Buyer - New Product Introduction (Level I - Senior)

Position Overview
nLIGHT is seeking a New Products Introduction (NPI) Buyer. The NPI Buyer's primary responsibilities are to work with the Engineering Teams and Supply Chain Managers on ensuring costs, inventory, and supply assurance are aligned with the company goals for new products. This position will be responsible for electrical, mechanical, optical or equipment commodities from domestic and global sources. The NPI buyer role includes coordinating with program managers, engineering, purchasing team and quality to assure preferred and new suppliers are aligned to meet the schedule, cost and quality goals. This position requires the ability to develop a competitive environment within the supply base and to make sourcing decisions based on total cost of ownership considerations. This role is primarily onsite in Camas, with the option of one remote day per week after training.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, analyze, and make sourcing selections consistent with commodity strategy and contract requirements.
• Evaluate and maintain MRP for assigned items and ensure system validity and integrity are maintained.
• Coordinate incoming material to meet demand, including issuing purchase orders, expediting, and managing reschedule messages to minimize inventory and maximize production flexibility.
• Maintain communication with suppliers in order to monitor purchase order delivery, shipment tracking, short or late shipments.
• Negotiate and mitigate price increases, expedite fees, and cancellation costs.
• Support execution of commercial agreements to reach lowest total cost including terms to mitigate economic and currency fluctuations.
• Participate in cross-functional teams chartered with improving supplier performance, executing corrective actions, and drive continuous improvement through the supply base.
• Acts as a conduit between suppliers and nLIGHT personnel to resolve delivery, quality, and/or technical issues.
• Work directly with the sales, planners, and production teams on material requirements.
• Manage disposition of rejected, excess, and obsolete parts in accordance with company policy.
• Coordinate resolution of invoice discrepancies.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Develop and present sourcing options and recommendations to internal customers.
• Focus on timely achievement of these goals and objectives.
• Improve internal and external customer satisfaction.
• Comply with Supply Chain and Purchasing procedures.
• Be able to work in a team environment and demonstrate nLIGHT Leadership Principles.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, manufacturing operations, business administration, engineering or operations management and at least 2 years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Self-driven, analytical, results oriented, and motivated to work effectively without direct supervision.
• Proficiency in Excel and experience with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., D365) is highly desired.
• Ability to handle ambiguity; demonstrated flexibility; integrity; leading change. learning agility; strategic agility; data-driven decision making; and vision.
• Ability to logically solve problems and to keep projects moving in an orderly and structured fashion to maintain schedule requirements by analyzing inputs from various sources.
• Previous experience with defense industry standards, ITAR compliance, and FAR/DFAR regulations is a plus.
• Strong organization skills with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks.
• Effective interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Ability to make decisions and solve practical problems with a variety of variables in situations where standardization may be limited.

nLIGHT is proud to offer comprehensive COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Salary level based on qualifications:

• NPI Buyer I - $25.00 to $30.00 per hour
• NPI Buyer II - $31.00 to $38.00 per hour
• Senior NPI Buyer: $90,000 - $115,000 annually

• Target Cash Bonus of 5% of earned wages, depending on level
• Eligible for Restricted Stock Unit grants
• 4 weeks of Paid Time Off per year
• 10 paid Holidays
• Eligible for health benefits on the 1st day of the month after your start date
• Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits, including prescription and orthodontia with employee-paid premiums as low as $40.00 per pay period
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting
• Company paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, and Life & AD&D Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Aflac Supplemental Insurance
• Paid Bereavement Leave and Jury Duty
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Pet Insurance