An international leader in aviation
Heroux-Devtek, the world's 3rd largest producer of landing gear, serves the civil and military aerospace markets from production facilities in North America, Europe and United Kingdom. The Company's longevity, flexibility, and track record for the development and implementation of innovative production systems have distinguished it as a leader in the domain. With its most recent acquisitions, Heroux-Devtek is bolstering its status as one of the foremost landing gear, actuation and hydraulic system designers and manufacturers in the global aerospace industry.
Information on the division:
Located in Livonia, Michigan, spanning 3 facilities (100,000+ sq. ft.) with over 130 employees, Beaver Aerospace & Defense is one of Héroux-Devtek's centers of excellence for design, development, manufacturing, and assembly of ball screws, actuation systems and other aerospace components.
Our ball screws, ball splines, gears, and electromechanical linear/rotary actuators are custom designed to fit virtually any application with superior performance, quality and precision. In fact, our actuation solutions are installed on some of the most advanced aircraft, missile applications and mission-critical space exploration systems in the world, featuring the latest in motion control technology.
With a strong focus on custom precision manufacturing processes with machining automation and techniques, we aim to remain the best value producer of complex and precision Aerospace & Defense components.
What we offer?
- Leaders who invest in your success, development, and growth
- A culture of true teamwork and pride in our product
- Competitive salaries linked to performance and paid time off
- 9 paid holidays
- A comprehensive group insurance plan including a HSA/FSA options, Dental & Vision
- Coverage for Domestic Partnerships
- Supportive wellness program, including healthcare discounts
- Automatic Life Insurance with supplemental options
- Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Opportunities for retirement savings with 401k plans including a company match
- Tuition reimbursement for relevant Certifications, Education, & Trainings
- Free access to a virtual doctor and the employee assistance program
- Social activities for all employees (BBQ, Golf, Christmas parties, etc.)
- Generous referral bonuses and advantageous recognition programs
- A motivating work environment and a human management style where you can make a difference
Summary:
Join Beaver Aerospace & Defense, a Héroux-Devtek company, as a Buyer supporting mission-critical aerospace and defense programs including the B-2 Stealth Bomber and Boeing landing gear systems. This role sits at the intersection of strategic sourcing, supplier management, and production planning , with a strong emphasis on supplier relationship ownership.
The Buyer is responsible for managing a supplier portfolio of approximately $25–$30M, owning end-to-end procurement of raw materials and purchased components, negotiating long-term agreements, and ensuring uninterrupted material flow to the production floor. This role is approximately 90% supplier management and procurement, with the remaining 10% focused on MRP-driven planning and production coordination.
This is a high-impact, relationship-driven role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, low-volume aerospace manufacturing environment, builds strong supplier partnerships, and is comfortable putting out fires while driving long-term cost and delivery improvements.
Movement through industrial or manufacturing areas is required, along with the use of appropriate personal protective equipment and consistent observance of established safety policies.
Main responsibilities:
Supplier Management & Procurement (Primary Focus ~90%)
- Own and manage a supplier book of approximately $25–$30M across raw materials and purchased components
- Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with strategic suppliers, including regular on-site visits and travel as needed
- Negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, and Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) to support program stability and cost performance
- Lead mass RFQ events for new and recurring requirements, evaluating supplier responses on price, capability, capacity, lead time, and quality
- Drive cost savings initiatives through strategic sourcing, supplier consolidation, contract renegotiation, and value engineering
- Manage supplier performance against established KPIs including on-time delivery (OTD), quality, responsiveness, and cost
- Resolve supplier issues including late deliveries, quality non-conformances, and capacity constraints; escalate appropriately
- Conduct supplier risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies to ensure continuity of supply
Material Planning & Production Coordination (~10%)
- Read and act on MRP output to drive purchase order creation, vendor release schedules, and material flow to the production floor
- Maintain accurate planning parameters in SAP/ERP including lead times, safety stock, reorder points, and minimum order quantities
- Coordinate daily with production supervisors, manufacturing engineering, and quality teams to align material availability with production schedules
- Support forecast-driven planning in a low-volume, high-mix aerospace manufacturing environment
- Track inventory levels and drive corrective actions to prevent shortages and excess
Reporting, Analysis & Continuous Improvement
- Develop and present cost savings analyses, supplier scorecards, and procurement performance reporting to leadership
- Use data analytics to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities across the supplier base
- Maintain accurate procurement and planning documentation to support compliance with AS9100, ITAR, and customer contractual requirements
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the supply chain function
Our ideal candidate:
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 5+ years of experience in a Buyer, Buyer/Planner, or Strategic Sourcing role within a manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated experience managing a supplier book of $25M or greater.
- Proven track record of supplier relationship management, contract negotiation, and Long-Term Agreement (LTA) execution.
- Working knowledge of SAP, Oracle, or comparable ERP/MRP systems.
- Experience leading mass RFQ events and conducting cost savings analysis.
- Strong understanding of low-volume, forecast-driven production environments.
- Experience managing supplier performance through KPIs (OTD, quality, cost).
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
- Willingness to travel to supplier sites as required (estimated 10–20%).
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis.
- Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
- Must meet ITAR eligibility requirements.
Preferred
- Aerospace, defense, or military supplier industry experience or familiarity with these supplier networks.
- Experience in a low-volume, high-mix precision manufacturing environment.
- Familiarity with AS9100 quality management system requirements.
- APICS CPIM, CSCP, or ISM CPSM certification.
- Experience with cost reduction methodologies and value engineering.
- Prior experience supporting DoD, DLA, or major aerospace prime contractor programs.
Work culture and environment:
Are you known as an innovation driver? Are you looking for your next challenge and opportunity to learn & excel in Aerospace? Héroux-Devtek offers you the opportunity to work in a diverse and team-oriented environment where skills development is a top priority. Here, employees are at the heart of the realization of the product, developed through engineering centers, factories, a service unit, and an accessible and agile head office for fast decision-making.
Be part of a motivating top-notch team taking Aerospace to new heights!
Candidates must meet security screening requirements as set out by ITAR directives.
HDI Landing Gear is an equal employment opportunity (EEO) employer to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, HDI Landing Gear will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
