OverviewTRD is looking for a highly motivated and experienced
Technical Buyer.
The Technical Buyer serves as a key link between TRD's engineering vision and the global supply base, ensuring precision machined racing engine components are delivered with the quality, timing, and cost required for championship performance. This role requires strong technical purchasing expertise as well as the strategic and relationship management skills to contribute to TRD's long-term supplier development goals.
Key Responsibilities:- Source, negotiate, and procure precision machined components required for TRD's NASCAR engine programs, ensuring supplier capability, quality, delivery, and cost performance meet TRD's standards.
- Manage supplier relationships across domestic and international partners (U.S., Europe, and Japan), ensuring clear communication, consistent performance, and long-term strategic alignment with TRD's technical and quality objectives.
- Collaborate with engineering, planning, and quality departments to understand technical requirements, material specifications, and production timing for complex machined engine components.
- Develop and maintain purchase requisitions, purchase orders, supplier contracts, and pricing agreements within TRD's MRP-driven environment, ensuring timely procurement aligned with project schedules.
- Analyze MRP demand, supplier lead times, economic batch quantities, and capacity constraints to maintain optimal inventory levels while minimizing shortages and excess stock.
- Identify and qualify new suppliers based on capability, technical competence, and adherence to TRD's precision manufacturing standards.
- Evaluate supplier manufacturing processes for machining complexity, tooling capability, process control, and quality systems to ensure technical compatibility with TRD's component design requirements.
- Lead cost reduction and process and lead time improvement initiatives through value analysis, competitive sourcing, and supplier collaboration to achieve continuous improvement in cost, quality, and delivery.
- Coordinate logistics and international shipping with internal teams and external partners to ensure timely delivery and compliance with global trade and import/export requirements.
- Support new product introductions (NPI) by working cross-functionally to ensure sourcing plans and supplier readiness align with engineering and production milestones.
- Monitor supplier performance metrics (on-time delivery, quality, responsiveness) and implement corrective actions as needed to maintain high standards of reliability and accountability.
- Work closely with finance and materials teams to ensure accurate purchase order reconciliation, cost tracking, and budget management.
- Represent TRD Supply Chain in cross-department meetings and supplier reviews, providing data-driven updates and recommendations for sourcing strategy and material planning.
- Maintain compliance with TRD purchasing policies, ethical standards, and confidentiality requirements in all supplier dealings.
What you will bring:- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or related technical discipline. Equivalent experience in technical purchasing within a manufacturing environment will be considered.
- Minimum 7-10 years of purchasing experience in a precision machining or advanced manufacturing environment, ideally supporting high-performance automotive or aerospace applications.
- Proven success managing suppliers producing complex machined components with tight tolerances, multi-axis machining operations, and exotic materials.
- Hands-on familiarity with MRP/ERP systems (Syspro, SAP, Oracle, or equivalent) in a production planning and procurement environment.
- Strong understanding of machining processes, materials, and tolerancing, including GD&T and process flow documentation.
- Experience coordinating international procurement and understanding logistics, customs, and trade compliance processes.
- Demonstrated experience in supplier evaluation, negotiation, and performance management.
Physical requirements:Travel requirements:- Estimated at 20% annually.
Bonus if you have:- Deep understanding of CNC machining, casting, forging, and precision finishing processes.
- Knowledge of quality management systems (ISO9001, AS9100) and supplier auditing practices.
- Prior exposure to motorsport, automotive engine component manufacturing, or high-performance engineering.
- Experience in cost modeling, price analysis, and cost breakdown structures for machined components.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to interface across engineering, production, and supplier organizations.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams) and familiarity with technical drawings (SolidWorks, CREO, or similar preferred).
The annual base salary range for this position is $87,700.00 - $142,500.00.
