Job OverviewAs R&D/NPI Buyer, Electrical, you are the primary supply chain point of contact for the Engineering team - the person engineers come to for parts on the bench, prototype builds, and new suppliers stand up fast. You'll own tactical purchasing for R&D and prototype builds and carry those parts through the transition into production as programs move from NPI to manufacturing. The work mixes structured projects (supplier/part qualification, RFQs, EC cut-in planning) with a live queue of ad-hoc requests. You'll sit on the SC PM & Cost Engineering team within Strategic Sourcing.
Key ResponsibilitiesR&D and Prototype Purchasing- Main point of contact for Electrical Engineering, translating needs into sourcing actions with clear cost, lead-time, and availability calls
- Own end-to-end tactical purchasing for R&D/prototype builds - RFQs, PO placement, expedites, delivery follow-through
- Source and onboard quick-turn suppliers; negotiate pricing, NRE, and tooling for prototype quantities
- Resolve shortages, allocation, and EOL components - alternates with engineering, distributor/broker channels, early risk escalation
- Plan and stage material for builds, coordinating kitting and receiving with the shop floor and Quality
NPI Transition to Manufacturing- Support prototype-to-production transition: part qualification, FAI, capacity/lead-time confirmation, handoff to production planning and CMs
- Support supplier-side EC execution - change quotes, cut-in timing, disposition of obsolete/excess material
- Partner with SCM Program Managers and Commodity Managers so R&D buys land on the right supplier and terms for volume
Systems, Data, and Reporting- Maintain accurate ERP/MRP data - part records, sourcing rules, lead times, pricing - and run MRP to drive buys
- Keep open orders and shortage lists current; report cost, schedule, and supply risk to program teams
- Resolve receiving, quality, and invoice discrepancies with AP, Quality, and suppliers
Qualifications- BA/BS in Business, Supply Chain, or Engineering, or equivalent experience
- 3+ years of buyer/planner experience in hardware manufacturing, ideally supporting R&D or NPI
- Hands-on ERP/MRP proficiency - POs, part/planning data, running and acting on MRP
- Working knowledge of electrical commodities: PCBAs, cables/harnesses, e-boxes/enclosures, connectors, passives
- Comfortable reading BOMs and ECs; communicates credibly with design engineers
- Highly organized and self-directed under shifting priorities
Preferred Qualifications- Experience with contract manufacturers
- Familiarity with obsolescence/allocation markets and AVL management
- Experience with a formal EC process or PLM system
- Analytics/AI tool experience (dashboards, scripting) for reporting automation
$98,000 - $115,000 a year
This position is
onsite at our
Menlo Park HQ. The salary will be adjusted to reflect local market conditions based on employee location as well as the experience of the employee. Along with the base salary, Mainspring offers pre-IPO stock options + benefits.
Does your experience not meet all of our posted requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to positions unless they meet every listed requirement. At Mainspring, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, flexible, and collaborative environment, so if you want to help us transition the world to clean and affordable electricity, and don't meet all posted requirements for a particular role, we'd still love to hear from you. Mainspring can sometimes be flexible enough to shift responsibilities for the right person, or otherwise identify open or upcoming roles that may better fit your professional background.
