Buyer - Avionics, PCBA & EEE Parts

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the only company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space. 

Firefly Aerospace is looking for a Buyer III/IV to buy avionics hardware for our launch vehicle and spacecraft programs. That includes printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), bare printed wiring boards, and Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical (EEE) parts. You'll work with Avionics Engineering, Parts Engineering, Quality and Production Planning to get flight-quality electronics on time and to spec, while protecting the supply chain from counterfeit parts and obsolescence. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Buy PCBAs, bare boards, EEE parts, cable and harness assemblies, and build-to-print electronic hardware. EEE parts include ICs, passives, discretes, connectors, relays, crystals and oscillators, and power devices. 

• Buy against bills of materials (BOMs) for avionics builds, including consigned and turnkey PCBA buys, kitting and resolving shortages. 

• Buy EEE parts only from original component manufacturers (OCMs) or their authorized distributors, following AS5553/AS6174 counterfeit prevention practices. Keep full traceability, including lot/date codes and certificates of conformance. 

• Flow down technical and quality requirements on purchase orders 

• Work with Parts Engineering on part grade and quality level (commercial, automotive, MIL/883 or space-grade), upscreening, and compliance with the approved parts list. 

• Track lead times, allocations, and end-of-life and last-time-buy (EOL/LTB) notices. Recommend lifetime buys, alternate sources or design changes. 

• Request quotes, evaluate proposals, and negotiate price, delivery and terms with contract manufacturers and distributors. 

• Monitor supplier performance and support Quality on nonconformances, supplier corrective action requests (SCARs) and supplier audits. 

• Follow the Firefly Procurement Process and support Export Compliance, including vendor screening, checking ITAR/EAR classifications and export flow-downs. 

• Level IV: Lead relationships with strategic electronics manufacturing (EMS/PCBA) partners, negotiate long-term agreements, manage a larger and more complex portfolio independently, and mentor junior buyers. 

Required Qualifications 

Buyer III 

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience. 

• 5+ years of procurement experience in aerospace, defense, space or high-reliability electronics. 

• At least 3 years buying PCBAs and/or EEE parts. 

• Working knowledge of IPC standards (J-STD-001, IPC-A-610, IPC-6012) and Class 3 requirements. 

• Understanding of counterfeit parts prevention, authorized distribution and traceability. 

• Experience in an AS9100 quality system, including PO flow-downs and first article inspection (AS9102). 

• Comfortable with ERP/MRP systems [e.g., Odoo] and Microsoft Excel. 

• Must be a U.S. Person as defined by ITAR. 

Buyer IV (in addition to the Level III requirements) 

• 7+ years of procurement experience, including at least 5 years buying avionics, PCBAs or EEE parts. 

• Track record managing strategic suppliers and negotiating complex agreements independently. 

• Experience managing obsolescence, part allocations and supply-constrained markets. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience buying space-grade or high-reliability EEE parts (e.g., to NASA EEE-INST-002 or MIL-PRF / DLA QML levels), including screening, DPA and lot acceptance testing. 

• Familiarity with Nadcap AC7120 accredited PCBA suppliers. 

• Experience working with contract manufacturers on consigned and turnkey builds. 

• Familiarity with component data tools such as SiliconExpert, Octopart or IHS. 

• Professional certification such as CPSM, CPM or APICS CPIM/CSCP. 

Core Competencies 

Attention to detail, technical aptitude, negotiation, urgency and ownership, working across teams, problem-solving, ethics and integrity. 

Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, relocation benefits, educational reimbursement, short term disability, and flexible PTO options.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.