Strategic Sourcer

Chipton-Ross is seeking a Strategic Sourcer for a direct opportunity in Santa Fe Springs, CA.

We are seeking a highly motivated and analytical Strategic Sourcing Specialist to support the sourcing and procurement of direct materials, components, and services for our space and· defense programs. This role will be responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies, identifying and qualifying suppliers, negotiating commercial agreements, and ensuring a reliable, competitive supply base.

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist will work closely with Engineering, Program Management, Quality, Operations, and Finance to support new product development, production programs, cost-reduction initiatives, and supply-chain risk mitigation.

The ideal candidate has experience sourcing aerospace, defense, space, or other highly regulated and technically complex products and understands the importance of quality, traceability, schedule, and supplier performance.

• Understand the unique sourcing requirements associated with aerospace, space, and defense manufacturing.
• Work with suppliers supporting high-reliability and mission-critical applications
• Understand the importance of material traceability, configuration control, quality requirements, and documentation.
• Support sourcing activities involving long-lead and constrained components.
• Work collaboratively with Engineering and Quality when evaluating technically complex components and manufacturing processes.
• Maintain awareness of applicable customer, contractual, and regulatory requirements affecting the procurement of direct materials.
• Support supplier risk assessments and business-continuity planning for critical components.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• 3-7 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, purchasing, or supply-chain management, preferably within aerospace, space, defense, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience sourcing direct materials, components, assemblies, or manufacturing services.
• Strong supplier negotiation and commercial-analysis skills.
• Experience managing RFQs/RFPs and evaluating supplier proposals.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to analyze cost, pricing, lead time, capacity, and supplier performance.
• Experience working with ERP/MRP and procurement systems.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other business-analysis tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Finance, and Program Management.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment.

Success in this role will be measured through:

• Direct-material cost savings and cost avoidance

• Supplier on-time delivery and lead-time performance

• Supplier quality and corrective-action performance

• Reduction of supply-chain and single-source risk

• Successful qualification of new and alternate suppliers

• RFQ and sourcing cycle time

• Supplier competitiveness

• Sourcing support for NPI and production ramp

• Contract and pricing compliance

• Achievement of sourcing and program objectives

• Core Competencies

• Strategic sourcing

• Supplier negotiation

• Cost and financial analysis

• Supplier relationship management

• Aerospace/defense supply-chain knowledge

• Risk management

• Cross-functional collaboration

• Data-driven decision making

• Project management

• Problem solving

• Attention to detail

• Strong communication and negotiation skills

• Develop and execute strategic sourcing strategies for direct materials, components, assemblies, and manufacturing services supporting space and defense programs.
• Identify, evaluate, and develop qualified suppliers based on technical capability, quality, capacity, cost, delivery, financial stability, and program requirements.
• Lead RFQ/RFP activities, including supplier identification, bid solicitation, proposal analysis, commercial evaluation, and sourcing recommendations.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms, capacity commitments, warranties, and other commercial terms.
• Analyze supplier quotations and cost structures to identify cost-reduction and value­ engineering opportunities.
• Develop and maintain competitive supplier relationships while establishing appropriate sourcing strategies for critical and high-value commodities.
• Partner with Engineering and Quality to evaluate supplier technical capabilities and support supplier qualification and approval activities.
• Support new product introduction and design-transfer activities by identifying suppliers and establishing sourcing plans for new components and assemblies.
• Monitor and mitigate supply-chain risks associated with long-lead materials, sole-source suppliers, capacity constraints, obsolescence, geopolitical factors, and other potential disruptions.
• Develop alternate-source strategies for critical components and materials where appropriate.
• Manage supplier performance related to cost, quality, delivery, responsiveness, and capacity.
• Collaborate with Program Management and Operations to identify material requirements, production schedules, forecasts, and critical-path items.
• Support supplier corrective actions and resolution of commercial issues that may affect production or program schedules.
• Maintain accurate sourcing documentation, supplier records, quotations, agreements, pricing, and cost-saving activities.
• Track and report sourcing l<Pls, including savings, cost avoidance, supplier performance, lead-time improvements, and risk-reduction initiatives.
• Support contract negotiations and ensure sourcing activities comply with company policies and applicable customer and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in supplier reviews, business reviews, and supplier visits as required.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across procurement and supply-chain processes.

• Experience sourcing aerospace or defense components such as machined parts, castings, forgings, composites, fasteners, or mechanical assemblies.
• Experience with AS9100-certified suppliers and aerospace quality requirements.
• Familiarity with ITAR-controlled or otherwise export-controlled programs and supply chains.
• Experience with supplier qualification, audits, and supplier development.
• Experience with long-lead-time and single/sole-source components.
• Experience with cost modeling, should-cost analysis, or total-cost-of-ownership analysis.
• Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI) and production ramp.
• Familiarity with government contracting or customer-specific procurement requirements is a plus.

Full-Time

• Employment will be contingent on clearing a drug screen and background check. Both must clear prior to start date.
• Candidates responding to this posting must currently possess the eligibility to work in the United States. No third parties please.