What are the responsibilities and job description for the Buyer - Electrical & Functional Systems position at Air Lift Company?
Buyer – Electronical & Functional Systems
Air Lift, a third-generation family owned company, was founded in 1949 in Lansing, Michigan. Air Lift supplies the automotive aftermarket with load assist products and performance suspensions for show and track. Our goal is to consistently provide products and services that meet and exceed customer’s requirements and expectations. We do this by recruiting top talent and retaining them through our commitment to professional development and preservation of our culture.
Job Description Summary
Responsible for sourcing and managing suppliers for electronics, electrical components, and related engineered mechanical systems used in manufactured products. This role supports Engineering, Quality, and Operations through early design engagement, supplier feasibility input, cost and risk management, and proactive lifecycle and obsolescence management for technically complex components and systems.
Essential results-based duties
- Source and manage electronic components, electronic systems, electrical items, and engineered mechanical products and assemblies that interface with or support electronic systems.
- Partner with Engineering early in the design process to provide cost, availability, supplier capability, and risk input before designs are finalized.
- Evaluate functionally equivalent electronic components and systems across multiple suppliers to determine best overall value, considering cost, availability, lead time stability, and lifecycle risk.
- Manage supplier relationships including pricing, lead times, MOQs, capacity, delivery performance, testing, and certification requirements.
- Issue and manage purchase orders; resolve delivery, quality, or specification issues.
- Support Quality and Engineering with supplier corrective actions, APQP /PPAP activities, and validation or qualification requirements.
- Identify and manage supply risks including single-source exposure, long lead times, capacity constraints, testing requirements, and regulatory or certification impacts.
- Monitor component and system lifecycles; manage obsolescence risk, PCNs, and end-of-life transitions.
- Interface with the VA/VE Buyer by providing supplier data, feasibility input, and implementation support for approved initiatives.
- Maintain accurate item, supplier, and pricing data in the ERP system.
- Work with internal team and external suppliers on managing change requests and implementation process.
- Occasional travel domestic and international.
- Work with engineering and quality to conduct supplier audits and qualification process.
- Other tasks as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
- 5 years of buying or sourcing experience in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience sourcing electronics, electrical components, and engineered mechanical or validated systems.
- Ability to interpret technical requirements, drawings, specifications, and validation constraints.
- Experience with ERP /MRP systems and strong Excel skills.
- Experience with electronics-driven or electromechanical products.
- Familiarity with electronic component lifecycle and obsolescence management.
- Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, and supplier quality processes.
- Experience working with domestic and international suppliers.
Preferred Qualification:
- Ability to read mechanical blueprints.
- ISO auditor training/Lean concepts.
- Knowledge of CE and TUV requirements.
- Negotiation of long- and short-term contracts.