Supply Chain Buyer is responsible for procurement of materials, equipment, services, software, and technical support required for design, development, testing, licensing, fabrication, and deployment of advanced nuclear microreactor technologies.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Execute purchase orders; obtain quotations; negotiate pricing and delivery; manage supplier performance; support supplier qualification; maintain procurement records; support NQA-1 procurement activities; collaborate with engineering and quality teams.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor degree in Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or equivalent experience.
3-7 years purchasing experience in technical or regulated industries.
Preferred Experience
Nuclear, aerospace, defense, energy, DOE contractor, or advanced manufacturing experience. Familiarity with ASME NQA-1 and supplier qualification programs preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Strategic sourcing, cost analysis, contract administration, supplier management, ERP systems, technical procurement, communication skills, and risk management.
Strategic Sourcing including demonstrated knowledge of Supplier identification and market analysis, Competitive sourcing methodologies, Procurement Processes. The ability to develop sourcing strategies for highly specialized technical and engineered products.
Purchasing and Contract Administration Knowledge of Purchase order creation and administration, Terms and conditions negotiation, Master service agreements, Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), Statement of Work (SOW) development, Change order management, Invoice reconciliation, Cost and price analysis method. Ability to negotiate favorable commercial terms while maintaining strong supplier relationships.
Supplier Management
Knowledge of:
Supplier qualification processes
Supplier performance evaluation
Corrective action management
Supply chain risk assessment
Supplier development programs
Dual-source and alternate-source strategies
Ability to develop and maintain high-performing supplier partnerships.
Nuclear Industry Knowledge
Quality Assurance Programs
Working knowledge of:
ASME NQA-1
10 CFR 50 Appendix B
10 CFR Part 21
Nuclear procurement requirements
Supplier quality programs
Audit and surveillance practices
Ability to understand how procurement activities impact the company's Nuclear Quality Assurance Program.
Counterfeit, Fraudulent, and Suspect Item (CFSI) Prevention
Knowledge of:
OEM sourcing requirements
Authorized distributor controls
Material traceability requirements
Certificate of Conformance reviews
High-risk component identification
Supplier verification techniques
Ability to identify and mitigate counterfeit item risks before materials enter the supply chain.
Technical Documentation
Ability to read and interpret:
Engineering drawings
Bills of Material (BOMs)
Material specifications
Test plans
Inspection requirements
Design change notices
Manufacturing process specifications
Ability to communicate effectively with engineering and quality personnel regarding technical procurement requirements.
Technical Skills
ERP / MRP Systems
Proficiency with:
Microsoft Dynamics 365
Deltek Costpoint
SAP
Oracle
NetSuite
Epicor
Ability to:
Create and manage purchase orders
Track supplier commitments
Review inventory availability
Generate procurement reports
Support material planning activities
Microsoft Office Suite
Advanced proficiency in:
Microsoft Excel
Ability to:
Create pivot tables
Develop spend-analysis reports
Conduct cost analysis
Build supplier performance scorecards
Analyze lead-time trends
Microsoft Word
Ability to prepare:
Procurement documentation
Supplier correspondence
Evaluation reports
Technical summaries
Microsoft PowerPoint
Ability to support management reviews and supplier presentations.
Data Analysis
Ability to:
Analyze spend data
Evaluate pricing trends
Monitor supplier performance metrics
Forecast procurement requirements
Identify sourcing opportunities
Strong analytical and quantitative reasoning skills.
Business Skills
Cost Analysis
Ability to:
Assess supplier pricing
Evaluate quotations
Perform benchmarking
Conduct price reasonableness reviews
Support budget development
Understanding of:
Material costs
Manufacturing costs
Labor costs
Overhead structures
Profit analysis
Risk Management
Ability to identify:
Sole-source dependencies
Supply chain bottlenecks
Long-lead material risks
Foreign supply risks
Geopolitical risks
Capacity constraints
Ability to develop mitigation plans and contingency sourcing strategies.
Inventory and Material Planning
Knowledge of:
Demand planning
Safety stock calculations
Reorder point methodologies
Material requirements planning (MRP)
Production support purchasing
Ability to support proto@type and production environments simultaneously.
Communication Skills
Written Communication
Ability to:
Draft professional supplier communications
Prepare sourcing recommendations
Document procurement decisions
Develop procurement justifications
Create management summaries
Must be capable of producing clear and audit-ready documentation.
Verbal Communication
Ability to:
Conduct supplier negotiations
Lead supplier meetings
Coordinate cross-functional teams
Present recommendations to management
Support audit discussions
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills are required.
Project Management Skills
Ability to:
Manage multiple procurements simultaneously
Prioritize urgent engineering requirements
Track supplier deliverables
Coordinate cross-functional activities
Meet aggressive development schedules
Experience supporting proto@type development and fast-paced engineering programs is highly desirable.
Abilities
The successful candidate must have the ability to:
Thrive in a start-up or high-growth environment.
Support rapidly changing engineering requirements.
Balance cost, quality, and schedule priorities.
Work independently with minimal supervision.
Exercise sound business judgment.
Maintain confidentiality of proprietary reactor technology.
Build credibility with engineers, quality personnel, and suppliers.
Adapt procurement strategies for development, testing, and production environments.
Preferred Advanced Competencies for a Microreactor Developer
Highly desirable capabilities include:
Procurement of nuclear-grade and quality-affecting components
Experience supporting DOE-funded programs
Familiarity with HALEU fuel supply chains
Knowledge of commercial-grade dedication programs
Experience sourcing precision machined components
Supplier development within the defense or aerospace sectors
Knowledge of export control regulations (ITAR/EAR)
Familiarity with NRC regulatory expectations
Experience working with suppliers such as BWXT, Curtiss-Wright, Framatome, Westinghouse, X-energy, Kairos Power, TerraPower, and U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories supporting advanced reactor development
For Deployable Energy's current stage of growth, I would actually recommend defining this role as a Buyer II / Technical Buyer position rather than an entry-level Buyer. The procurement challenges associated with reactor development, NQA-1 compliance, proto@type fabrication, and supplier qualification typically require a professional capable of operating with limited supervision in a highly technical environment.
Preferred Certifications
CPSM, CSCP, CPPB, NQA-1 Lead Auditor Training, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher.
Success Metrics
On-time delivery, procurement compliance, supplier performance improvement, reduced cycle times, and support of successful audits.
Ref: #161-Managed Staffing Charlotte
System One, and its subsidiaries including Joulé, ALTA IT Services, CM Access, TPGS, and MOUNTAIN, LTD., are leaders in delivering workforce solutions and integrated services across North America. We help clients get work done more efficiently and economically, without compromising quality. System One not only serves as a valued partner for our clients, but we offer eligible full-time employees health and welfare benefits coverage options including medical, dental, vision, spending accounts, life insurance, voluntary plans, as well as participation in a 401(k) plan.
System One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, family care or medical leave status, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
