Sourcing Specialist
Position Details:- The hiring range for this role is typically between $84,000 and $101,000 annually, with the full range extending to $118,000 annually, based on experience, internal equity, and career progression
- This position will be Hybrid
- Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Travel Required
Primary Function
The Sourcing Specialist identifies, evaluates, and manages suppliers for outsourced fabricated parts, secondary operations, and mission-critical purchased components. The role partners with Engineering, Project Management, Quality, Operations, and Purchasing to ensure suppliers meet technical, quality, cost, compliance, and delivery requirements. The Sourcing Specialist also develops vendor relationships, monitors supplier performance, and resolves issues that could affect project execution.
Essential Responsibilities
- Source suppliers for COTS items, engineered components, fabricated parts, and outsourced services based on project and operational requirements.
- Review drawings, specifications, Bills of Materials, quantities, revisions, required dates, and supporting documentation before releasing sourcing packages.
- Prepare and issue requests for quotation, evaluate supplier responses, and recommend awards based on capability, quality, lead time, cost, capacity, compliance, and commercial terms.
- Identify alternate sourcing options and collaborate with Engineering and project stakeholders to resolve incomplete requirements, manufacturability concerns, or supplier capability gaps.
- Coordinate outsourced fabrication requirements with approved vendors, including technical documentation, requested completion dates, inspection needs, and project-specific instructions.
- Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms, and other commercial conditions while maintaining required quality and delivery standards.
- Initiate or support purchase orders and maintain accurate supplier commitments, pricing, lead times, and required dates in the ERP system.
- Monitor outsourced parts throughout the production cycle, obtain status updates, identify delivery risks, and communicate issues to affected stakeholders.
- Coordinate with suppliers, Engineering, and Quality to resolve technical questions, nonconforming material, rework, inspection findings, and documentation deficiencies.
- Build and maintain productive relationships with approved suppliers while holding vendors accountable for quality, delivery, cost, and responsiveness.
- Evaluate and qualify potential suppliers based on manufacturing capability, capacity, quality systems, service, and applicable compliance requirements.
- Maintain supplier records, capabilities, quotations, qualification documentation, agreements, and sourcing decisions.
- Track vendor performance using quality, delivery, cost, and service information; support corrective actions and supplier-development activities when performance falls below expectations.
- Identify cost-reduction opportunities, supplier consolidation opportunities, alternate manufacturing methods, and sourcing-process improvements.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives and perform other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience
- Associate's degree in Supply Chain Management, Machining, Engineering Technology, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
- Five or more years of experience in sourcing, supplier management, manufacturing procurement, or fabrication outsourcing required.
- Experience sourcing custom or engineered components in a manufacturing, engineering, or project-driven environment required.
- Experience using ERP or procurement systems required; NetSuite experience preferred.
- Knowledge of supplier sourcing, RFQ development, quote analysis, negotiation, vendor qualification, and supplier-performance management.
- Detailed understanding of fabrication processes such as machining, sheet metal fabrication, welding, forming, laser cutting, finishing, and additive manufacturing.
- Ability to evaluate supplier capability, quality, lead time, capacity, cost, risk, and compliance when making sourcing recommendations.
- Ability to interpret drawings, specifications, Bills of Materials, part numbers, revisions, and basic manufacturing requirements.
- Strong negotiation, supplier-relationship, analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
- Ability to independently manage multiple sourcing activities and identify issues requiring escalation.
- Strong attention to documentation accuracy, commercial details, deadlines, and follow-through.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Commitment to Sigma Design Core Values and ability to pass a post-offer background verification.
Work Environment
Work is primarily performed in a standard office environment. The position will require periodic work in manufacturing, warehouse, or shop environments where appropriate safety garments (PPE) must be worn. The position requires travel 20-30% of the time to suppliers, customers, or other company facilities.
