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Lab37 Robotics is a technology company developing and deploying robots designed for direct-to-customer food production. The Senior Buyer – Manufacturing & Supply will own day-to-day purchasing activities to support Lab37's growing production operations, ensuring materials are ordered when needed, suppliers are actively managed, and risks are mitigated or escalated quickly.
This is a hands-on individual contributor role with significant ownership. You will purchase a broad range of mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical components used in complex robotic systems while working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Inventory, and Program Management.
Key responsibilities include:
- Own purchasing execution for production operations, including RFQs, purchase order placement, supplier acknowledgments, delivery management, expedites, changes, and discrepancy resolution
- Develop and continuously improve purchasing processes, supplier-management practices, reporting, and operational tools as Lab37 scales
- Purchase mechanical and electrical components, including machined and fabricated parts, sheet metal, motors, sensors, electronics, PCBAs, cables, connectors, hardware, and production materials
- Translate BOM demand, inventory levels, lead times, and production schedules into timely purchasing actions
- Manage supplier relationships and performance across delivery, quality, responsiveness, cost, lead time, and capacity
- Proactively identify material shortages, long-lead components, supplier constraints, and other supply risks; communicate impacts and drive recovery plans before they affect production
- Partner closely with Program Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Inventory to align purchasing priorities with production requirements
- Maintain accurate purchasing and supplier data within the ERP system
- Support qualification and development of new suppliers as production requirements evolve
Success means keeping purchasing ahead of production rather than reacting to it. Material risks are identified early, suppliers are held accountable to commitments, purchasing data is accurate, and Operations has reliable visibility into material availability. Over time, you will develop deep understanding of Lab37's products, suppliers, and production requirements to continuously improve material availability, supplier performance, cost, lead time, and purchasing function effectiveness.
The role is based in the Pittsburgh office with five days per week onsite.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 5+ years of purchasing, procurement, sourcing, or supply chain experience in manufacturing, robotics, hardware, industrial automation, or similarly complex environment
- Experience purchasing both mechanical and electrical/electronic components in a BOM-driven production environment
- Strong understanding of the complete purchasing lifecycle from RFQ and supplier selection through purchase order, delivery, receipt, and issue resolution
- Ability to read and understand BOMs, engineering drawings, specifications, and other technical purchasing documentation
- Strong supplier relationship management and negotiation skills, with ability to hold suppliers accountable while maintaining productive partnerships
- Demonstrated ability to manage numerous suppliers, purchase orders, projects, and internal stakeholders simultaneously while maintaining accuracy and follow-through
- Strong prioritization skills and ability to work with urgency, quickly adjusting priorities as production schedules, engineering requirements, and supplier conditions change
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems and strong proficiency with spreadsheets and operational data
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to clearly communicate supplier status, material risks, priorities, and recovery plans across the organization
- High ownership mentality, strong attention to detail, and ability to operate effectively in fast-paced environment where products, processes, and priorities continue to evolve
