Purchase Specialist

Pacific Piston Ring Co., Inc., established in 1921, focuses on custom-made components for aerospace and industrial manufacturers. For over 100 years, the company has continuously adapted to customer needs, illustrating consistent and cost-effective manufacturing with the highest levels of product quality and reliability.

Maverick Molding Company is recognized globally as a leading expert in high-temperature polyimide composites. Maverick Molding focuses on delivering the highest temperature and best-performing polyimide products in the market.

Job Summary

The Purchasing Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring the uninterrupted flow of materials, components, and services necessary to support the manufacture of precision aerospace parts and assemblies. This role goes beyond traditional purchasing activities by serving as a key link between suppliers, production, quality, engineering, and operations to ensure material availability, cost competitiveness, regulatory compliance, and supply chain risk mitigation.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong analytical skills who can proactively manage supplier relationships, anticipate shortages, mitigate disruptions, and drive continuous improvement throughout the procurement process. Success in this role directly impacts on-time delivery, production efficiency, customer satisfaction, and company profitability.

Responsibilities

Include the following. Other responsibilities may be assigned.

Strategic Procurement & Supply Assurance

• Source and procure aerospace-grade raw materials, machine components, outside processing services, tooling, MRO supplies, and indirect materials.
• Develop and execute purchasing strategies that support production schedules, customer commitments, inventory objectives, and business growth.
• Monitor supplier capacity, lead times, and market conditions to proactively address potential supply risks.
• Identify and qualify alternative suppliers to reduce sole-source dependencies and strengthen supply chain resilience.
• Partner with planning and operations teams to establish material replenishment strategies that balance inventory investment and service levels.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with suppliers to ensure quality, delivery performance, and responsiveness.
• Collaborate with suppliers to drive continuous improvement initiatives and long-term value creation.
• Supplier issue resolution efforts involving quality, delivery, pricing, or contractual concerns.

Aerospace Compliance & Quality Support

• Ensure purchased materials and services comply with applicable aerospace standards, customer requirements, certifications, and regulatory expectations.
• Verify supplier adherence to quality requirements including certificates of conformance, material traceability, special process certifications, and documentation retention requirements.
• Support AS9100 quality management system requirements as they relate to procurement and supplier management.
• Participate in supplier audits, corrective actions, and quality investigations as necessary.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Engineering, Production, Planning, Program Management, Quality, and Finance teams to support operational objectives.
• Review engineering and manufacturing changes to assess supply chain impacts.
• Participate in new product introduction activities by sourcing components and identifying capable suppliers.
• Support customer escalations and critical delivery recovery plans when supply disruptions occur.

Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 3+ years of purchasing, procurement, supply chain, or buyer experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience working within ERP/MRP systems (Epicor).
• Strong understanding of purchasing principles, inventory management, and supplier management.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and reporting tools.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.