Technical Buyer

Saft America, Inc.•Valdosta, GA

About The Position

The Technical Buyer is responsible for strategic sourcing, procurement, and supplier management for engineered materials, components, equipment, and services supporting manufacturing, engineering, research and development, and operations. Acting as the primary liaison among Procurement, Engineering, and suppliers, the role supports continuity of supply, cost competitiveness, technical compliance, and operational excellence. The buyer evaluates supplier capabilities, supports product development, manages complex sourcing activities, and drives supply-chain improvements. The position supports new product introductions, supplier development, cost reduction, and long-term sourcing strategies in a technologically advanced manufacturing environment. It requires a relevant bachelor's degree and at least five years of progressively responsible experience in technical procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain management, or engineering-related purchasing in manufacturing. The role also requires experience with engineered products and complex manufacturing components, supplier development, negotiation, cost reduction, and cross-functional work. Relevant technical knowledge includes mechanical and electrical components, battery and energy-storage technologies, chemicals and specialty materials, supplier qualification methods, lean manufacturing, ERP/MRP systems, and advanced Excel and data analysis. The employer describes a total rewards package that includes compensation based on market standards, healthcare, wellness, adoption assistance, discounted stock purchase, career development and recognition programs, parental leave, a 401(k) contribution match, educational assistance, short-term disability, paid holidays, paid vacation, and a paid employee referral award. Saft is described as a global battery company and a wholly owned subsidiary of TotalEnergies.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Supply Chain Management, or a related technical discipline.
Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in technical procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain management, or engineering-related purchasing within a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience sourcing engineered products, technical materials, and complex manufacturing components.
Experience supporting new product introductions and engineering-driven procurement activities.
Proven track record in supplier development, cost reduction, contract negotiation, and cross-functional collaboration.
Knowledge of mechanical components, machined parts, castings, and fabricated assemblies.
Knowledge of electrical and electronic components, including sensors, connectors, wire harnesses, controls, resistors, and power systems.
Knowledge of battery technologies, energy storage systems, electrochemical materials, and related manufacturing processes.
Knowledge of chemicals, plastics, specialty materials, metals, and manufacturing consumables.
Knowledge of supplier qualification methodologies, including PPAP, APQP, and FAI.
Knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles.
Experience with ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, QAD, Microsoft Dynamics, or equivalent.
Advanced Microsoft Excel, data analysis, and reporting capabilities.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Supply Chain Management, Engineering Management, or a related field.
Professional certifications such as CPSM, CPM, APICS/ASCM, CSCP, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement sourcing strategies for technical commodities, engineered products, raw materials, capital equipment, and specialized services.
Identify, evaluate, qualify, and develop suppliers to meet technical, quality, delivery, and cost requirements.
Lead supplier selection through competitive bidding, market analysis, and supplier capability assessments.
Negotiate pricing, contracts, long-term agreements, lead times, payment terms, and other commercial conditions to achieve best total cost of ownership.
Monitor global market trends, supplier risks, capacity constraints, and emerging technologies affecting material availability and pricing.
Ensure uninterrupted material flow to support production schedules and customer commitments.
Partner with Design Engineering, Process Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality teams on new product development and product lifecycle management.
Interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, material standards, and bills of material (BOMs).
Support Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) and product revisions by coordinating supplier implementation activities.
Conduct technical reviews of supplier manufacturing processes, production capabilities, and quality systems.
Develop and implement annual cost-reduction initiatives through strategic sourcing, value engineering, supplier negotiations, and process improvements.
Perform detailed cost analyses and total-cost-of-ownership evaluations.
Generate and manage purchase orders in ERP/MRP systems (QAD).
Maintain accurate procurement records, supplier data, contracts, and sourcing documentation.
Ensure compliance with company policies, ISO requirements, customer specifications, and applicable aviation and rail regulatory requirements.