Senior Buyer – Manufacturing & Supply
Lab37 Robotics · Pittsburgh
Who we are
Lab37 Robotics, is a technology company focused on the development and deployment of robots designed specifically for direct-to-customer food production. Our mission is to revolutionize the food industry by creating innovative robotic solutions that enhance efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction. We are passionate about pushing the boundaries of technology to deliver cutting-edge products that meet the evolving needs of our clients.
About the role
The Senior Buyer – Manufacturing will own the day-to-day purchasing activities required to support Lab37's growing production operations. This individual will ensure materials are ordered when needed, suppliers are actively managed, and changes or risks are mitigated or escalated quickly.
The Senior Buyer will purchase a broad range of mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical components used in complex robotic systems while working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Inventory, and Program Management.
This is a hands-on individual contributor role with significant ownership. The ideal candidate can move comfortably between tactical purchasing execution and strategic supplier management while operating with urgency in a fast-paced and evolving manufacturing environment.
What you’ll do
- Own purchasing execution for production operations, including RFQs, purchase order placement, supplier acknowledgments, delivery management, expedites, changes, and discrepancy resolution.
- Develop and continuously improve purchasing processes, supplier-management practices, reporting, and operational tools as Lab37 scales.
- Purchase a broad range of mechanical and electrical components, including machined and fabricated parts, sheet metal, motors, sensors, electronics, PCBAs, cables, connectors, hardware, and other production materials.
- Translate BOM demand, inventory levels, lead times, and production schedules into timely purchasing actions.
- Manage supplier relationships and performance across delivery, quality, responsiveness, cost, lead time, and capacity.
- Proactively identify material shortages, long-lead components, supplier constraints, and other supply risks; communicate impacts and drive recovery plans before they affect production.
- Partner closely with Program Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Inventory to align purchasing priorities with production requirements and resolve material-related issues.
- Maintain accurate purchasing and supplier data within the ERP system, including purchase orders, pricing, lead times, and delivery commitments.
- Support qualification and development of new suppliers as production requirements evolve.
What we are looking for
- 5+ years of purchasing, procurement, sourcing, or supply chain experience in a manufacturing, robotics, hardware, industrial automation, or similarly complex environment.
- Experience purchasing both mechanical and electrical/electronic components in a BOM-driven production environment.
- Strong understanding of the complete purchasing lifecycle from RFQ and supplier selection through purchase order, delivery, receipt, and issue resolution. ● Ability to read and understand BOMs, engineering drawings, specifications, and other technical purchasing documentation.
- Strong supplier relationship management and negotiation skills, with the ability to hold suppliers accountable while maintaining productive partnerships.
- Demonstrated ability to manage numerous suppliers, purchase orders, projects, and internal stakeholders simultaneously while maintaining accuracy and follow-through. ● Strong prioritization skills and the ability to work with urgency, quickly adjusting priorities as production schedules, engineering requirements, and supplier conditions change. ● Experience with ERP/MRP systems and strong proficiency with spreadsheets and operational data.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly communicate supplier status, material risks, priorities, and recovery plans across the organization. ● High ownership mentality, strong attention to detail, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment where products, processes, and priorities continue to evolve.
What success looks like
A successful Senior Buyer keeps purchasing ahead of production rather than reacting to it. Material risks are identified early, suppliers are held accountable to commitments, purchasing data is accurate, and Operations has reliable visibility into material availability.
Over time, this individual develops a deep understanding of Lab37's products, suppliers, and production requirements and uses that knowledge to continuously improve material availability, supplier performance, cost, lead time, and the effectiveness of the purchasing function.
Why join us
- Demand for online food delivery is growing really fast! In the last 5 years, just in the US, the overall market has expanded 10X from $10B to $100B, and could expand to $500bn- $1T by 2030.
- Changing the restaurant industry: You’ll be part of a team that helps restaurants succeed in online food delivery.
- Collaborative environment: You will receive support and guidance from experienced colleagues and managers, helping you to learn, grow and achieve your goals, and you’ll work closely with other teams to ensure our customer’s success.
What else you need to know
This role is based in our Pittsburgh office. As a company driven by invention and continuous change - we are constantly reimagining our industries, building new products, and refining how we operate. We do our best work together. That’s why all of our office-based teams work onsite, five days a week.
Ready to join us as we serve those who serve others?
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