NPI Project Buyer

ZEISS Group

. Lead procurement activities for assigned NPI and product-development projects from concept/prototype through production readiness .

Posted 10/23/2026full-timeDublin • California • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $77,000 - $96,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in procurement activities for new product introduction (NPI) and product development, with a strong focus on supplier management, sourcing strategies, and integration of purchasing deliverables into project plans. Proficient in utilizing ERP systems, particularly SAP, to support material readiness and procurement processes.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Procurement ManagementSupplier EvaluationNPI PurchasingSAP/ERP SystemsProject Buying

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Supplier Lead-Time ManagementBOM and Material-Master StructuresRFQ and Sourcing ProcessesInventory and Demand Planning FundamentalsExcel/Data Analysis

Soft Skills

Strong Communication SkillsAttention to DetailAbility to Manage Multiple Projects

Tools & Technologies

SAPERPMRP

Certifications & Qualifications

APICS/ASCMCPSM

Industry Keywords

New Product IntroductionProduct DevelopmentManufacturing EnvironmentEngineering ChangesSupplier Management

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

ERP

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead procurement activities for assigned NPI and product-development projects from concept/prototype through production readiness
Represent Procurement within cross-functional project teams and integrate purchasing deliverables into the overall project plan
Drive sourcing and material readiness against NPI milestones and production launch requirements
Maintain visibility of procurement status, open issues, risks, and critical-path items
Manage RFQ activities, supplier evaluations, negotiations, and sourcing recommendations
Partner with Strategic Sourcing and Engineering to select suppliers based on cost, quality, capability, lead time, capacity, and supply risk
Coordinate supplier readiness for prototypes, pilot builds, qualification, and production ramp
Identify procurement, material, supplier, capacity, quality, obsolescence, and supply-continuity risks and develop mitigation plans
Review project BOMs and drive sourcing status for purchased components
Identify and escalate material shortages, long lead-time items, and sourcing gaps
Coordinate purchasing activities associated with engineering changes, including ECO/PCO implementation
Support accurate material master, purchasing, and sourcing information within SAP/ERP systems
Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations and negotiate commercial terms
Track purchased-material cost against project targets
Identify design-to-cost, value-engineering, and cost-reduction opportunities
Provide procurement input for forecasting, business cases, and project cost reviews
Ensure procurement and supplier readiness before transition from NPI into sustaining production
Coordinate handoff of suppliers, pricing, lead times, purchasing information, and open risks to operational procurement/planning teams
Support stabilization activities during initial production ramp
Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Planning, Operations, Finance, suppliers, and manufacturing teams across multiple regions and time zones

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field
Typically 5+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, NPI purchasing, project buying, or supply chain
Experience supporting new product introduction and product-development projects in a manufacturing environment
Experience working with engineering BOMs, drawings/specifications, ECOs/engineering changes, and prototype-to-production transitions
Experience managing suppliers through development, qualification, ramp-up, and production readiness
Experience with ERP/MRP systems, preferably SAP
APICS/ASCM, CPSM, or project-management certification is a plus
Ability to operate with incomplete information during early NPI phases
Excellent follow-through and attention to detail
Ability to challenge suppliers and internal stakeholders professionally
Strong communication and escalation skills
Ability to manage several projects/priorities simultaneously
Strong understanding of interdependencies between Engineering, Procurement, Planning, Manufacturing, Quality, and Finance
SAP / ERP / MRP
BOM and material-master structures
Purchase orders and purchase requisitions
RFQ and sourcing processes
Supplier lead-time management
Inventory and demand planning fundamentals
Excel/data analysis
Experience with SAP MDG, KMAT/configurable products, or complex capital-equipment manufacturing would be especially valuable for XRM

Benefits

Comp & perks

Performance bonus or sales commissions
Medical plans
Vision
Dental
401k Matching
Employee Assistance Programs
Vacation and sick pay
Paid time off
Retirement savings plan