Grob Aircraft, together with its parent company Helsing, is developing the CA-1 Europa – an autonomous Uncrewed Combat Aerial Vehicle in the 3-to-5-tonne class. A completely new approach to air superiority in Europe, powered by Helsing's AI software "Centaur" and Grob Aircraft's decades of experience in aircraft design and manufacturing. The focus: scalability and resilient, independent supply chains. You make sure that supply chain actually holds.
Role and Objective
The Lead Buyer is responsible for managing all mission-critical procurement activities within the CA-1 programme. This includes ensuring on-time material availability, maintaining full visibility over schedules, costs and supply risks, and ensuring seamless collaboration between suppliers, engineering and programme management.
Your Responsibilities
* Overall management and prioritisation of all mission-critical procurement for the CA-1 programme
* Ensuring the timely availability of prototype and low-volume production parts
* Functional leadership of project-assigned buyers
* Close coordination with Engineering, Programme Management and Quality Assurance
* Development, management and continuous improvement of the supplier base
* Identification, assessment and mitigation of supply risks
* Independent conduct of contract negotiations with suppliers for development and production parts
* Structured reporting and escalation management to the Head of Procurement
Authorities
* Decision-making over procurement priorities within the project
* Functional authority over project-assigned buyers
* Right of escalation in case of schedule- or quality-critical deviations
* Independent negotiation authority with suppliers within defined boundaries
Your Experience
* Several years of experience in project procurement within the aerospace industry
* Sound knowledge of the aerospace-specific supplier landscape
* Proven experience in procurement under high change dynamics and tight schedule requirements
* Fluent German and English, both written and spoken
* Confident use of SAP (MM/Procurement), R/3 or S/4HANA
* Solid contract knowledge (framework agreements, purchase orders, delivery and quality agreements)
* Strong communication skills across all hierarchical levels and functional areas
Desirable
* Experience in procurement for prototype or low-volume manufacturing
* Knowledge of relevant aerospace standards (EASA, EN 9100)
* Experience in a Defence or Dual-Use environment
* Initial leadership experience (functional or disciplinary)
Why this role is something special
The CA-1 programme is in an early and highly dynamic phase. The role requires a high degree of initiative, decisiveness and the ability to work in a structured, results-oriented manner within a rapidly changing environment.
The Lead Buyer works at the direct interface between Engineering, Manufacturing and Supply Chain, and plays a key role in ensuring the programme meets its milestones.
If you want to help shape an aircraft programme from the very beginning – and make a real impact while doing so – then this is the right place for you.