{"id":2141653,"url":"https://alion.io/job/inversion-buyer-ii-2","title":"Buyer II","company":{"id":678249,"name":"Inversion","domain":"inversionspace.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/inversionspace","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":93,"open_postings":76,"ghost_share":0.026,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":91,"computed_at":"2026-10-10T05:45:15Z"}},"role":"Operations","role_family":"Operations","seniority":"middle","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Vista, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":85000,"max":120000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":120000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":4,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Microsoft Office","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-09T00:23:39Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-09","last_verified_at":"2026-10-12T04:14:30Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":3,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":["company_stale"],"days_open":3},"description":"Advanced Reentry Technologies\nWho We Are:\n\nInversion is an aerospace and defense company pioneering advanced reentry technology to enable next-generation capabilities from space. By combining high-performance materials, precision aerodynamics, and mission-driven autonomy, Inversion is transforming reentry into an operational capability for an entirely new class of missions.\nThe company’s highly maneuverable reentry spacecraft, Arc, is designed for rapid global cargo delivery, hypersonic testing, and other national security missions that require precise, controlled flight through the atmosphere. Arc creates an entirely new transportation domain, unlocking unprecedented speed and global reach.\nHeadquartered in Los Angeles, Inversion designs, manufactures, and integrates its spacecraft under one roof, enabling the company to move rapidly from concept to flight. The company is backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, with customers across the U.S. government and commercial space industry.\nPosition Overview:\nWe are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Buyer/Planner to join our engineering team. This role will be responsible for managing the purchasing and planning processes for all engineering-related materials, parts, and equipment that require more than just a standard online purchase. The Buyer/Planner will work closely with engineers to understand project needs, source and evaluate quotes from suppliers, ensure timely delivery, and oversee the shipping and receiving of materials. Additionally, this role will involve forecasting upcoming procurement needs to ensure the engineering team is always equipped with the right materials at the right time.\nKey Responsibilities:\nOwn end-to-end purchasing and material-planning execution for engineering-related materials, parts, equipment, and custom hardware, from demand identification and sourcing through delivery, receiving, and inventory updates.\nPartner closely with engineering teams to understand technical requirements, specifications, quantities, schedules, and upcoming program needs.\nSource, evaluate, and obtain competitive supplier quotations, considering cost, quality, technical capability, lead time, delivery reliability, and supplier capacity.\nManage the purchasing process from requisition through purchase order placement, ensuring required approvals, documentation, and commercial terms are complete and accurate.\nHandle non-standard procurement needs, including custom components, fabricated hardware, specialized materials, and equipment that cannot be acquired through standard purchasing channels.\nTrack purchase orders, supplier commitments, shipments, and deliveries; proactively identify and resolve schedule delays, quality concerns, quantity discrepancies, and logistics issues.\nCoordinate shipping and receiving activities to ensure materials arrive on time, in acceptable condition, and with appropriate supporting documentation.\nMaintain accurate procurement, delivery, inventory, and supplier records to support engineering execution, cost tracking, reporting, and audit readiness.\nDevelop and maintain material forecasts in partnership with engineering teams, identifying future procurement requirements early enough to protect program schedules and avoid material shortages.\nSupport inventory planning by helping maintain appropriate stock levels for commonly used engineering materials, parts, and supplies while minimizing excess inventory and obsolescence risk.\nBuild and maintain strong working relationships with suppliers and vendors, negotiating favorable pricing, lead times, payment terms, and delivery commitments.\nMonitor and evaluate supplier performance across quality, responsiveness, cost, delivery, and service; drive corrective actions or alternative sourcing when performance does not meet program needs.\nIdentify opportunities for cost savings, lead-time reduction, supplier consolidation, process improvement, and improved material availability.\nEnsure purchases comply with company procurement policies, applicable industry regulations, safety requirements, and documentation standards.\nCoordinate priorities across engineering, operations, receiving, finance, and suppliers when schedules are aggressive and requirements are evolving.\nRequired Qualifications:\nBachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related discipline; equivalent relevant experience will also be considered.\nTypically 4+ years of experience as a Buyer/Planner, Supply Chain Coordinator, Procurement Specialist, or in a similar purchasing and planning role.\nExperience supporting engineering, manufacturing, technical operations, or other hardware-focused environments.\nStrong understanding of procurement processes, purchase order management, vendor sourcing, logistics, inventory control, and material planning.\nDemonstrated experience obtaining and evaluating supplier quotes, placing orders, tracking deliveries, and resolving supplier or shipment issues.\nExperience managing multiple concurrent purchasing priorities while maintaining strong attention to detail, documentation accuracy, and schedule discipline.\nAbility to interpret engineering-driven procurement needs, including material specifications, part requirements, quantities, technical documentation, and delivery dates.\nExperience with vendor management, supplier communication, cost negotiation, and commercial terms.\nStrong organizational, analytical, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with engineers, vendors, operations personnel, and company leadership.\nProficiency with procurement, inventory-management, enterprise resource planning, or material requirements planning software.\nProficiency with Microsoft Office tools, particularly Excel for tracking, analysis, reporting, and forecasting.\nComfortable taking ownership in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities, limited resources, and significant individual responsibility.\nMust have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.\nDesired Qualifications:\nExperience supporting aerospace, aviation, defense, robotics, automotive, industrial equipment, or other complex hardware-development industries.\nExperience purchasing custom-machined parts, fabricated hardware, specialized materials, electronics, test equipment, or long-lead engineering components.\nExperience working in a startup, rapid-growth company, or highly accountable engineering organization.\nExperience supporting prototype development, engineering builds, hardware integration, test campaigns, or transitions into recurring production.\nExperience with forecasting tools, demand-planning systems, inventory optimization, or material requirements planning processes.\nDemonstrated ability to analyze purchasing, supplier, lead-time, inventory, and cost data to improve procurement strategies and execution.\nExperience developing alternate sources, mitigating supply-chain risks, and protecting engineering schedules from supplier or material disruptions.\nOur office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in office presence.\nThe California annual base salary for this role is currently $85,000-120,000. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.\nITAR Compliance:\nTo conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here. \nEqual Employment Opportunity:\nInversion provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or disability. \nInversion collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws. 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