SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company developing scalable technology platforms for critical infrastructure and advanced flight systems. Backed by leading venture and strategic investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Giant Step Capital, United Airlines Ventures, and Voyager Ventures, the company applies aerospace engineering and quality standards to deliver high-performance, reliable solutions for demanding operating environments.
As a Technical Buyer / Procurement Associate, you will be an early team member driving procurement and vendor operations with the opportunity to grow into broader supply chain responsibilities. This is a hands-on tactical role supporting the development, testing, and manufacturing of complex aerospace and industrial systems.
Key responsibilities include:
- Identifying demand signals across engineering, prototyping, testing, propulsion, and manufacturing teams to prevent procurement from becoming a blocker
- Managing the full procurement lifecycle: vendor prospecting, quoting, negotiation, order placement, supplier follow-up, delivery tracking, and receipt
- Sourcing piece parts, machined components, fabricated parts, hardware, tooling, test equipment, and lab supplies
- Driving supplier schedule execution through regular check-ins, lead-time confirmation, risk escalation, and on-time delivery accountability
- Creating and maintaining detailed procurement trackers covering open requests, RFQs, quotes, POs, supplier commitments, delivery dates, risks, and status
- Partnering closely with engineering and manufacturing to clarify requirements, drawings, specifications, quantities, revisions, and delivery priorities
- Building and managing relationships with critical suppliers, manufacturers, and service providers
- Vetting and qualifying new and existing vendors to expand the supplier network
- Anticipating supply chain risks and designing contingency plans to mitigate disruptions
The company operates with a flat structure, generalist-specialist approach, and fast-moving pragmatic culture where engineering excellence drives decision-making.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 3+ years of experience in procurement, purchasing, supply chain, operations, production control, manufacturing, or vendor coordination in a hardware environment
- Strong bias toward action; ability to move quickly, follow up relentlessly, and unblock teams under schedule pressure
- Exceptional organization skills to track multiple parts, suppliers, quotes, purchase orders, delivery dates, and open issues simultaneously
- Experience working with technical teams and ability to quickly understand engineering requirements, drawings, specifications, and part descriptions
- Strong supplier communication skills; comfortable calling vendors, requesting quotes, negotiating basic terms, confirming schedules, and escalating issues
- Detail-oriented and process-minded with ability to create clean trackers, maintain accurate records, and build lightweight systems
- Comfort operating in an ambiguous startup environment where priorities shift quickly and processes are still being built
- Exposure to aerospace, export-controlled environments, AS9100 suppliers, or regulated hardware is a plus
