The Senior Buyer / Sourcing Specialist is responsible for sourcing, pricing, and purchasing raw materials and outside services required to support quoting and production activities. This role owns material cost inputs for RFQs and works closely with the quoting function to develop accurate, competitive, and timely estimates.
This position also executes purchasing activities, manages supplier relationships, and ensures material availability to support production schedules and customer commitments. The role is critical to improving quote turnaround, cost accuracy, and supply chain performance.
Essential Functions
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Source raw materials (forgings, castings, bar stock, plate, specialty alloys) and outside services (NDT, plating, heat treat, etc.).
- Lead material sourcing efforts for RFQs, including identifying new and alternate suppliers for long lead-time or constrained materials
- Evaluate sourcing strategies based on cost, lead time, and supply risk to support competitive quoting
- Develop and maintain a preferred supplier network for key commodities (forgings, castings, specialty alloys, outside processing)
- Develop and validate material and subcontractor cost estimates for RFQs, including independent supplier outreach
- Solicit and analyze supplier quotes for cost, lead time, and technical compliance
- Issue purchase orders and manage order acknowledgments, delivery dates, and pricing accuracy
- Track and expedite material deliveries to meet production schedules and customer commitments
- Maintain and develop supplier relationships to improve pricing, lead times, and reliability
- Coordinate with engineering and program teams to understand technical material requirements and specifications
- Ensure all procurement activities comply with customer flow-down requirements and applicable standards
- Maintain accurate records of supplier quotes, pricing history, and lead times for future quoting efficiency
- Identify cost-saving opportunities through alternate sourcing, material substitutions (when allowable), or volume strategies
- Support continuous improvement of procurement and quoting processes, including ERP data accuracy
- Assist in resolving supplier issues including quality, delivery, and documentation discrepancies
Qualifications
Required
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Minimum 3-7 years of experience in purchasing, sourcing, or supply chain (manufacturing environment preferred)
- Experience working with long lead-time materials and/or constrained supply chains preferred
- Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
- Proven ability to interact with suppliers and negotiate pricing and lead times
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Strong time management skills with the ability to handle multiple RFQs and orders simultaneously
- Analytical mindset with ability to compare quotes and evaluate cost drivers
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel required)
- Ability to learn ERP systems (e.g., JobBOSS or equivalent)
Preferred
- Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field
- Experience in defense, aerospace, or industrial manufacturing environment
- Familiarity with raw material specifications (ASTM, MIL, alloy grades such as HY-80, copper-nickel, stainless, or nickel alloys)
- Experience sourcing forgings, castings, and specialty metals
- Experience working with customer flow-down requirements and quality clauses
- Experience using ERP systems for purchasing and material tracking preferred (JobBOSS or similar)
An Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer
Proterial Cable America, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. As a Federal Contractor, we encourage priority referral of protected veterans under VEVRAA.