Fotokite develops autonomous, high-endurance tethered unmanned aerial systems to help firefighters and public safety teams save lives.
Fotokite systems allow first responders to quickly and easily gain situational awareness after arriving at emergency scenes: our autonomous one-touch launch/land system makes operation simple and safe; the dual color and thermal camera payload provides situational awareness from the system’s aerial perspective; and actively tethered flight means the system can be flown without a certified pilot, and can be left flying for as long as the situation requires.
We are seeking a self-motivated Technical Buyer with a strong interest or background in technical procurement to join our Supply Chain team. You will be responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing components, materials, and services necessary for drone manufacturing — from high-precision electronics to specialized mechanical parts. This role requires both strategic thinking and hands-on operational work, with a focus on cost efficiency, quality, and supplier reliability.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Source, evaluate, and manage suppliers for technical and non-technical components, including electronics, motors, sensors, PCBs, batteries, and composite materials.
- Ensure compliance with legal, environmental, and ethical sourcing requirements.
- Negotiate contracts, pricing, and delivery terms to secure best value without compromising quality or timelines.
- Collaborate with engineering, production, and quality teams to align purchases with technical specifications and project requirements.
- Monitor supplier performance, maintain strong vendor relationships, and manage the preferred supplier list.
- Conduct market research and track industry trends to optimize sourcing strategies for drone technology and related materials.
- Maintain accurate procurement records, contracts, compliance documents, and ERP/MRP data integrity.
- Support inventory management, participate in stock counts, and ensure materials availability for production schedules, while avoiding overstock.
- Participate in stock counts to assure overall inventory accuracy and align to ERP.
- Knowledge of ERP / MRP configuration to assure integrity of procurement process.
- Drive cost reduction, process improvement, and supplier risk mitigation initiatives.
- Review and reconcile supplier invoices, coordinate with finance to ensure timely, accurate payments.
- Coordinate with the accounts team to ensure timely payments and resolve invoice discrepancies.
- Track and report procurement KPIs, budgets, cost variances, and savings.
- Understand the impact of procurement decisions on overall profit margins.
- Support new product introduction (NPI) projects and international shipments, including import/export documentation (e.g., HS codes).
- Perform other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent work experience).
- 1–4 years of experience in procurement, supply chain, or sourcing — ideally in electronics, aerospace, automotive, or precision manufacturing.
- Familiarity with technical drawings/specifications (ability to read and interpret is a plus).
SKILLS & COMPENTENCIES
- Strong negotiation and vendor management skills.
- Understanding of manufacturing processes and material requirements for technical products.
- Knowledge of ERP systems (Odoo) or similar.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Google Docs).
- Excellent communication in English; German is a strong plus.
- Good communication skills and ability to work well in a team environment.
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage time effectively.
- Detail-oriented.
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This position description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be required to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.
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What We Do
Our team believes in a future where autonomous robotics are used in meaningful, accountable applications.
Commercial UAVs have the technical capabilities to help save lives and share important stories- but they
have continued to be held back by fundamental problems in safety, regulation, and flight time. By solving these
fundamental issues, our team is able to offer the next generation of accountable and autonomous aerial robotics
that are ready for real-world use today.
Fotokite technology uses a tether combined with an onboard IMU to compute the vehicle's position relative to the user. This allows for quick deployment and controlled flight by virtually anyone and obviates the need for complex start-up protocols, GPS dependency, trained pilots, and bulky remote controls.
The core algorithms were developed and refined over the course of years of research and experimentation at the world renowned Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control at ETH Zurich. With this foundation in place, the team is now working on expanding control capabilities with a keen eye on delivering intuitive user interaction, enabling expanded capabilities to teams in Firefighting and Public Safety applications.
