Senior Technical Buyer

Job Title: Senior Technical Buyer

Work Location: ePropelled | Coventry, UK

Job description

Full-time | On-site with hybrid flexibility (4 days office, 1 day home)

About ePropelled

ePropelled designs and manufactures electric propulsion systems for UAVs and other next-generation platforms, with teams in the UK, US and India. Driven by growing demand and supported by funding initiatives including $60 million from the US government, we are expanding our supply chain team to support our motor and electronic controller programmes.

About the Role

You will be the main procurement contact for UK new product introduction (NPI), from prototype sourcing through to readiness for volume production, while supporting day-to-day production purchasing. Working with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality and Programme teams, you will develop and execute supply solutions that meet cost, delivery and quality requirements.

This is a hands-on role with significant ownership, suited to someone who can work independently, resolve problems and bring structure to a rapidly growing business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead procurement for new motor and controller projects, coordinating sourcing plans, prototype requirements and supplier readiness for transfer into volume production.
  
• Select suppliers from the approved supply base, identify capability or capacity gaps, and work with Engineering, Quality and the wider procurement team to assess new sources where needed.
  
• Manage RFQs, compare quotations and negotiate pricing, lead times and commercial terms to achieve value and continuity of supply.
  
• Raise and manage purchase orders, secure delivery commitments and expedite materials against development and production schedules.
  
• Identify supply risks early, develop recovery options and communicate actions and decisions needed to the Programme team and relevant stakeholders.
  
• Ensure purchase requirements reflect the correct drawings, bills of materials and specifications, coordinate engineering changes, deviations and supplier issues with Engineering and Quality.
  
• Build supplier relationships, monitor delivery performance and drive improvement and cost-reduction activities.
  
• Maintain accurate ERP purchasing data and improve procurement workflows, support goods receipt, shipments and wider supply chain activities when required.
  

Requirements

Skills & Experience

• Looking for 5+ years experience as Technical Buyer
• Proven technical purchasing experience in engineering or manufacturing, including responsibility for NPI or new product development procurement.
  
• Knowledge of mechanical commodities such as machined parts, fabrication and raw materials. Experience sourcing PCBAs, PCBs and electronic components is strongly preferred.
  
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, bills of materials and specifications, and work with engineers and suppliers to resolve technical queries.
  
• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills, with sound commercial judgement on cost, lead time and longer-term supply risk.
  
• Ability to manage competing project deadlines independently, follow actions through to completion and escalate issues with clear recommendations.
  
• Confident communication and influencing skills across suppliers and internal teams, including the ability to challenge assumptions constructively.
  
• Practical ERP/MRP experience and a disciplined approach to purchasing records, data accuracy and process improvement.
  
• Understanding of manufacturing quality systems and supplier quality processes, such as first article inspection, non-conformance management and deviations.
  
• Experience in a startup or growing SME, aerospace/UAVs or complex electromechanical products, together with basic shipping and logistics knowledge, would be advantageous.
  

Benefits

What We Offer

• An opportunity to help shape procurement in a growing electric propulsion business.
  
• A generous company share scheme.
  
• Significant responsibility and autonomy, working closely with engineering and manufacturing teams.
  
• A global outlook, working with colleagues across the UK, US and India.
  

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £45,000.00-£55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
  
• Employee stock purchase plan
  
• Free parking
  
• On-site parking