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About the Role

9 Mothers builds counter-UAS systems. This role is for our first dedicated buyer, responsible for end-to-end procurement, including finding parts, qualifying vendors, negotiating, and establishing purchasing processes. As the company grows, this role has the potential to lead the purchasing function.

Responsibilities

• Source and purchase the full robotics bill of materials, including custom electronics, machined metal parts, actuators, motors, cable assemblies, cameras, sensors, and supporting COTS hardware.
• Source scarce and allocated electronics like NVIDIA Jetson modules, GPUs, and image sensors through authorized distribution, direct manufacturer relationships, and vetted secondary markets.
• Manage the quote-to-PO cycle, including soliciting quotes, negotiating pricing, payment terms, and lead times, placing purchase orders, and tracking/expediting deliveries.
• Build and maintain a non-Chinese supply base with a strong preference for US vendors, verifying country of origin.
• Define and implement purchasing processes, including PO workflow, vendor onboarding, receiving and inspection handoff, and spend tracking.
• Select and implement purchasing tools, from spreadsheets to an ERP/MRP system.
• Build and maintain the approved vendor list and collaborate with engineering on part numbering and BOM hygiene.
• Report on spend, open orders, lead-time risk, and cost trends.
• Transition the supply base from prototype to production purchasing, including qualifying vendors for volume, establishing second sources, and negotiating volume pricing.
• Plan procurement against production build schedules, ordering long-lead items early and managing safety stock for allocation-risk parts.
• Collaborate with engineering on BOM health for production, including component lifecycle monitoring and cost-down opportunities.
• Procure within ITAR constraints and maintain necessary documentation.
• Screen the supply chain against prohibited-source requirements and ensure Chinese-origin content is excluded.
• Protect against counterfeit components by prioritizing authorized channels and applying rigorous vetting for secondary market purchases.

Requirements

• 7+ years of procurement/purchasing experience for physical hardware products in robotics, defense, aerospace, automotive, or industrial equipment.
• Proven ability to source scarce and allocated electronics.
• Experience buying custom PCB assemblies, machined metal parts, actuators/motors, cable assemblies, and cameras or sensors.
• Experience supporting a product transition from prototype/low-volume to production purchasing.
• Track record of building or substantially defining purchasing processes.
• Self-sufficient and able to set priorities and close loops independently.
• Strong negotiation skills with vendors of all sizes.
• Must be a US person (citizen or lawful permanent resident) for ITAR compliance.

Skills

• Procurement
• Purchasing
• Vendor Qualification
• Negotiation
• Supply Chain Management
• ITAR Compliance
• Counterfeit Component Prevention
• ERP/MRP System Implementation (preferred)
• Supplier Audits (preferred)
• BOM Management

Location

• Onsite — Austin, TX

Work Type

• Direct Hire
• Full Time
• Onsite

Experience Level

• Senior

About the Company

• 9 Mothers develops AI-powered counter-drone systems designed to intercept and neutralize Group 1/sUAS threats in real-time.
• The company's flagship product is a low-power, counter-drone system built for the edge.
• 9 Mothers is backed by top-tier investors.
• The company values field-ready capability and aims to see code or hardware in the field quickly.
• The work environment is an R&D and manufacturing facility for weapons systems, with an active shop floor and proximity to live-fire test activity.