5th Axis→
Senior Buyer at 5th Axis in San Diego, CA
Skills
Job Description
Turn Strategic Sourcing Into a Manufacturing Advantage at 5th Axis
At 5th Axis, we’re global leaders in precision machining, automated production, and turnkey manufacturing solutions. From advanced workholding systems to zero-point technology, we design, build, and deliver solutions that empower machinists and manufacturers worldwide.
Keeping that operation moving takes more than placing purchase orders. It takes someone who understands manufacturing, knows how to evaluate suppliers, can negotiate effectively, and recognizes the impact that cost, quality, capacity, and lead time have on the shop floor.
We’re looking for an experienced Senior Buyer who can take ownership of sourcing and supplier relationships while helping us build a stronger, more responsive supply chain.
A Purchasing Role Built for Manufacturing
As a Senior Buyer, you’ll source production tooling, materials, components, supplies, and services supporting our manufacturing operations.
You’ll work directly with suppliers and internal teams to evaluate pricing, capabilities, capacity, quality, lead times, and commercial terms. You’ll also help identify new sources, reduce costs, address supply risks, and resolve supplier issues that can impact production.
This is not simply a purchase-order processing role. We’re looking for someone with meaningful purchasing, sourcing, and supplier-management experience who can evaluate options, negotiate effectively, and make sound purchasing recommendations in a manufacturing environment.
What the Job Looks Like
- Production needs a critical material or tool and the current supplier cannot meet the required lead time—you identify alternatives and help protect the production schedule.
- Multiple suppliers quote the same requirement—you evaluate more than price, considering quality, capacity, lead time, service, and overall commercial value.
- A supplier’s performance begins slipping—you work with the supplier and internal teams to address the issue before it becomes a larger production problem.
- Engineering or Production needs an outsourced manufacturing solution—you evaluate supplier capabilities, capacity, pricing, and lead times.
- You identify an opportunity to reduce spend without sacrificing quality or delivery—you develop the sourcing strategy and negotiate the opportunity.
- A potential new supplier looks promising—you evaluate whether their manufacturing capabilities can actually support our requirements.
What You’ll Do Here
- Source production tooling, materials, components, supplies, and services based on manufacturing and business requirements.
- Solicit, analyze, and compare supplier quotations based on price, quality, lead time, capacity, service, and commercial terms.
- Negotiate pricing, delivery, lead times, and other commercial terms within established authority.
- Evaluate existing and prospective suppliers and make sourcing recommendations.
- Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships and support development of new domestic and international supply sources.
- Monitor supplier performance and help resolve significant delivery, quality, cost, and service issues.
- Identify and execute cost-reduction opportunities through sourcing alternatives, negotiation, supplier development, and purchasing strategies.
- Evaluate material availability, supplier capacity, lead times, and supply conditions to identify and mitigate risk.
- Support outsourcing and make-versus-buy activities by evaluating supplier capabilities, capacity, pricing, and lead times.
- Partner with Production, Planning, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and other teams to support purchasing and sourcing decisions.
- Perform cost and commercial analysis to support negotiations and purchasing decisions.
- Prepare reports and analysis related to supplier performance, purchasing activity, consumption, and spend.
- Maintain accurate purchasing and supplier information within ERP/MRP systems.
- Provide escalation support for material shortages and complex supplier-related issues.
- Visit supplier locations as needed to evaluate capabilities, address performance concerns, or support sourcing activities.
What You’ll Bring
- At least 5–7 years of progressively responsible purchasing, procurement, sourcing, or related supply-chain experience, preferably within manufacturing.
- Strong knowledge of purchasing, strategic sourcing, negotiation, and supplier-management practices.
- Experience evaluating supplier quotations, pricing, capacity, lead times, quality, and commercial terms.
- Strong negotiation and supplier relationship-management skills.
- Ability to analyze cost, supplier performance, and supply risk and make sound purchasing recommendations.
- Understanding of manufacturing operations, material requirements, inventory concepts, and supplier lead times.
- Experience sourcing or purchasing production tooling in a high-volume manufacturing environment is strongly preferred.
- Experience supporting precision manufacturing, CNC machining, outsourced manufacturing, or a similar technical environment is a plus.
- Ability to understand and evaluate supplier manufacturing processes and capabilities.
- Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Ability to communicate and work effectively with Engineering, Production, Planning, Quality, Finance, suppliers, and other stakeholders.
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems is required; Epicor experience is preferred.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
Who This Role Is Ideal For
- Experienced manufacturing Buyers ready to take greater ownership of sourcing and supplier strategy.
- Senior Buyers who understand that the lowest quoted price is not always the best sourcing decision.
- Purchasing professionals with experience sourcing tooling, machined components, materials, or outsourced manufacturing.
- Procurement professionals who enjoy negotiating, developing suppliers, and solving supply-chain problems.
- Buyers comfortable working directly with Engineering and Production to understand technical manufacturing requirements.
- Manufacturing supply-chain professionals who can balance cost, quality, delivery, capacity, and risk when making purchasing decisions.
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Finance, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
- Equivalent relevant professional experience may be considered.
- Experience with supplier sourcing, quote analysis, negotiation, and supplier-performance management is preferred.
- Experience within precision manufacturing, CNC machining, or another technical manufacturing environment is highly desirable.
Why You’ll Love Working With Us
- Competitive pay with performance-based bonus opportunities
- 100% company-paid medical coverage available for employees
- Company-paid life and disability insurance
- 401(k) with up to a 5% company match
- Generous paid time off and paid holidays
- Training and meaningful opportunities for career advancement
- A supportive, non-corporate culture where your ideas matter
- Company-sponsored team events and activities
Ready to Build a Stronger Supply Chain?
Purchasing at 5th Axis directly impacts what happens on the manufacturing floor. The suppliers you develop, negotiations you lead, and sourcing decisions you make can influence cost, quality, inventory, and our ability to deliver for our customers.
If you’re an experienced manufacturing Buyer who knows how to evaluate suppliers, negotiate effectively, solve supply problems, and turn sourcing opportunities into business results, we want to hear from you.
Apply today and build your future with 5th Axis.
5th Axis is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity, value different perspectives, and believe everyone has the ability to make an impact. If you need an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact careers@5thaxis.com.