Buyer for Fabrication and Machining

At Paslin we are all about engineering excellence, innovation and vertical manufacturing competence. Our commitment to quality and excellence is evident in every project we undertake. Our team is passionate about automation powered by innovation

If you're looking for a place where you can make a real impact, work with awesome people, and grow your career, you've come to the right spot. We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Fabrication & Machining Buyer to join our corporate Supply Chain team. This role is critical in achieving commercial success in purchasing activities and ensuring project and company objectives are met. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with strong negotiation skills, capable of driving cost savings while building strong supplier relationships.

Key Responsibilities:

Procurement & Sourcing

• Procure fabricated and machined components such as weldments, brackets, frames, precision machined parts, sheet metal, and custom assemblies to support project builds.
• Develop and manage a robust supply base to ensure competitive pricing, quality, and reliable supply.
• Issue and evaluate RFQs, negotiate pricing and terms, and place purchase orders in alignment with project schedules and budgets.
• Analyze total cost of ownership (TCO) and identify cost-reduction opportunities across assigned commodities.
• Drive cost reductions and margin improvement actions in alignment with Company targets and objectives.
• Collaborate with project teams to forecast demand and ensure proactive purchasing to support project timelines.

Commodity Strategy & Value Creation

• Cross-functionally collaborate with other organizational stakeholders to develop, document, and execute a commodity strategy inclusive of a robust, aligned make vs buy approach for potentially vertically integrated content.
• Develop a deep understanding of current and potential third party supplier capabilities, capacities, quality, and cost competitiveness.
• Standardize components and preferred suppliers to reduce cost and complexity across projects.
• Drive supplier performance improvement initiatives and implement long-term agreements to secure supply continuity and cost competitiveness.
• Partner with engineering and leadership to influence design-for-cost and design-for-supply-chain decisions.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers to enhance innovation, reliability, and responsiveness.
• Monitor supplier performance through KPIs such as on-time delivery, quality, and cost improvement.
• Negotiate and implement supply agreements incorporating preferred pricing and lead-times, favorable payment terms, and other value-creating content.
• Manage supplier risk through diversification, audits, and performance improvement plans as needed.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with engineering and operations to interpret technical requirements and ensure purchased materials align with specifications and standards, and an aligned make vs buy strategy.
• Support new product development and custom automation projects by aligning sourcing activities with project milestones.
• Participate in project kickoff and design review meetings to anticipate material and sourcing needs early in the project lifecycle.

Systems & Reporting

• Maintain accurate procurement data within the ERP/MRP system, including pricing, lead times, and supplier information.
• Track and report cost savings, supplier performance metrics, and commodity market trends.
• Ensure all procurement activities comply with company policies and ethical standards.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field preferred.
• 5+ years of purchasing experience in an automation, industrial equipment, or manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience buying fabrication and machining commodities in a high-paced, time-sensitive environment.

Skills & Competencies:

• Creative, "can-do", self-starter.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and contract management skills.
• Deep understanding of fabrication and machining manufacturing processes and costs.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, BOMs, etc.
• Strategic thinker with experience developing and executing commodity strategies.
• Proficient in ERP/MRP systems (e.g., Microsoft AX or equivalent).
• Excellent communication, organizational, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Work Environment: This position operates in both an office and a manufacturing site environment.  This is a safety sensitive role, which includes working around moving equipment and machinery.

Work type & Expected hours of work:   Regularly works on-site at local Paslin location. Typical work schedules for this site are flexible around core business hours of 8am-5pm, Monday to Friday. This position is for regular, full-time work and may require coming in early, working late, or working on weekends to meet the needs of the business.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, bend, and twist. Occasionally required to lift/push/pull up to 25lbs.

Direct Reports: This position does not have direct reports.

Travel: This position may require occasional travel to vendor or customer sites or local travel to other Paslin locations.

What's in It for You:

• Competitive pay and great benefits. Paslin offers a wide range of benefits including Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, 401k Match, Medical, Dental, Vision, Accident, and Life Insurance.
• A chance to grow your skills and your career.  Paslin believes in investing in people and offers a variety of development programs with excellent opportunities for individual growth through training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement.
• A supportive, collaborative team and a fun, engaging work environment.  Check out our company page on LinkedIn to learn more about our values and see how we give back to our community.

Paslin is an Equal Opportunity Employer: It is our policy to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, sex (including pregnancy and conditions related to pregnancy), color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, weight, height, religion, age, physical or mental disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, AIDS, HIV, misdemeanor arrest record (not resulting in a conviction), military veteran status or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal law. Paslin utilizes a consumer reporting agency to obtain consumer reports as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.