Buyer - Supply Chain Procurement

Worker Type

Regular
Job Description

Summary

The Buyer performs procurement duties related to the purchasing of services, supplies and equipment in accordance to policies and regulations. In this role, one reviews and analyzes purchase requisitions and coordinates purchasing activities with Manufacturing, Planning, Engineering, Program Management, Quality and Finance to acquire inventory in a cost effective and timely manner. The Buyer reviews purchases requisitions, issues purchase orders and change orders, conducts RFQ/RFP activities, and negotiates pricing and terms with suppliers.

This role is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and managing the procurement of materials, components, equipment, and services in support of development, integration, and production activities. The position works closely with Engineering, Program Management, Operations, and Quality to ensure on-time, cost-effective, and compliant material availability.

Position Responsibilities

- Monitors the cost, schedule and scope of assigned subcontracts to negotiate terms and pricing for increasingly larger, complex and difficult materials and services
- Monitors supplier performance and supports corrective actions to address delivery, quality, cost or service issues
- Identifies, evaluates and develops new supply sources of supply to improve cost, quality, lead time and supply continuity
- Manages and develops supplier relationships to reduce costs, improve & maintain quality, and ensure on-time delivery of purchased materials
- Negotiates terms and pricing for increasingly larger, complex and difficult materials and services
- Partners with cross-functional teams to align procurement plans with program schedules and budgets
- Develops, issues, evaluates and documents RFQ/RFP packages and tracks supplier responses
- Manages assigned purchase orders from placement through delivery, proactively addressing shortages, past-due orders, supplier constraints and other risks that could impact production or program schedules
- Maintains accurate purchasing data, including supplier commitments, delivery dates, pricing lead times and other procurement information.
- Partners with Finance to resolve invoice, purchase order and accounting discrepancies in a timely manner.
- Ensures compliance with AV policies, customer requirements, and applicable regulations (e.g., FAR/DFARS, ITAR/EAR)
- Monitors site activities associated with Asset Management Lifecycle Business Systems to ensure company, customer, and U.S. Government assets accountable to the company, or within its possession, are controlled and maintained in accordance with applicable regulations, company policies and procedures
- Maintains accurate procurement documentation and supports internal and external audits
- Works on problems of diverse scope where analysis of data requires evaluation of identifiable factors
- Analyzes procurement, supplier and material data to identify issues and support solutions. Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions
- Supports proposals and new business with pricing, lead-time, and sourcing inputs, including make/buy recommendations
- Identifies and helps manage long-lead, single/sole-source, and obsolescence risks
- Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

- AS/AA Degree in Business, Finance, Accounting or related discipline is required or equivalent combination of experience and education
- Minimum 2 years of related procurement, purchasing or supply chain experience
- Experience negotiating terms and pricing for materials and services
- Experience with purchasing practices and processes in manufacturing and engineering environments
- Ability to read and comprehend engineering drawings and specifications
- Working knowledge of manufacturing processes
- Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word and PowerPoint
- Demonstrated proficiency with MRP/ERP systems

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain Management or related discipline preferred
- APICS, ISM, or other relevant purchasing or supply chain certification preferred
- Strong problem-solving, analytical, time-management, interpersonal and communication skills
- Highly organized with strong coordination skills and the ability to meet deadlines
- Able to excel in fast-paced, deadline driven environment where small teams share a broad variety of duties
- Resolves a wide range of issues in creative ways; has a complete understanding and demonstrated knowledge of procurement concepts, methods and procedures
- Normally receives little instruction on day-to-day work and general instruction on new assignments

Physical Demands

- Ability to work in an office and manufacturing environment (Constant)
- Required to sit and stand for long periods (Frequent)
- Required to talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)
- Able to lift up to 10 lbs. and carry objects of varying sizes and shapes (Occasional)

Clearance Level
No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:
$64,500 - $98,250

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits :  AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.  For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:  http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits .

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply.  NO agencies please.

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship required