Procurement Specialist II

Position Overview:  

A competent procurement team is critical in building a compliant supply chain for spaceflight hardware. The ideal candidate will combine deep knowledge of aerospace sourcing with agility required to thrive in a fast-paced engineering startup.  

The Procurement II role will serve as the link between our internal engineering teams and our external supply chain. In this dynamic role, you will take ownership of the Approved Supplier List and drive the end-to-end sourcing process for high-reliability aerospace hardware. Your focus will be on navigating complex government and aerospace contracts, rigorously auditing vendors to ensure uncompromising quality compliance, and building agile supplier partnerships that can keep pace with our aggressive development schedules. You will manage the purchasing and planning for all engineering-related materials, parts and equipment while driving delivery to ensure we meet engineering project needs. We are looking for a proactive professional who can seamlessly translate complex technical requirements and engineering changes into executable procurement strategies that directly support our mission. 

Key Responsibilities:  

• Qualify, quote, audit and manage suppliers, specialized machine shops, and special-process vendors (heat treat, plating, NDT, etc.)
• Enforce strict supply chain documentation compliance including Certificates of Conformance, Material Test reports, First Article Inspections, etc.  
• Track supply delivery and quality metrics, and drive root-cause corrective actions for vendor escapes
• Prepare and execute procurement negotiations, expedite long-lead hardware and execute dual-sourcing strategies to eliminate single-point supply failures
• Serve as primary operational liaison between internal engineering requirements and vendor technical capabilities
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, lead-time reduction, supplier consolidation, improved material availability, etc.
• Support inventory planning by helping maintain appropriate stock levels of materials, parts and supplies for engineering needs while minimizing excess inventory and obsolescence risk
• Ensure purchases comply with company procurement policies, applicable industry regulations, safety requirements and documentation standards 

Required Qualifications:  

• Typically, 4+ years of direct purchasing or procurement experience within the aerospace industry, defense sector, or government contracting space
• Demonstrated understanding of aerospace and government contract types, compliance requirements, and standard flow-down clauses
• Proven ability to independently audit and vet suppliers for strict quality assurance
• Experience owning end-to-end purchasing and material-planning execution for engineering materials, parts, equipment and specialized hardware
• Highly proficient in MS Office Suite
• Strong attention to detail and documentation accuracy
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with track record of proactive vendor management
• Comfortable taking individual responsibility and sole ownership in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Engineering, Supply Chain Management or a related field
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications:  

• Previous experience working in high-growth environment where processes are actively being built and refined
• Direct familiarity with aerospace quality management systems
• Experience operating within enterprise resource planning or manufacturing execution software
• Ability to interpret engineering-driven procurement needs including material specifications, part requirements, quantities, technical documentation and delivery dates
• Experience supporting prototype development, engineering builds, hardware integration, test campaigns, production planning, etc.
• Startup experience, shows comfort in rapid-growth environment, highly accountable 

Our office headquarters are located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in-office presence.

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $80,000-$125,000. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data.  Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.