Senior Buyer

About Us

Pacific Defense is a leading developer of advanced RF and electronics systems for the U.S. Department of Defense and commercial customers. Our team specializes in Open Systems Architecture solutions for the non-kinetic fight, providing customers with cost-effective, modular, and rapidly reconfigurable systems in record time. We deliver sensing and effects solutions for land, air, sea, and space domains, leveraging open standards and rapid prototyping methodologies to bring innovative capabilities to the market. Pacific Defense has built an excellent reputation in the defense industry and is expanding our team to tackle new challenges and opportunities. Join us and accelerate your career!

Position Summary

Pacific Defense is seeking an experienced Senior Buyer to support the procurement and strategic sourcing of materials, assemblies, and services used in advanced military electronics and aerospace hardware manufacturing. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience purchasing electronic components, printed wiring boards (PWBs), cable assemblies, machined/fabricated metal chassis, and complex electro-mechanical hardware within a high-mix, low-volume defense manufacturing environment.

This role requires a highly capable procurement professional with strong negotiation skills, supplier management expertise, and a proven ability to drive cost reduction initiatives, establish long-term supplier agreements, improve lead times, and support aggressive production schedules for mission-critical defense programs.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive purchasing and procurement experience within aerospace, defense, military electronics, or high-reliability manufacturing environments.  

• Proven experience procuring:  

• Electronic components  

• Printed Wiring Boards (PWBs/PCBs)  

• Cable and wire harness assemblies  

• Metal chassis and fabricated assemblies  

• Machined parts and fabricated hardware  

• Electro-mechanical assemblies  

• Strong understanding of defense and aerospace supply chain requirements, including long lead-time management, supplier risk mitigation, and quality compliance.  

• Proven ability to execute strategic cost reduction initiatives and support should-cost analysis activities.  

• Experience managing procurement activities for military hardware production programs and prototype/new product introduction (NPI) environments.  

Strong working knowledge of:  

• MRP/ERP systems

• PLM systems such as Arena, Agile, or equivalent  

• Procurement analytics and forecasting  

• Strong understanding of supply chain impacts related to:  

• Obsolescence management 

• Allocation management 

• Material shortages management 

• Counterfeit avoidance  

• Supplier performance management  

• Excellent negotiation, communication, and supplier relationship management skills.  

• Strong analytical skills with advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and procurement reporting tools.  

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-mix, low-volume aerospace and defense manufacturing environment.  

Demonstrated success in negotiating:  

• Supplier pricing  

• Long-Term Agreements (LTAs)  

• Blanket purchase orders  

• Supplier capacity commitments  

• Lead-time reductions  

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience in Sage X3 

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field.  

• Experience supporting DoD programs and defense prime/subcontractor environments.  

• Familiarity with:  

• AS9100 quality systems  

• FAR/DFARS requirements  

• Government flow-down requirements  

• ITAR/EAR compliance  

• Experience supporting rapid production scale-up and manufacturing transition to production efforts.  

Responsibilities 

• Lead procurement and supplier management activities across commodities.  

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies to support production, engineering, and PMO requirements.  

• Negotiate pricing, terms, delivery schedules, and Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) with suppliers to improve cost, quality, and delivery performance.  

• Drive cost reduction initiatives through supplier negotiations, alternate sourcing, value engineering, and strategic sourcing activities.  

• Manage long lead-time materials and proactively mitigate supply chain risks impacting production schedules.  

• Coordinate with Planning, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Program Management to support production schedules and material readiness.  

• Support rapid response activities for material shortages, expedites, and supply disruptions.  

• Issue and manage Requests for Quote (RFQs), and bid evaluations.  

• Analyze supplier quotations, market conditions, and historical pricing trends to ensure competitive procurement decisions.  

• Establish and maintain strong strategic supplier relationships to support long-term business objectives.  

• Support inventory optimization initiatives while balancing production continuity and material availability.  

• Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, quality requirements, and applicable defense industry regulations.  

• Participate in supplier reviews, corrective action activities, and continuous improvement initiatives.  

• Support prototype, NPI, and transition-to-production efforts for advanced military hardware programs.  

Monitor supplier performance metrics including:  

• On-time delivery  

• Lead time  

• Quality  

• Responsiveness  

• Cost competitiveness  

Benefits

Pacific Defense provides competitive salaries and an immediately vested 401K match. We provide 100% coverage options for the employee and 75% coverage for dependents’ medical, dental, vision, and life insurance premiums, and a flexible spending account for incidental health care expenses. We offer generous paid time off and federal holidays to spend time with family, pursue outside interests, or just get some extra rest.

Pacific Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants for employment regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.