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Salary: USD 80,000 - 125,000 / annual
Inversion Space is an aerospace and defense company pioneering advanced reentry technology for next-generation space missions. The company designs and manufactures highly maneuverable reentry spacecraft (Arc) for rapid global cargo delivery, hypersonic testing, and national security applications. Backed by Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, Inversion operates from Los Angeles with an integrated design-to-manufacturing model.
The Procurement Specialist II role serves as the critical link between internal engineering teams and the external supply chain. You will take ownership of the Approved Supplier List and drive end-to-end sourcing for high-reliability aerospace hardware. Key responsibilities include qualifying, quoting, auditing, and managing specialized suppliers (machine shops, heat treat, plating, NDT vendors, etc.); enforcing strict supply chain documentation compliance (Certificates of Conformance, Material Test Reports, First Article Inspections); tracking delivery and quality metrics while driving root-cause corrective actions for vendor escapes; preparing and executing procurement negotiations; expediting long-lead hardware and executing dual-sourcing strategies to eliminate single-point failures; serving as the primary operational liaison between engineering requirements and vendor capabilities; identifying cost-saving and lead-time reduction opportunities; managing purchasing and planning for all engineering-related materials, parts, and equipment; and supporting prototype development, engineering builds, hardware integration, and test campaigns.
You will work in a fast-paced startup environment where agility and accountability are essential. The role requires navigating complex government and aerospace contracts while building agile supplier partnerships capable of keeping pace with aggressive development schedules.
Requirements:
- 3+ years of procurement or supply chain experience in aerospace, defense, or high-reliability manufacturing
- Deep knowledge of aerospace sourcing, supplier qualification, and compliance (ITAR, AS9100, etc.)
- Experience with government and aerospace contracts
- Familiarity with supply chain documentation standards (CoC, MTR, FAI, etc.)
- Experience supporting prototype development, engineering builds, hardware integration, and test campaigns
- Production planning and manufacturing process knowledge
- Startup experience and comfort in rapid-growth environments
- Strong accountability and proactive problem-solving mindset
- ITAR compliance: Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State
