The Technical Buyer is responsible for the strategic sourcing, procurement, and supplier management of highly engineered materials, components, equipment, and services that support manufacturing, engineering, research and development, and operational requirements. This position serves as the primary liaison between Procurement, Engineering, and Suppliers to ensure continuity of supply, cost competitiveness, technical compliance, and operational excellence. The successful candidate will combine strong technical expertise to evaluate supplier capabilities, support product development initiatives, manage complex sourcing activities, and drive continuous improvement throughout the supply chain. The Technical Buyer will play a critical role in supporting new product introductions, supplier development, cost reduction initiatives, and long-term sourcing strategies within a technologically advanced manufacturing environment.

Minimum requirements for the position (i.e., academic, number of years of experience required, etc.)

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Supply Chain Management, or a related technical discipline.

Preferred skills or experience

• Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Supply Chain Management, Engineering Management, or a related field.
• Professional certifications such as CPSM, CPM, APICS/ASCM, CSCP, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in technical procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain management, or engineering-related purchasing within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience sourcing engineered products, technical materials, and complex manufacturing components.
• Experience supporting new product introductions and engineering-driven procurement activities.
• Proven track record of supplier development, cost reduction, contract negotiation, and cross-functional collaboration.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Mechanical components, machined parts, castings, and fabricated assemblies.
• Electrical and electronic components, including sensors, connectors, wire harnesses, controls, resistors and power systems.
• Battery technologies, energy storage systems, electrochemical materials, and related manufacturing processes.
• Chemicals, plastics, specialty materials, metals, and manufacturing consumables.
• Supplier qualification methodologies include PPAP, APQP, and FAI.
• Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement principles.
• ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, QAD, Microsoft Dynamics, or equivalent.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel, data analysis, and reporting capabilities.

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies for technical commodities, engineered products, raw materials, capital equipment, and specialized services.
• Identify, evaluate, qualify, and develop suppliers capable of meeting technical, quality, delivery, and cost requirements.
• Lead supplier selection activities through competitive bidding, market analysis, and supplier capability assessments.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, long-term agreements, lead times, payment terms, and commercial conditions to achieve best total cost of ownership.
• Monitor global market trends, supplier risks, capacity constraints, and emerging technologies impacting material availability and pricing.
• Ensure uninterrupted material flow to support production schedules and customer commitments.
• Partner closely with Design Engineering, Process Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to support new product development and product lifecycle management.
• Interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, material standards, and bills of material (BOMs).
• Support Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) and product revisions by coordinating supplier implementation activities.
• Conduct technical reviews of supplier manufacturing processes, production capabilities, and quality systems.
• Develop and implement annual cost reduction initiatives through strategic sourcing, value engineering, supplier negotiations, and process improvements.
• Perform detailed cost analyses and total cost of ownership evaluations.
• Generate and manage purchase orders within ERP/MRP systems (QAD).
• Maintain accurate procurement records, supplier data, contracts, and sourcing documentation.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, ISO requirements, customer specifications, and applicable regulatory requirements in aviation and rail.

Whether you are just getting started or are an experienced professional, we offer a robust total rewards package to include generous compensation based on market standards, healthcare, wellness, adoption assistance, discounted stock purchase, career development and recognition programs. Some of our superior benefits include parental (maternal and paternal) leave, 401K retirement contribution match at 7%, educational assistance (tuition reimbursement), Short-term Disability (STD), paid holidays, paid vacation, and paid employee referral award.

We appreciate diverse skills/experience and yours could add immense value to our team. Our customers have varied backgrounds and so do our employees. If you are excited about leaving your footprint on our technical customer-centric solutions while increasing sales, we would love to hear from you.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, and genetic information. If you require an accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact us by email at reasonableaccommodation@saft.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Saft is a global battery company like no other. Thanks to our historical expertise, combined with our unique industrial approach, we have a leading position in meeting the demands of our customers. Our batteries and battery systems make a difference for all the market sectors they serve.

Established in 19 countries and supported by our 17 production sites, Saft has more than 4,300 employees across the planet and have been manufacturing batteries for more than 100 years. Since 2016, Saft is a wholly owned subsidiary of TotalEnergies, a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies:  oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables, and electricity.

Their 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable, and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operation.  We are a broad energy company that produces and markets energies on a global scale: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity.