Job Description

BAE Systems SMS is seeking a seeking a strategic and technically astute Commodity Buyer to manage complex procurement activities, driving strategic supplier partnerships to secure high-quality fab to print assemblies at competitive costs. In this high-level role, you will leverage your expertise to maintain strategic partnerships, optimize costs, and mitigate risks in a highly dynamic market.

The ideal candidate blends technical knowledge of fab to print technical procurements with expert-level negotiation, ERP proficiency, and proactive supply chain management to support production requirements and new product introductions. This role will lead initiatives supporting SMS programs in Direct procurements.

The Strategic Purchasing Analyst is a procurement-focused role responsible for sourcing and managing suppliers. This position requires strong procurement expertise, supplier negotiation skills, and the ability to partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Program teams to ensure parts are sourced effectively, meet technical requirements, and support business objectives.

The Operations Strategic Capabilities Unit plays a fundamental role in enabling efficient business and program execution - from strategic capital investments, industrial operations and an efficient supply chain, to state-of-the-art manufacturing and test operations and top-notch facilities management.

The Integrated Supply Chain team has a direct impact on program success, acting as a critical chain that links the end-to-end material flow together. Our organization helps propel us forward and achieve true mission partnership.

What You'll Do:

• Develop sourcing strategies for complex, custom-manufactured parts while considering cost, quality, lead time, supplier capability, capacity, and long-term supply continuity.
• Lead the end-to-end procurement process, including supplier identification, RFQ/RFP execution, quotation analysis, negotiations, purchase order placement, and supplier performance management.
• Prepare and support procurement documentation required for government contracting environments, including, Sole Source Justifications (SSJ), Price analysis and cost analysis documentation and other FAR/DFARS-related procurement documentation as required
• Ensure procurement actions comply with applicable governmental requirements, customer flow-downs, quality requirements, and regulatory obligations.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, manufacturing processes, certifications, and technical requirements to ensure suppliers can meet design specifications and production needs.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Program teams to understand requirements, resolve supplier issues, and ensure procured parts meet specifications.
• Negotiate terms, pricing, lead times, capacity commitments, and contractual requirements with suppliers.
• Establish and maintain supplier relationships while driving continuous improvement through supplier performance metrics, including, OTD, quality, Cost.
• Manage supplier risk by identifying potential supply constraints, obsolescence concerns, capacity limitations, and other procurement risks while developing mitigation strategies.
• Identify and leverage sourcing opportunities, including cost reductions, alternate suppliers, process improvements, and supply base optimization.
• Review and validate supplier quotations for technical alignment, including PCB fabrication requirements, material specifications, stack-ups, finishes, certifications, and quality documentation.
• Manage purchase orders and supplier commitments, including changes, expedites, delivery updates, invoice discrepancies, and non-conformance resolution.
• Execute RFx activities in accordance with strategic sourcing processes and procurement policies.
• Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department, the Strategic Business Units, Strategic Capabilities Units and the Company. Interact appropriately with others in order to maintain a positive and productive work environment.
• Perform other duties as necessary.

On-Site Work Environment: This position requires regular in-person engagement by working on-site three or more days each normally scheduled week in the primary work location. Travel and local commute between company campuses and other possible non-company locations may be required.

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in an office environment, laboratory, cleanroom, or production floor.

Required Skills and Education

• Bachelor's degree plus 4 or more years of related experience.
• Each higher-level degree, i.e., Master's Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of experience. Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education. Degree must be from a university, college, or school which is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education, US Department of Education.
• Ability to effectively relate with others and cooperate as a team member.
• Ability to build effective relationships at all levels of the organization, using excellent interpersonal organizational and communication skills.
• Knowledge of printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication processes and fab-to-print procurement requirements.
• Excellent negotiation, supplier management, and analytical skills.
• Ability to make data-driven procurement decisions while balancing cost, schedule, quality, and supply risk.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Program organizations.

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A security clearance or access with Polygraph is not required to be eligible for this position. However, the applicant must be willing and eligible for submission, depending on program requirements, after an offer is accepted and must be able to maintain the applicable clearance/access.

Preferred Skills and Education

Soft Skills:

• Detail-oriented and organized.
• Work effectively under pressure.
• Excellent communication.
• Strong initiative, self-starter.
• Problem-solving and troubleshooting.
• Understand and familiar with EIDP (End Item Data Packages).

Technical Skills:

• Knowledge of supply chain management.
• Proficiency in ERP systems.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, bills of material (BOMs), and supplier documentation.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.

Multiple positions may be available on this opening.