Procurement Specialist

Shinkei•El Segundo, CA

36d

About The Position

Shinkei Systems builds technology that improves how food moves through the world. We design robotics and software systems that bring consistency, quality, and care to seafood processing—preserving value, reducing waste, and supporting more resilient supply chains. Our work operates in real-world environments where speed, precision, and reliability directly impact outcomes. This is applied work. What we build runs in production, at scale, in demanding conditions. We are looking for a Procurement Specialist to own and support sourcing across manufacturing and engineering R&D. This role sits at the center of our physical supply chain—owning the flow of electromechanical, industrial, and robotics components that power our systems. While ~70% of procurement for the year is already completed, this role is critical in ensuring continuity, managing ongoing ordering, and building the foundation for next year’s procurement strategy at scale. You will operate with urgency, precision, and strong ownership—keeping systems moving, parts flowing, and production unblocked.

Requirements

Experience in procurement, supply chain, or sourcing in a hardware, robotics, or industrial environment
Familiarity with electromechanical, automation, or robotics components strongly preferred
Strong vendor management and negotiation skills
High attention to detail with exceptional follow-through
Ability to operate in fast-paced, ambiguous startup environments
Strong communication skills across both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Ability to manage multiple parallel priorities without losing operational clarity
Proficiency with task management tools (Asana preferred)

Nice To Haves

Robotics, hardware manufacturing, or industrial automation
High-mix / low-volume supply chains
Early-stage startups or scaling hardware teams
International sourcing or constrained semiconductor/electronics markets

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end procurement for manufacturing and engineering R&D parts, including electromechanical and industrial components
Build and maintain strong vendor relationships to negotiate pricing, lead times, and availability
Proactively track all open purchase orders and follow up to prevent delays or breakdowns in supply
Identify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks including backorders, shortages, and long-lead items
Manage delivery issues, discrepancies, and RMAs directly with vendors through resolution
Source hard-to-find or constrained components using non-traditional suppliers and creative sourcing channels
Collaborate closely with engineering and manufacturing teams to understand requirements, changes, and timing shifts
Ensure accurate PO creation, order tracking, documentation, and coordination with Accounts Payable
Partner with the Production Coordinator to maintain visibility into inventory levels and upcoming demand shifts
Maintain clear operational dashboards and tracking systems (Asana) for real-time procurement visibility