Senior Buyer

About Northwood:

Northwood is on a mission to transform connectivity between earth and space and bring the benefits of space to the masses through innovations in space communications technologies. If you like building quickly and seeing your work deployed in locations around the globe with real impact, we want you at Northwood.

Job Level:

The level of this position will be determined based on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. We are open to considering candidates of varying experience levels, from early-career to experienced.

Role:

Northwood is seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Buyer to help develop our ground station supply base and support our production launch this year. As the first procurement hire at our rapidly growing ground station team, you will play a pivotal role in establishing and scaling our procurement function. You will be responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and managing the materials, components, and services necessary to support the development and manufacturing of our cutting-edge ground station technology. Your expertise in building strong supplier relationships, executing cost-effective sourcing strategies, and ensuring timely delivery will be critical as we scale operations and bring innovative products to market.

In this role, you will have the unique opportunity to shape and influence the direction of our procurement processes, systems, and supplier relationships. Your contributions will directly impact the success and scalability of our groundbreaking technology. If you are a proactive, strategic thinker with a passion for supply chain management and thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment, we want to hear from you!

Responsibilities:

• Supplier Identification & Management: Proactively identify, evaluate, and develop relationships with both new and existing suppliers to ensure a diverse and reliable supplier base.
• Cost Management & Negotiation: Negotiate with suppliers to secure the best prices, terms, and quality standards while meeting budgetary constraints and project timelines.
• Supply Chain Coordination: Work closely with engineering, production, and logistics teams to ensure the seamless flow of materials and components required for manufacturing operations.
• Procurement Process Development: Support in setting up our first ERP system and be a leader in development of procurement strategy, processes, and systems to ensure efficient and cost-effective sourcing of materials, components, and services.
• Inventory & Lead Time Management: Monitor inventory levels, order lead times, and supplier performance to minimize production delays and avoid stockouts or excess inventory.
• Quality Assurance: Work with suppliers to ensure that components meet quality standards and regulatory requirements for ground station manufacturing.
• Risk Management: Identify potential risks in the supply chain (e.g., supply disruptions, geopolitical risks, price fluctuations) and develop contingency plans to mitigate them.
• Data & Record Management: Maintain accurate and organized procurement records, including supplier contracts, purchase orders, and invoices, ensuring compliance with company policies.
• Process Improvement: Continuously drive process improvements to enhance efficiency in the procurement function, reduce costs, and foster strong supplier relationships.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with internal teams such as engineering, product development, and operations to ensure that procurement aligns with product development goals and timelines.

Basic Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain management, ideally within manufacturing or technology industries.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, components, and materials, especially in high-tech industries such as aerospace, electronics, or telecommunications.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate effectively with suppliers, manage budgets, and analyze supplier performance data to drive cost reductions.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to build relationships with suppliers, internal stakeholders, and cross-functional teams.
• Experience with procurement software and MRP systems; familiarity with Netsuite, Oracle, or similar tools is a plus.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and problem-solve in a rapidly evolving startup environment.
• Able to travel up to 25% domestically and internationally

Preferred Qualifications:

• Netsuite Experience
• Prior experience in rapid growth environment
• CPM, CSCP certification or equivalent
• Project Management Experience
• Six sigma/lean process improvement experience
• Proficient in SQL

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation is determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a base-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, and technical capabilities. In addition to base salary, Northwood Space offers long term incentives such as company stock, stock options, and cash awards, as well as discretionary bonus for performance. Northwood Space benefits include equity, health care, unlimited vacation, retirement savings and professional development.

Additional Information:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.