-control laws, or eligible for any required government authorization.

Nice To Haves

Experience purchasing electronic components, mechanical parts, assemblies, equipment, services, or production-related materials.
Experience supporting production schedules, material shortages, supplier management, and cost reduction initiatives.
Working knowledge of contract manufacturing and electronics/PCBA manufacturing.
Experience with electronic component sourcing, lifecycle management, shortages, lead-time challenges, and alternate sourcing.
Experience supporting aerospace, medical, defense, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments.
Familiarity with supplier scorecards, cost reduction tracking, and commodity management.
Experience working with quality requirements, nonconforming material processes, and supplier corrective actions.

Responsibilities

Review and analyze material buy lists, MRP requirements, production schedules, and inventory needs to determine purchasing priorities.
Place, track, expedite, and reschedule purchase orders to support production requirements and customer commitments.
Coordinate purchasing activities with Program Management, Planning, Production, Engineering, Quality, Sales, and Finance.
Process purchase requisitions, purchase change orders, and requests for quote from approved suppliers.
Gather quotations, review bids, evaluate pricing, and make purchasing recommendations or awards.
Negotiate pricing, delivery, lead times, and other purchasing terms with suppliers.
Maintain inventory at planned levels using sound purchasing practices, including just-in-time purchasing and economic order quantity planning.
Monitor supplier performance related to cost, quality, delivery, responsiveness, and reliability.
Resolve receiving issues, supplier discrepancies, customer-related material issues, and AP/AR discrepancies in a timely and professional manner.
Work with suppliers to address shortages, late deliveries, nonconforming material, and other production-impacting issues.
Ensure material standards are met and that nonconformances, substitutions, or variances are properly reviewed and approved.
Perform cost analysis, volume planning, and sourcing reviews for assigned commodities, components, equipment, and services.
Identify and recommend cost-saving opportunities, alternate sourcing options, and make-versus-buy recommendations.
Evaluate supplier competitiveness and develop new supply sources when needed.
Support quote table maintenance, supplier database accuracy, part parameter updates, error report analysis, and supplier/part number information.
Monitor assigned subcontractors and suppliers to ensure performance meets cost, schedule, quality, and scope requirements.
Assist Sales, Program Management, and leadership with pricing support and contract negotiations as needed.
Provide accurate, prompt, professional, and courteous service to internal and external customers.
Perform other duties as assigned by management.