Prototype Buyer
About The Position
The Prototype Buyer keeps prototype and early-build projects supplied by obtaining quotes, placing and tracking orders, and delivering parts to the engineering bench or prototype contract manufacturer on time. The role focuses on speed, clean execution, current order status, and clear shortage reporting so engineers can focus on design. It covers prototype and early-build purchasing across the BOM, including quick-turn machined and sheet metal parts, PCBs, cables and harnesses, catalog and distributor components, and build consumables. The buyer purchases directly and coordinates with prototype contract manufacturers on items they purchase on the company's behalf. Production commodity strategy, supplier negotiation, and long-term supplier selection are handled by sourcing managers. The Prototype Buyer maintains purchasing records—including supplier, price, and lead time—and passes that history to sourcing managers as parts move toward production. The role begins as an individual contributor and reports to the Director of Supply Chain. It is an on-site role with the engineering team in Carlsbad, California, with occasional travel to prototype contract manufacturers.
Requirements
- 3–4 years of buying, purchasing, or procurement experience in a hardware, electronics, or manufacturing environment.
- Experience buying for prototype, NPI, or low-volume builds, including work with quick-turn suppliers.
- Comfort reading a bill of materials (BOM) and a basic part drawing.
- Strong organization and follow-through across many open orders at once.
- Ability to work on site in Carlsbad, California.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in battery, energy storage, power electronics, EV, or other hardware-adjacent categories.
- Experience with quick-turn machining, sheet metal, or PCB suppliers.
- Experience working alongside a contract manufacturer's buying team.
- Early-stage startup experience.
Responsibilities
- Obtain quotes from quick-turn shops and distributors and place purchase orders quickly, often the same day.
- Meet turn targets, such as five-day turns on quick-turn parts when suppliers can support them.
- Compare quotes based on landed cost, including duties and freight for purchases from Asia.
- Build and maintain a reliable roster of quick-turn suppliers by category.
- Track every open prototype order from purchase order through receipt in a current list accessible to engineering.
- Publish a shortage list before each build, follow up on late orders, and escalate early when a build date is at risk.
- Receive and reconcile deliveries; get parts to the engineering bench or prototype contract manufacturer; and resolve short shipments, incorrect revisions, and damaged goods.
- Work with engineers daily to understand design changes, purchasing needs, and deadlines.
- Coordinate with prototype contract manufacturers on which parts they buy and which the company buys, and record parts sourced on the company's behalf, including supplier, price, and lead time.
- Provide purchasing history to sourcing managers as parts move toward production.
- Maintain clean purchase-order records for finance, including pricing, receipts, and accruals.
Benefits
- Company equity.
- Health, dental, and vision insurance.
- Flexible PTO with a generous holiday policy.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
