Scout Space is seeking a highly organized, hands-on Purchasing & Operations Manager to own day-to-day purchasing and support the inventory and materials activities that keep our engineering and hardware programs running smoothly. This role will coordinate purchasing from approved request through fulfillment, working closely with suppliers and internal teams while maintaining appropriate controls, documentation, and visibility.

The role will also support inventory, receiving, shipping and logistics, as well as other operational needs as they arise. The ideal candidate is resourceful, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing day-to-day execution while helping build scalable processes and systems as Scout grows.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day purchasing administration across the company, with a particular focus on supporting engineering and hardware programs.
• Manage approved purchases through fulfillment, including purchase order processing, supplier coordination, order tracking, and required documentation.
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal teams on quotations, pricing, availability, lead times, and resolution of purchasing issues.
• Partner with Finance, Engineering, and Mission Assurance to ensure purchasing activities meet applicable financial, technical, quality, and documentation requirements.
• Maintain accurate purchasing and supplier records and help improve procurement processes and systems as the company grows.
• Manage inventory, receiving, materials, and shipping activities, maintaining accurate records and visibility into material location and status.
• Coordinate applicable receiving, inspection, acceptance, traceability, and shipping requirements, and proactively resolve material and delivery issues.
• Support broader business operations, including day-to-day office and facility needs, vendor coordination, and other cross-functional activities.
• Take ownership of operational projects and process improvements based on evolving company needs and priorities.

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, inventory, materials management, supply chain, or a related operational role
• Experience managing purchasing transactions, purchase orders, supplier coordination, and order fulfillment
• Experience working with inventory, receiving, shipping, or materials-management processes
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to maintain accurate records and manage multiple priorities
• Ability to work effectively with technical, finance, quality, and other cross-functional teams
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills, with a proactive approach to resolving purchasing, material, and delivery issues
• Comfortable working in a hands-on, fast-paced environment and helping develop and improve processes as the organization grows

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting engineering, manufacturing, hardware, aerospace, defense, or another technical environment
• Familiarity with purchasing and inventory systems, ERP platforms, or related business systems
• Experience working within quality-controlled or regulated environments, including familiarity with supplier documentation, traceability, or receiving inspection requirements
• Experience helping implement or improve purchasing, inventory, or materials-management processes
• Prior experience in a startup or high-growth company

Benefits

• Open Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• 401k Matching
• Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, Dependent Care FSA
• Wellness Stipend
• Work From Home Stipend
• Life Insurance
• Long-term Disability plans
• Commuter Benefit
• Education Reimbursement

Don't fulfill all the qualifications listed above? If you still feel like you might be a good fit, please feel free to APPLY ANYWAY. We believe in a well-rounded team, and this sometimes means that someone with out-of-context knowledge can contribute just as well as someone with very explicit alignment with our capabilities needs stated.

Our positions are based in Reston, Virginia, with much of our team operating in a hybrid or remote fashion. While we welcome remote candidates, we have a preference for candidates in or around the Washington, DC metropolitan area (or willing to relocate) to provide more opportunities to work and collaborate in-person.

This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant's capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls.

Compensation is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. Summary pay range: $80,000-$110,000.