Senior Purchaser (Hands-On)
Burbank, California**
WET designs and builds the most ambitious water features in the world—from the Fountains of Bellagio to one-of-a-kind installations that merge engineering, art, and performance.
Our work lives at the intersection of robotics, hydraulics, software, materials science, and show design. Every project is custom. Every solution is invented. And every detail matters.
We are a team of 200+ engineers, fabricators, designers, and creators who solve problems that don’t have playbooks.
The RoleWe are looking for a Senior Purchaser who is not just strategic, but deeply hands-on—someone who rolls up their sleeves, owns the details, and directly drives purchasing execution across complex, custom-built projects.
You will personally manage critical закуп decisions, lead negotiations, build supplier partnerships, and ensure materials hit the floor on time and on cost. This is not a passive leadership role—this is a player-coach position embedded in the day-to-day flow of engineering and production.
You will oversee approximately $30M in annual spend, spanning metals, machined components, electronics, pumps, and specialized equipment.
What You’ll Actually DoOwn purchasing execution end-to-end: sourcing, quoting, negotiating, issuing POs, and tracking delivery on critical path items
Personally negotiate high-impact buys, cost reductions, and long-term agreements with key suppliers
Work side-by-side with engineering and fabrication teams to understand specs, tolerances, and build requirements before sourcing
Drive supplier performance—quality, lead time, responsiveness—and intervene directly when issues arise
Build and maintain a high-performing, reliable supplier network (domestic and international)
Analyze should-cost models and challenge pricing with data, not assumptions
Identify risk early (long lead items, single-source suppliers, volatile materials) and proactively mitigate
Improve purchasing processes, systems, and visibility—no black boxes, no surprises
Lead and mentor a small team of buyers while staying directly involved in the work
Materials arrive on time, every time—no production delays due to purchasing gaps
Measurable cost improvements without sacrificing quality or reliability
Strong, accountable supplier relationships—not transactional, but performance-driven
Clear visibility into spend, risks, and timelines across all projects
A purchasing function that is trusted, responsive, and deeply integrated with engineering and production
10+ years in purchasing/supply chain, with strong experience in manufacturing or engineered products
Proven track record of personally negotiating and closing complex закуп deals
Deep familiarity with metals, machining, electronics, and mechanical systems
Ability to read drawings, understand specs, and engage technically with engineers
Strong cost analysis skills—comfortable breaking down pricing and challenging assumptions
Experience operating in fast-moving, custom, project-based environments (not just high-volume production)
Leadership experience, with a willingness to stay hands-on in day-to-day execution
Proficiency with ERP/procurement systems (QuickBooks or similar)
At WET, purchasing is not a back-office function—it is a core driver of whether our ideas become reality.
The right person in this role will directly impact our ability to build faster, smarter, and more creatively—while maintaining the quality and precision our projects demand.
If you want to own decisions, move fast, and be close to the work, this is that role.
Why WETYou’ll be part of a team that builds things most companies would never attempt. The problems are real, the stakes are high, and the output is seen by millions of people around the world.
WET is an Equal Opportunity Employer and hires based on merit, competence, and qualifications.
WWW.WETDESIGN.COM
Skills Required
- 10+ years in purchasing or supply chain with manufacturing or engineered products experience
- Proven track record of personally negotiating and closing complex procurement deals
- Deep familiarity with metals, machining, electronics, and mechanical systems
- Ability to read drawings, understand specs, and engage technically with engineers
- Strong cost analysis skills and ability to challenge supplier pricing
- Experience in fast-moving, custom, project-based environments
- Leadership experience while remaining hands-on in daily purchasing execution
- Proficiency with ERP/procurement systems (QuickBooks or similar)
What We Do
In an increasingly digital world, we crave more than ever the authenticity of real human connection. WET unleashes the magic of water and nature’s other elements to create shared experiences of movement, light, and emotion that reconnect us with our world, with our senses, and with each other. WET works with developers, architects, leaders, and visionaries to create and re-imagine environments for human experiences. Our expansive features are context driven, responsive to their environments and the needs and desires of their clients, patrons and visitors. Our creative force of talent ranges from artists to physicists, from architects to choreographers. They imagine each project as if it were WET’s first, shaping it to its specific environment and community. WET’s involvement in and commitment to each project begins at the moment of conceptualization and remains through lifetime maintenance. When you are seeking a people magnet, an attraction that will pull people into your project and pull your project into the spotlight, then seek WET. Looking to join the team? Check out our current openings: https://wetdesign.applytojob.com/
