Senior Buyer

DEDIENNE AEROSPACE: World leader for civil and defense aerospace tooling and ground support equipment generates value for its customers by offering world-class products and services, including design engineering, large manufacturing capacities, and worldwide after-sales services. DEDIENNE AEROSPACE has been chosen as a key partner by several leading OEMs in the aerospace industry. As we accelerate our development within the US market, we are looking for individuals who share our passion for excellence.

With locations in Florida, Ohio, Texas, and other states coming soon, DEDIENNE AEROSPACE is strategically positioned to support the US aerospace industry. Our global presence ensures we can offer our customers the best worldwide support.

Position Summary

As part of our commitment to expanding our presence in the United States, we are seeking a dynamic and experienced Buyer. This role requires a candidate with strong purchasing principles, vendor management expertise, and a solid engineering background. The ideal candidate will be responsible for overseeing and enhancing our purchasing operations for our defense business.

Previous experience in the defense industry is highly valued. You will play a pivotal role in driving strategic procurement initiatives, fostering a collaborative team environment, and ensuring that our purchasing practices align with the company’s growth objectives and operational needs.

U.S. citizenship is required for this position due to the nature of the defense business. The ability to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearances is also a must.

Key Responsibilities

Purchasing Leadership

• Lead all day-to-day purchasing activities supporting manufacturing and on-time delivery for defense programs.
• Develop and execute strategic sourcing plans aligned with site requirements and U.S. purchasing objectives.
• Identify, qualify, audit, and develop suppliers to ensure competitiveness, quality, and capacity.
• Negotiate and implement long-term supply agreements (LTAs) and framework contracts.

Purchased Categories

• Raw materials, including steel, aluminum, and other metals
• Laser cutting, fabrication, welding, and metal forming services
• Machining and industrial subcontracting services
• Commercial off-the-shelf components and standard parts
• Recurring production and project-based procurement, including defense-related programs

Cost, Negotiation & Supplier Performance

• Lead supplier negotiations for recurring production and new programs.
• Drive cost-reduction, productivity, and value engineering initiatives.
• Monitor supplier KPIs, including cost, quality, delivery, responsiveness, and capacity.
• Proactively manage supply risks and implement mitigation actions, including dual-sourcing strategies.

Cross-Functional & U.S. Purchasing Collaboration

• Work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, and Finance at the site level.
• Partner with the U.S. Purchasing Director to deploy purchasing policies, tools, and best practices.
• Contribute to U.S.-level sourcing initiatives and continuous improvement programs.

Required Qualifications

Experience & Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent engineering knowledge acquired through on-the-job experience.
• 7 years of experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• 5 years of proven experience working in the defense industry.
• Strong experience with direct materials, metals procurement, and industrial subcontracting.
• Solid understanding of metal fabrication processes.
• Data-driven, structured, and results-oriented.
• Comfortable operating in a matrix organization.

Additional Requirements

• Fluent in English.
• Ability to travel within the United States.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearances.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary based on experience
• Performance-based bonus
• Comprehensive benefits package

Location

This position can be based on-site at one of our offices in Springfield, OH; Cincinnati, OH; Miami, FL; or Dallas, TX.