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Associate Purchasing Manager

Huntsville, Alabama
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

The Assistant Purchasing Manager supports the management and execution of procurement activities for materials, equipment, and services in a defense/aerospace environment. This role assists with supplier selection, purchase order and subcontract administration, cost and price analysis, compliance oversight, and supplier performance management in support of U.S. Government, DoD, and commercial programs. The position requires working knowledge of defense procurement practices, including applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), customer flow-down requirements, and internal purchasing policies and procedures.

The Assistant Purchasing Manager works closely with program management, contracts, subcontracts, engineering, quality, operations, finance, and legal teams to ensure procurement actions are executed in compliance with contractual, regulatory, quality, cost, and schedule requirements.

Essential Functions:

  • Supports procurement operations for defense and aerospace programs.
  • Assists with the procurement of materials, services, equipment, and subcontracted work for commercial and U.S. Government-funded programs.
  • Prepares, issues, evaluates, and administers purchase orders and subcontracts in compliance with company procedures and FAR/DFARS requirements.
  • Reviews purchase requisitions and statements of work to ensure clear requirements, proper documentation, and appropriate sourcing methods.
  • Solicits supplier quotes and proposals, supports source selection, and performs price and cost analysis to ensure fair and reasonable pricing.
  • Monitors supplier performance and helps resolve quality, delivery, compliance, and other supply chain issues impacting program execution.
  • Maintains procurement documentation, tracks key metrics, supports audits and CPSR readiness, and provides guidance on compliance and continuous improvement.
  • Requires up to 20% travel.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum 6 years prior relevant management experience. Graduate Degree with a minimum of 4 years of prior related management experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 10 years of prior related management experience.
  • 5 to 8 years of purchasing, subcontracting, procurement, or supply chain experience in a defense, aerospace, or other highly regulated environment.

Preferred Additional Skills:

  • A degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Contracts, Operations, Finance or related field. 
  • Experience supporting DoD, prime contractor, or major aerospace program procurement activities.
  • Familiarity with CPSR requirements and purchasing system compliance expectations.
  • Knowledge of FAR Part 15, FAR Part 44, and relevant DFARS clauses related to subcontracting and supplier management.
  • Experience with cost-reimbursable, fixed-price, and time-and-material procurement environments.
  • Familiarity with ITAR, EAR, counterfeit parts prevention requirements, and cybersecurity flow-downs such as DFARS 252.204-7012 or related clauses, as applicable.
  • Knowledge of AS9100, DCMA, DCAA, and defense quality/compliance expectations.
  • Prior team lead, supervisory, or formal/informal leadership experience.
  • Professional certification such as CPSM, CPM, CPCM, or related certification preferred.
  • Working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and U.S. Government contracting requirements applicable to purchasing and subcontracting activities.
  • Experience with purchase order and subcontract administration, supplier negotiations, and procurement file documentation.
  • Experience performing price analysis and understanding basic cost analysis principles.
  • Familiarity with customer flow-down requirements and procurement compliance expectations for defense contracts.
  • Strong understanding of supplier management, delivery assurance, and quality coordination in a regulated manufacturing or program environment.
  • Experience with ERP/MRP systems and procurement reporting tools.

L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.

Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions.

L3Harris Technologies is an E-Verify Employer. Please click here for the E-Verify Poster in English or Spanish. For information regarding your Right To Work, please click here for English or Spanish.

About L3 Harris

L3 Harris

L3 Harris is one of the largest defense and aerospace companies in the United States, delivering advanced technologies that support missions across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. The company develops communications systems, space payloads, intelligence platforms, electronic warfare capabilities, missile defense technologies, and mission-critical sensors used by the U.S. military, intelligence community, and allied nations around the world.

For job seekers, L3Harris offers opportunities across engineering, software development, cybersecurity, space systems, manufacturing, intelligence, program management, and mission operations. The company is especially attractive to veterans, cleared professionals, and engineers who want to work on advanced technologies that directly support national security. With programs spanning tactical communications, ISR platforms, satellite systems, and defense electronics, employees have the opportunity to contribute to some of the military’s most important capabilities.

Unlike companies focused on a single mission area, L3Harris operates across a diverse portfolio of defense technologies, providing employees exposure to a broad range of programs and technical disciplines. Teams work on everything from secure communications and autonomous systems to space-based sensors and electronic warfare platforms, creating opportunities for both specialization and long-term career growth within the organization.

As governments continue investing in modernization, space capabilities, resilient communications, and advanced sensing technologies, L3Harris remains one of the most important employers in the defense industry. For professionals seeking a mission-driven career with strong growth opportunities, technical challenges, and direct impact on global security, L3Harris continues to stand out as a leading destination in aerospace and defense.

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