Strategic Sourcing Specialist

northwoodspace•Los Angeles, CA

21d•$80,000 - $125,000

About The Position

We are seeking a Strategic Sourcing Specialist to drive sourcing strategy, supplier management, and procurement execution across production and new product introduction (NPI) programs. This role is critical to ensuring Northwood has the supplier partnerships, commercial agreements, and material availability needed to scale next-generation space communication systems.

Requirements

2+ years of experience in direct procurement, purchasing, material planning, or supply chain in a manufacturing environment
Experience working with ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Oracle) and strong Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, basic data analysis)
Experience managing purchase orders, supplier relationships, and working cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and supply chain teams
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting NPI or prototype builds, or in a startup or high-growth environment
Background in aerospace, satellite, telecommunications, or defense industries or familiarity with PCBAs, electromechanical assemblies, or complex hardware systems
Exposure to MRP planning concepts and execution

Responsibilities

Develop and execute sourcing strategies for commodities, components, and suppliers to support production, NPI programs, and long-term supply continuity.
Lead supplier sourcing activities, including RFQs/RFIs, supplier evaluation and selection, commercial analysis, and contract negotiations to achieve cost, quality, and delivery objectives.
Manage procurement execution through purchase orders, material planning, and supplier coordination to ensure alignment with production schedules and program priorities.
Monitor and improve supplier performance, driving on-time delivery, resolving supply issues, and proactively mitigating risks through alternate sourcing, capacity planning, and supplier development.
Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Program teams to support supplier selection, material readiness, production ramp-up, and test activities.
Analyze supplier spend, market conditions, and cost drivers to identify savings opportunities, while maintaining accurate ERP data and driving continuous improvement of sourcing processes and tools.