Sr. Buyer

The Senior Buyer at Anduril Industries is responsible for sourcing and purchasing both direct and indirect materials, working on inventory control, and supporting proposal preparation for engineered components. This role involves performing purchasing activities for various items necessary for sophisticated defense systems, coordinating inventory levels, ensuring demand planning through ERP systems, and managing supplier relationships to enhance performance.

To be considered for the Senior Buyer position at Anduril Industries, candidates typically need a Bachelor's degree combined with 3-5 years of experience in inventory control and purchasing, or a high school diploma with 5-7 years of relevant experience. Knowledge of commodity-based contract manufacturing, ERP systems, and inventory management best practices is crucial for this role.

At Anduril Industries, support for Senior Buyers includes collaboration with cross-functional teams, ongoing training opportunities, and access to advanced technology platforms. The company fosters a culture of open communication, enabling Senior Buyers to effectively report on supply chain statuses and participate in key planning meetings that impact production.

Success as a Senior Buyer at Anduril Industries hinges on advanced skills in communication, critical thinking, and technical sourcing. Proficiency in the MS Office suite is important, especially Excel for data analysis. Additionally, being detail-oriented, proactive in resolving supplier issues, and knowledgeable about inventory management practices are key skills for this role.

The salary range for the Senior Buyer position at Anduril Industries is between $71,000 and $115,000 USD, based on various factors like experience, education, and critical skills. This role also includes highly competitive equity grants and comprehensive benefits as part of the total compensation package.

Discuss your hands-on experience with ERP systems and how you've used them to manage inventory and demand planning. Highlight specific tasks you've completed, such as tracking orders or maintaining supplier databases, to demonstrate your proficiency and understanding of ERP functionalities.

When answering this question, emphasize your proactive approach to monitoring supplier performance and resolving issues promptly. Discuss a specific instance where you identified performance problems and the steps you took to address them, including how you communicated with the supplier and what outcomes were achieved.

Outline inventory management strategies you've used in the past, such as setting optimal reorder points or utilizing forecast data from ERP systems to predict demand accurately. Illustrate with examples where your strategies led to successful inventory management and supplier coordination.

Explain your understanding of regulatory compliance, particularly in the defense sector. Describe your experience with documentation practices that ensure audit readiness and how you stay updated on relevant regulations and industry standards.

Share a specific negotiation scenario where you faced challenges, detailing your approach, the tactics you employed, and the outcome. Focus on how you balanced assertiveness with relationship management to reach a successful compromise.

Discuss your technical sourcing experience, especially in relation to engineered components. Highlight how you assess supplier capabilities, determine the suitability of materials, and ensure that sourcing aligns with project requirements effectively.

Talk about your methods for staying current on market trends, such as attending industry conferences, utilizing professional networks, or subscribing to relevant publications. Emphasize how this knowledge informs your purchasing decisions and supplier management.

Provide an example of a purchasing process you have streamlined, detailing the steps you took and the impact of those improvements on efficiency or cost savings. Use quantitative metrics if possible to illustrate your success.

Explain your prioritization strategy, such as assessing order deadlines, supplier performance, and project urgency. Share how you utilize tools like ERP systems to help manage tasks efficiently and ensure all supplier needs are met timely.

Discuss your experiences in collaborative environments and how you've worked with cross-functional teams to tackle supply chain challenges. Highlight specific examples that showcase your communication skills and your ability to foster positive working relationships.