Senior Buyer

Description

Title: Senior Buyer

Location: Grand Prairie, TX

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Covenant is a global defense company headquartered in Washington, D.C., building long-range precision strike weapons for the United States and its allies. Its flagship munition, Anthem, combines heavy payload and long range at a fraction of the cost of comparable legacy systems, with production volumes designed to meet the demands of prolonged conflict. Designed as an end-to-end weapon system that is simple to store, transport, and field, Anthem is produced in the United States, Germany, and Israel. For more information, visit covenant.com

THE ROLE

We are seeking an experienced Senior Buyer to support the launch and long-term growth of our Grand Prairie, TX manufacturing facility. This individual will play a critical role in building and managing the supply chain required to support high-rate production of advanced defense systems. You will be responsible for sourcing production equipment, manufacturing materials, and strategic suppliers while ensuring quality, cost, and delivery objectives are consistently achieved.

As a key member of the Operations organization, you will partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Program Management, and Finance to ensure materials and equipment are available to meet production schedules. This is a hands-on role requiring strong supplier management, commercial negotiation, and procurement expertise within a fast-paced defense manufacturing environment.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Lead procurement activities for production equipment, tooling, raw materials, and operational supplies supporting the Grand Prairie, TX facility.
• Source, evaluate, negotiate, and onboard suppliers capable of meeting quality, cost, and delivery objectives.
• Manage the end-to-end procurement lifecycle, from supplier selection and purchase order issuance through delivery and supplier performance management.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with suppliers across U.S.
• Conduct supplier visits, audits, and business reviews to evaluate manufacturing capability, quality systems, and delivery performance.
• Coordinate logistics, import/export activities, and delivery schedules to support production milestones.
• Receive and inspect incoming deliveries to verify quantity, quality, and documentation.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Quality, and Finance to align procurement activities with production priorities and new product introductions.
• Track supplier performance, identify supply chain risks, and implement mitigation strategies to ensure uninterrupted production.
• Drive cost reduction initiatives through supplier negotiations, strategic sourcing, and continuous process improvements.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records within ERP systems while ensuring compliance with internal procurement policies and applicable regulations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Prior experience supporting the defense, aerospace, automotive, or other highly regulated industries.
• Demonstrated experience sourcing production equipment, technical components, and manufacturing materials.
• Strong negotiation, supplier management, and commercial contracting skills.
• Experience coordinating domestic and international logistics, shipments, and supplier deliveries.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, and bills of materials (BOMs).
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office.
• U.S. Person status required due to export control regulations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience supporting the launch of a new manufacturing facility or production operation.
• Knowledge of defense industry procurement standards and supplier quality requirements.
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP platforms.
• Familiarity with international sourcing, customs regulations, and import/export logistics.
• Background in supplier quality, strategic sourcing, commodity management, or supplier development.
• Experience supporting high-volume manufacturing or production scale-up initiatives.
• Experience working in a high-growth startup or rapidly scaling manufacturing organization.

WHAT MAKES YOU SUCCESSFUL

• You are a proactive procurement professional who builds strong supplier relationships while driving accountability for quality, cost, and delivery.
• You thrive in fast-paced manufacturing environments where execution and problem-solving are critical to success.
• You combine strong commercial instincts with technical curiosity, enabling effective collaboration with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Operations teams.
• You anticipate supply chain risks early and take ownership to resolve issues before they impact production.
• You are motivated by building a resilient, world-class supply chain that enables the delivery of mission-critical defense capabilities.