What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Buyer position at PI Physik Instrumente, LP?
Role Overview
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Buyer to join our procurement team in our Shrewsbury, MA office. The successful candidate will be responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing materials and assemblies for use in the production of our high precision motion instruments. This role requires deep understanding of supply chain management, supplier development, and product lifecycle in a technical environment.
What We Provide:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA PPO medical plan with HSA.
- Dental and vision insurance.
- LTD & Life insurance.
- Tuition Reimbursement
- 12 Holiday days off
- PTO and Sick Time
- 401k with a generous company match.
- And much more
About Us:
PI (Physik Instrumente), LP is a global leader in high-precision positioning systems. We design and manufacture world-class precision motion and automation solutions across our facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia. Our diverse product portfolio includes air bearings and air bearing stages, hexapod positioning and alignment systems, precision actuators, piezo drivers, and much more. Our customers are pioneers in cutting-edge industries and research institutions spanning photonics, semiconductors, aerospace, and life sciences.
Innovation is at the core of our identity — we often create or build devices for applications being realized for the very first time, driving advancements that shape entire markets. Our culture is characterized by openness, transparency, and enthusiasm, fueled by a shared curiosity to tackle emerging scientific and technological challenges. If you possess an inquisitive mindset and enjoy developing solutions for first-generation problems, you will be right at home!
Key Responsibilities:
- Purchase raw materials, fabricated components, specialized machinery parts based on production schedules.
- Source, evaluate, and manage suppliers for materials and other custom or off-the-shelf components.
- Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms, and contract conditions to ensure best value and long-term supplier relationships.
- Issue purchase orders (POs), track order status, and manage delivery schedules to meet production and project deadlines.
- Collaborate closely with engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure supplier components meet technical and quality specifications.
- Maintain accurate records of purchase activity, cost savings, and supplier performance for reporting and audit purposes.
- Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including single-source dependencies, obsolescence, and material shortages.
- Participate in new product introduction (NPI) processes, ensuring timely procurement of long-lead and prototype components.
- Develop and qualify new supply sources as needed, establishing new vendor accounts and negotiating credit terms.
- Act as a subject matter expert and mentor for junior buyers or procurement staff
Qualifications:
- Associate's or Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, or related field preferred. High School Diploma/GED required.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in procurement or supply chain.
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills.
- Ability to read technical drawings, BOMs (Bills of Materials), and understand engineering change orders (ECOs).
- Familiarity with quality standards such as ISO 9001, RoHS, and REACH compliance preferred.
- System Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience using ERP systems is required; experience with Infor LN is a plus
Preferred Qualifications:
- Background in manufacturing, especially high-mix, low-volume production environments.
- Experience with international sourcing and global supplier management.
- Experience with ERP Infor LN.
- Experience with implementation and management of VMI programs.
The salary range for this role is $88,000-$135,000. Compensation is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and training.
PI (Physik Instrumente), LP is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. Employment is dependent on the results of a background check. We are open to reasonable accommodation – please contact us at hr@pi-usa.us for consideration.
We are not currently providing work authorization or sponsorship for this opportunity.
Salary : $88,000 - $135,000