Senior Buyer, Mechanical Systems

Karman Industries

Karman Industries is a Torrance-based thermal technology company building the backbone for giga-scale AI infrastructure. Founded by a team from SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and GE, Karman is moving beyond legacy cooling with the launch of the HPU (Heat Processing Unit) —a new category of thermal architecture designed for the 100kW+ rack era.

The HPU shrinks the exterior mechanical yard by up to 80% while reducing peak energy consumption by 10%+. Unlike traditional systems, the Karman HPU provides zero-water (WUE 0) cooling that ensures high-TDP GPUs and HBM4 memory stay at optimal thermal setpoints without throttling.

Founded in 2024, we’re a fast-growing team of passionate professionals dedicated to making a tangible impact on the future of humanity. We design, build, and test real hardware, and we lead with ownership: you’ll own your work from concept to hardware and help shape how we scale. Our values are Ownership, Performance Excellence, Radical Transparency, and Customer-Centricity.

Join us in our mission to transform the industry and contribute to a more sustainable world.

Senior Buyer, Mechanical Systems

We are building the supply chain behind the HPU, and its mechanical hardware and fabricated assemblies are the long-lead items most likely to stop a build. You will own supply for mechanical systems end to end: category strategy, sourcing, supplier performance, and supply continuity for machined components, weldments, thermal equipment, mechanical assemblies, and structures. You will work directly with Engineering, Quality, and Production to turn drawings and build plans into on-time, on-cost deliveries, and to surface supply risk before it becomes a line-down.

Key Responsibilities:

Category strategy and sourcing

Own the mechanical category strategy: supplier selection, dual- and second-source plans, consolidation, and long-term agreements

Run RFQs and competitive bids from drawings and specs; compare total landed cost, lead time, tooling, and quality history, then recommend awards

Negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, and capacity commitments with fabricators, machine shops, foundries, and assembly vendors

Drive cost-down through should-cost analysis, volume leverage, and design-to-cost input to Engineering; report savings against a baseline

Mechanical sourcing and fabrication

Source mechanical and thermal hardware, including fabricated assemblies, and their components

Source precision machined parts (turning, multi-axis milling, grinding) in various alloys, including tight-tolerance components

Source castings, forgings, bar stock, and plate; manage material certifications and traceability

Source welded and fabricated components, piping, and weldments from shops qualified to applicable codes, such as ASME

Source structural frames, skids, enclosures, and platforms, including required finishes and coatings

Source piping, tubing, valves, fittings, hoses, seals, gaskets, and fasteners; manage approved manufacturers for pressure-rated components

Coordinate special processes: heat treat, NDE, pressure and leak testing, and surface treatments

Manage long-lead equipment suppliers, including capacity reservations, factory acceptance testing, and delivery to site

Manage contract assembly vendors, including build-to-print assemblies, kitting, and subassembly integration

Work with Engineering on performance, rating, and material requirements, and confirm supplier capability before award

Supplier management and qualification

Build and maintain the approved vendor list with Engineering and Quality

Coordinate supplier qualification: first article inspection (AS9102 or equivalent), CMM inspection reports, weld procedure and welder qualifications, and process audits

Run supplier scorecards covering on-time delivery, quality, and cost; lead quarterly business reviews, corrective actions, and improvement plans

Planning, risk, and compliance

Track open POs, expedite late deliveries, and escalate shortages with a recovery plan; give Production and Program teams accurate supply status each week

Manage trade compliance inputs: HTS classification, country of origin, tariff exposure, and export-control requirements; coordinate inbound freight, customs brokers, and Incoterms

Maintain item masters, BOM cost data, supplier records, and PO data in the ERP system

Minimum Requirements

5+ years in purchasing, strategic sourcing, or supply management for mechanical, fabricated, or machined products in hardware or advanced manufacturing

Experience buying machined parts, weldments, or fabricated assemblies from drawings, with working knowledge of GD&T and tolerance callouts

Working knowledge of fabrication and machining processes, materials, and special processes such as heat treat, NDE, and coatings

Ability to read mechanical drawings, BOMs, and material and inspection specifications

Experience building category or sourcing strategies and negotiating supply agreements

Experience with ERP/MRP systems (NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, or similar), including planning and purchasing modules, and advanced Excel skills

Working knowledge of import and export basics: customs, tariffs, Incoterms, and country-of-origin documentation

Clear written and verbal communication with Engineering, Production, Quality, and Finance

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience

Preferred Requirements

Experience sourcing pressure equipment or welded pressure-boundary components under applicable codes, such as ASME

Experience with high-precision machining and exotic alloys such as titanium and nickel alloys

Experience with supplier development, including on-site audits and weld and process qualification reviews

Experience buying for low-volume, high-mix, or prototype-to-production hardware programs

Experience with should-cost modeling, total cost of ownership analysis, and cost-down programs

Experience with offshore or nearshore sourcing programs for fabricated and machined parts

APICS CPIM, CSCP, or CPSM certification

Background in energy, HVAC, data center, aerospace, or other industrial hardware

Karman Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Karman Industries is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Direct applicants only — we are not working with outside recruiters or agencies for this role.