Principal Buyer - Nuclear Product Lines
MKSA Day in Your Life at MKS: As a Principal Buyer at MKS Inc , you will lead direct-material procurement activities supporting nuclear and highly regulated product lines. You will partner with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Program Management, and suppliers to ensure supply continuity, regulatory compliance, quality, delivery, and cost competitiveness. This is a hands-on, strategic role for an experienced procurement professional who understands the demands of nuclear-related supply chains and can balance day-to-day buying responsibilities with long-term supplier development. You will take ownership of direct procurement, develop new supplier relationships, identify gaps in existing processes, and help establish the sourcing capabilities needed to support a growing business. This role offers the opportunity to shape supplier strategies and build procurement processes in an evolving environment. As business needs and the team grow, there may be opportunities to take on additional leadership responsibilities. You Will Make an Impact By: Leading procurement activities for complex, highly engineered components, assemblies, and services supporting MKS products and customer programs. Developing and executing sourcing strategies that optimize cost, quality, delivery, regulatory compliance, and long-term supply continuity. Managing strategic supplier relationships, contract negotiations, business reviews, and supplier performance improvement initiatives. Identifying and mitigating supply chain risks through capacity assessments, continuity planning, dual sourcing strategies, and supplier recovery plans. Partnering with Engineering, Quality, and Program Management teams to support supplier qualification, new product introductions, and alternate source approvals. Driving resolution of material shortages, supplier quality escapes, lead-time constraints, and delivery challenges impacting customer commitments. Maintaining compliance with applicable customer, regulatory, quality, and traceability requirements while ensuring supplier documentation and certifications remain current. Supporting procurement transformation initiatives, cost reduction programs, supplier development activities, and continuous improvement projects. Travel Requirements: Up to 20% travel is required. Skills You Bring: Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or equivalent experience. 8+ years of procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier management, or supply chain experience. Strong experience managing direct material procurement within highly regulated manufacturing environments. Demonstrated success negotiating commercial agreements, long-term contracts, pricing, and supplier performance commitments. Experience with supplier qualification, supplier audits, corrective actions, and risk management processes. Knowledge of ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or equivalent enterprise planning platforms. Strong analytical capabilities with proficiency in Excel, spend analysis, supplier KPI management, and cost modeling. Experience supporting products requiring engineering documentation, material traceability, controlled processes, and quality compliance. Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across global cross-functional teams. Preferred Skills: Experience supporting Nuclear, Aerospace, Defense, Semiconductor, Medical Device, or other highly regulated industries. Knowledge of NQA-1, ASME, ISO 9001, ISO 19443, AS9100, ITAR, or similar regulatory frameworks. Experience managing precision machined components, custom assemblies, electronics, fabricated metals, and specialty materials. MBA, CPM, CPSM, CSCP, or equivalent professional certification. Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) and supplier industrialization activities. Knowledge of supplier risk management tools, market intelligence, and continuity planning methodologies. Physical Demands and Working Conditions: Physical Demand 1: Ability …