Head of Mechanical Procurement

Day to day, this role means sourcing and managing suppliers for build-to-print CNC parts, release mechanisms, COTS hardware, tooling, and consumables, while sitting embedded in engineering programs to catch design and supply risks early.

It also means running the team, coaching specialists, reviewing quotes and vendor selections, and keeping ERP data, cost tracking, and build readiness accurate day to day.

Alongside that, expect ongoing supplier relationship management, negotiating capacity and tooling maintenance windows, and cross-functional coordination with engineering, manufacturing, and quality on schedules and risk mitigation.




KEY RESPONSIBILITIES;
1. Leadership & Team Development

* Build, lead, and mentor a team of category specialists with deep mechanical hardware and manufacturing-support expertise.


* Define team workflows spanning build-to-print CNC components, electromechanical release mechanisms, COTS mechanical hardware, production tooling, and consumables.


* Coach team members in mechanical fabrication processes, tolerance/fit considerations, GD&T interpretation, and manufacturability constraints.


* Foster a culture of technical rigor, proactive risk management, and high accountability.


* Develop hiring profiles and long-term talent strategies to scale the category organization.



2. Embedded Technical Category Leadership

* Operate as a core, embedded member of engineering and production project teams from concept through qualification and series production.


* Interpret mechanical drawings, GD&T tolerances, material specifications, and BOM structures for build-to-print and COTS mechanical items.


* Provide DFM/DFMA and supply feasibility input on mechanical designs, including release mechanisms and other electromechanical assemblies.


* Identify long-lead mechanical items, critical single-source mechanisms, and production-tooling dependencies early in the design and industrialization cycle.


* Maintain visibility into machining capabilities, surface treatments, mechanism qualification status, and tooling/jig availability across the supplier base.



3. High-Velocity Sourcing & Procurement Execution

* Lead sourcing for:

* Build-to-print CNC mechanical components


* Electromechanical release mechanisms


* COTS mechanical hardware (fasteners, bearings, standard hardware)


* Production consumables and protective/PPE equipment


* Production tooling, jigs, and fixtures


* Tooling maintenance services


* Third-party consulting and technical services




* Approve or direct procurement at risk when required to protect program schedules.


* Guide the team in fast-turn quoting, vendor selection, and build execution for precision-machined and electromechanical parts.


* Ensure accurate procurement execution through ERP, with proper traceability, cost tracking, and build/production readiness visibility.



4. Supplier Engagement & Capability Development

* Own senior relationships with precision machine shops, mechanism suppliers, tooling partners, PPE/consumables distributors, and technical services providers.


* Perform technical capability assessments to ensure supplier fit for qualified, low-volume, and scaling production builds, including regulated/defense-sector requirements where applicable.


* Negotiate accelerated build slots, exotic material availability, advanced machining tolerances, and priority manufacturing/tooling maintenance windows.


* Develop a robust, internationally diversified supplier ecosystem capable of supporting both prototype builds and qualified series production.



5. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Strategic Alignment