Senior Buyer – Contract ManufacturingLocation: Willowbrook, IL – Hybrid $80,000 - $100,000 Midtronics has an exciting and challenging opportunity for a Senior Buyer to lead procurement strategy for our Contract Manufacturing (CM) supplier base. This is a highly visible role, reporting to the Supply Chain Manager, with regular interaction across Suppliers, Project Managers, Quality, and Leadership. The Senior Buyer owns the end-to-end health of our assemblies — ensuring parts availability, managing component lifecycle risk, and driving supplier performance — while partnering closely with Production, Quality, and Engineering to keep production running without disruption. Key metrics managed by the Senior Buyer include Vendor Scorecards (Quality, On-Time Delivery, Pricing, Responsiveness), assembly parts availability, and component lifecycle/obsolescence risk. Additional participation in strategic cost savings and supplier risk mitigation activities would also be expected.
A DAY IN THE LIFE:
Own the relationship and performance of Contract Manufacturing (CM) suppliers, including pricing, capacity, lead times, and delivery commitmentsMonitor and maintain the health of assemblies by tracking parts availability and resolving shortages before they impact productionPerform component lifecycle analysis, proactively flag end-of-life (EOL)/obsolescence risk, and lead efforts to qualify alternates or last-time-buysValidate multi-level bills of materials (BOMs) for accuracy and work with Engineering on ECOs to assess supply impact of design changesPartner with Production on build schedules and material readinessPartner with Quality on supplier NCRs, corrective actions, and auditsPartner with Engineering on component selection, alternates, and new product introduction (NPI) supply readinessReport on supply health, risks, and key decisions to Project Managers and LeadershipPrepare requests for quote (RFQ's) and purchase orders (PO's); negotiate cost, terms, and delivery with CM/PCBA and component suppliersTrack supplier on-time delivery, quality, and responsiveness; drive continuous improvement and cost-down initiativesIdentify long-lead-time items and single-source risk; build mitigation plans (safety stock, dual-sourcing, buffer strategies)
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
Bachelor of Science (Engineering, Business, Supply Chain) or equivalent work experience in supply chain / operations required 5+ years of buying/procurement experience in electronics manufacturing, with direct experience managing Contract Manufacturing and/or PCB Assembly suppliersStrong understanding of electronic component lifecycle management and obsolescence/EOL mitigationExperience reading and managing multi-level bills of materials (BOMs) Proven track record partnering cross-functionally with Production, Quality, Engineering, Project Managers, and LeadershipSkilled in RFQ processes, supplier negotiation, and contract termsWorking knowledge of MRP/ERP software (e.g., Epicor, SAP, Oracle) and supplier scorecardsAbility to travel domestically and internationally to vendor/supplier sites as neededExcellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with comfort presenting supply status and risk to LeadershipAPICS / CPSM / CPM certification a plusWHAT WE OFFER:Comprehensive Medical, Dental, & Vision BenefitsLife & Disability Insurance at no Additional Cost 401(K) Savings Plan with Company MatchAnnual Bonus & Profit-Sharing OpportunitiesGenerous Vacation & Holiday SchedulesReimbursement for Continuing Education & 50% of Textbook costsOnsite Wellness Screening & Flu ShotsSubsidized Health Club MembershipsAuto Supplier DiscountsFree Charging Stations for Plug-In Hybrids & EVs in Parking LotMonthly Employee Meeting/LunchAnnual Picnic, Holiday and other eventsABOUT US:Midtronics manufacturers advanced cutting-edge battery testing and charging equipment incorporating wireless communication and data analytics for traditional 12V, 24V, and high-voltage EV batteries for emerging Electric Vehicle platforms. Midtronics is a fast-growing company with an energetic, passionate, and innovative leadership team. As the world is determined to reduce carbon emissions and improve vehicle safety, the rapid evolution of the transportation industry – from electrification and connectivity to autonomous vehicles — Midtronics, is a committed partner in developing superior battery management solutions to meet those exciting challenges in the years ahead.
