What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sr. Buyer position at Astrolab?
Department: Supply Chain & Procurement
Location: Hawthorne, California
Compensation: $105,000 - $136,000 / year
Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company. We design and build the systems and hardware the lunar economy will come to depend on — rovers, power, and data networks for sustained operations on the Moon. We are focused on the problems that must be solved before the next chapter of human exploration can scale. The Moon does not forgive untested assumptions. The people who work here know that, and they wouldn't have it any other way.
As a Sr. Buyer at Astrolab, you will be responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing materials, components, and services needed to support our engineering and operations teams. This role is crucial in maintaining the supply chain for our lunar rovers, balancing cost, quality, and delivery timelines to meet our project needs. You will collaborate closely with suppliers, internal teams, and strategic partners to ensure that Astrolab’s success. You will report to the Director of Procurement & Supply Chain.
What you'll do:
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute commodity strategies to support new product introduction (NPI) and production while optimizing cost, quality, and delivery
- Perform supplier sourcing, RFx management, contract negotiations, and should-cost analyses to support make-versus-buy decisions and long-term sourcing strategies
- Manage purchase orders, supplier performance, delivery schedules, and recovery efforts to ensure on-time material availability
- Evaluate supplier capabilities, capacity, financial health, and operational performance through assessments and site visits
- Partner with engineering, production, finance, and other cross-functional teams to align procurement activities with program schedules, budgets, and technical requirements
- Negotiate commercial terms, technical requirements, intellectual property, export compliance, and other contractual provisions while ensuring compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements
- Drive cost reduction, inventory optimization, and procurement process improvements while presenting sourcing recommendations and business cases to executive leadership
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or a closely related discipline and 3 years of professional experience in procurement, purchasing, or supply chain management; OR 6 years of professional experience in procurement, purchasing, or supply chain management in lieu of a bachelor's degree.
- Experience sourcing suppliers and negotiating contracts
- Experience managing multiple procurement projects while using procurement software and Microsoft Excel
- Experience with direct procurement in the aerospace, automotive, or other highly regulated manufacturing industries
- Experience implementing or improving procurement processes, including ERP, MRP, or inventory management systems
- Experience supporting supplier performance, cost reduction, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Experience analyzing procurement data to support sourcing decisions and operational efficiency
- Knowledge of strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, and contract administration
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Availability for periodic offsite field visits and associated travel
- Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
- Equity ownership in the company
- Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Flexible PTO and parental leave
- Home office set up reimbursement
- Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
- Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks
Salary : $105,000 - $136,000