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Salary: USD 75,000 - 105,000 / annual
Join a high-spec aerospace and defense manufacturer as a Purchasing Engineer. This role bridges engineering and supply chain for a company building critical components for national security and defense applications.
You will review complex customer engineering drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and statements of work to understand manufacturing requirements. You'll conduct make-versus-buy analysis in collaboration with engineering and ownership, determining what materials to purchase, what stock to reserve for machining, and which processes (heat treating, finishing) require subcontracting.
Key responsibilities include sourcing and procurement—obtaining quotes, negotiating pricing, and purchasing materials and outside services for high-tolerance defense and aerospace projects. You'll support the estimating process during RFP cycles, calculating material costs, identifying hidden testing requirements (helium leak tests, proof load tests), and ensuring accurate labor quoting. You'll manage supplier relationships and ensure all technical requirements, quality standards, and documentation (CMTRs, dimensional inspection reports) flow down accurately on purchase orders.
You'll track supplier delivery schedules, coordinate with quality engineers on PO reviews, and follow up on receiving inspections to resolve vendor deviations. This role is positioned as a direct pathway into advanced Manufacturing Engineering or Project Management for the right candidate.
The company emphasizes hands-on exposure to a real manufacturing environment and extreme ownership—thinking with the end product in mind and taking pride in what gets built. You'll work directly with ownership and the shop floor team.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Mindset: Extreme ownership; comfort in a hands-on manufacturing environment; growth-oriented and eager to learn aerospace manufacturing intricacies.
- Background & Technical Skills (highly preferred, but trainable): Degree in Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent technical background (Associate's degrees and recent/upcoming graduates encouraged). Ability to read, interpret, and break down complex engineering blueprints and specifications. Familiarity with 2D and 3D CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD). Basic conceptual knowledge of machining, welding, or metal fabrication processes (academic or internship experience acceptable). Strong verbal and written communication skills; comfort interfacing with suppliers, shop floor team, and customers.
