Senior Buyer

Laborup•San Jose, CA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

We’re hiring an experienced Senior Buyer to join a growing, high-end precision manufacturing operation supporting the aerospace and defense industries. This role is ideal for someone who comes directly from a CNC machine shop or precision machining environment and understands what it takes to keep manufacturing operations running efficiently. You'll be responsible for purchasing raw materials, cutting tools, manufacturing supplies, and outside processing services while working closely with production, engineering, and quality teams. We're looking for someone who understands the realities of a machine shop—tight production schedules, material lead times, tooling requirements, changing priorities, and the importance of having the right materials available when they're needed. This is a hands-on, high-ownership purchasing position where you'll have a direct impact on production efficiency, supplier performance, and the company's continued growth.

Requirements

5+ years of purchasing, procurement, or buying experience within a CNC machine shop or precision machining environment.
Must have direct experience purchasing materials, tooling, or manufacturing services for a machine shop.
Strong understanding of CNC machining operations, manufacturing workflows, and the materials and tooling used in precision manufacturing.
Experience sourcing metals, raw materials, cutting tools, industrial supplies, and/or outside machining and processing services.
Proven ability to negotiate pricing, manage supplier relationships, and coordinate material deliveries around production schedules.
Comfortable working directly with machinists, manufacturing engineers, production managers, and quality personnel.
Experience using ERP/MRP systems to manage purchase orders, supplier information, and material requirements.
Ability to interpret technical specifications, purchasing requirements, and manufacturing documentation.

Responsibilities

Manage purchasing activities for raw materials, metals, CNC cutting tools, tooling components, manufacturing supplies, and outside processing services.
Work directly with CNC machinists, programmers, manufacturing engineers, and production teams to understand material and tooling requirements.
Source and negotiate with suppliers to secure competitive pricing, reliable lead times, and consistent material availability.
Manage supplier relationships, evaluate quotations, and identify opportunities to improve cost and delivery performance.
Track open purchase orders, expedite critical materials, and proactively resolve supply chain issues that could delay production.
Coordinate purchasing requirements with production schedules and changing manufacturing priorities.
Purchase materials and services according to technical specifications, engineering drawings, and quality requirements.
Maintain accurate purchasing records, supplier information, pricing, and delivery schedules within ERP/MRP systems.
Support aerospace and defense quality requirements, including material certifications, traceability, and approved supplier processes.