NOTE: Internals Must Apply To Each Individual Requistion Via Internal Job Site. Internal Applicants To This Req Will be Dispositioned.
Applied Materials is seeking highly motivated procurement professionals to support both production purchasing and New Product Introduction (NPI) initiatives. These roles are responsible for managing supplier relationships, sourcing materials, driving procurement execution, and ensuring uninterrupted supply to support manufacturing and product development activities.
The Buyer owns an assigned Purchasing Group (P-Group) and manages a high volume of parts and suppliers, while the NPI Buyer II & III focuses on full lifecycle management of complex custom components supporting new product development programs.
Successful candidates will be highly organized, analytical, proactive problem-solvers who thrive in fast-paced environments and are eager to continuously grow their expertise in supply chain, manufacturing, and product development.
Buyer - Core Function
Manages a large volume of parts and suppliers.
Owns and manages an assigned Purchasing Group (P-Group).
Ensures material availability to support production requirements.
Serves as the primary procurement contact for assigned commodities and suppliers.
Day-to-Day Responsibilities
Receive demand requirements from assigned P-Group.
Issue Requests for Quotations (RFQs) and bids to suppliers.
Evaluate supplier quotations based on price, lead time, availability, quality, and overall value.
Select suppliers and negotiate pricing and delivery requirements when appropriate.
Create, release, and manage purchase orders.
Monitor open orders and supplier commitments.
Coordinate with planning, manufacturing, engineering, and operations teams regarding supply requirements.
Ensure timely delivery of materials to support business needs.
Maintain accurate purchasing records within ERP systems.
Supplier Management & Issue Resolution
Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships.
Monitor supplier performance including quality, cost, delivery, and responsiveness.
Track and drive resolution of Supplier Problem Sheets (SPS).
Ensure supplier-related issues continue progressing toward closure.
Escalate critical issues when necessary to minimize operational impact.
Support supplier development and performance improvement initiatives.
Continuous Improvement
Identify opportunities for procurement process improvements.
Support cost reduction initiatives and sourcing strategies.
Participate in supplier business reviews.
Analyze procurement metrics and supplier performance data.
Support inventory optimization and supply continuity efforts.
NPI Buyer II & III
Position Overview
The NPI Buyer II & III is responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and managing materials required for New Product Introduction (NPI) programs. This role focuses on highly engineered and technically complex components, requiring full lifecycle ownership from initial release through production readiness.
The ideal candidate thrives on challenges, takes ownership of critical projects, and is committed to continuous growth and development. This position serves as a key interface between engineering, manufacturing, sourcing, suppliers, program management, and leadership teams.
Candidates must be hungry for growth, eager to take on challenges, and capable of managing the complete lifecycle of highly complex parts and supplier relationships.
Key Responsibilities -New Product Introduction
Responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and managing materials required for new product development and introduction.
Lead supply chain management activities involving identification, development, qualification, and management of existing and new suppliers.
Partner with Manufacturing and Engineering to maintain inventory at planned levels and support production readiness.
Lead resolution of material-related design, accounting, supplier, and receiving issues.
Procurement & Supply Chain Leadership
Develop and implement business process simplification initiatives within procurement.
Participate in the creation and maintenance of ISO documentation related to purchasing processes.
Drive supplier accountability regarding delivery, quality, responsiveness, and program commitments.
Parts Lifecycle Management
Manage 200-250 custom NPI parts simultaneously.
Own full lifecycle management from engineering release through production readiness.
Coordinate daily and weekly parts reviews with suppliers, engineers, managers, directors, and program teams.
Track component readiness and drive issue resolution to support program milestones.
Manage long lead-time and highly complex custom components.
Identify supply chain risks and develop mitigation strategies.
Act as the primary point of contact between engineering, sourcing, suppliers, manufacturing, and leadership teams.
Cross-Functional Leadership
Direct end-to-end parts management activities including
Supplier communication
Scheduling
Escalations
Risk management
Issue resolution
Delivery tracking
Program execution
Work with technically complex components requiring proactive planning and detailed coordination rather than simple transactional purchasing.
Maintain alignment across all stakeholders throughout the product development process.
Continuously expand knowledge of supply chain, manufacturing, engineering, and product development operations.
Functional Knowledge
Demonstrates conceptual and practical expertise in procurement and supply chain management.
Possesses knowledge of engineering, manufacturing, planning, operations, and quality disciplines.
Applies strong analytical skills, business acumen, process understanding, and problem-solving capabilities to complex procurement challenges.
Business Expertise
Understands procurement and supply chain best practices.
Recognizes how purchasing integrates with engineering, manufacturing, sourcing, quality, and program management.
Maintains awareness of industry trends, supplier capabilities, and competitive market factors.
Leadership
Acts as a resource and mentor for less experienced team members.
May lead small to medium-sized projects with manageable risks and resource requirements.
Influences cross-functional teams to achieve organizational objectives.
Demonstrates leadership through ownership, accountability, and execution.
Problem Solving
Solves complex supply chain and procurement challenges.
Develops innovative solutions to overcome obstacles and reduce risk.
Exercises sound judgment based on multiple data sources and stakeholder inputs.
Identifies risks proactively and implements mitigation plans before issues impact program execution.
Impact
Directly impacts product launch schedules, customer commitments, manufacturing readiness, and operational performance.
Influences project execution across supply chain, engineering, manufacturing, and sourcing organizations.
Works independently within broad guidelines and company policies.
Interpersonal Skills
Effectively communicates difficult or sensitive information.
Builds consensus among diverse stakeholder groups.
Demonstrates strong communication skills in dynamic and fast-paced environments.
Establishes productive relationships with suppliers, engineering teams, manufacturing teams, management, and executive leadership.
Enhances collaboration, productivity, and project success through effective cross-functional engagement.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field.
Experience using ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or similar platforms.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Preferred Qualifications
Buyer II
Minimum 2+ years of purchasing, procurement, sourcing, or supply chain experience.
Buyer III
Minimum 4+ years of purchasing, procurement, sourcing, or supply chain experience.
Industry Experience
Semiconductor industry experience strongly preferred.
Experience in electronics, capital equipment, advanced manufacturing, or high-tech industries.
NPI & Technical Sourcing Experience
Experience sourcing and managing one or more of the following
Raw materials
Mechanical subassemblies
Electronic assemblies
Enclosures and casings
Plastics
Grinding operations
Stamping operations
CNC machining
Mills and lathes
Precision-engineered custom components
Additional Desired Experience
New Product Introduction (NPI) sourcing and procurement.
Cost modeling and cost analysis.
Cost reduction initiatives.
Supplier negotiations.
Strategic sourcing.
Supply chain risk management.
Inventory planning and management.
Program management involving complex projects, schedules, suppliers, and cross-functional resources.
Key Competencies
Procurement & Purchasing
Supplier Relationship Management
RFQ & Bid Analysis
Purchase Order Management
Strategic Sourcing
New Product Introduction (NPI)
Cost Management & Negotiation
Supply Chain Risk Management
Inventory Management
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Program Management
Data Analysis & Reporting
Problem Resolution & Escalation Management
Continuous Improvement
Success Measures
On-time supplier delivery performance.
Material availability supporting production and NPI schedules.
Successful execution of new product launch milestones.
SPS closure rates and issue resolution effectiveness.
Supplier performance improvements.
Cost savings and procurement efficiencies.
Inventory optimization.
Supply continuity and risk mitigation.
Stakeholder satisfaction and program execution success.
Buyer I Pay Range
Pay Range - Minimum (Bay Area) $61,500
Pay Range - Maximum (Bay Area) $84,500
Pay Range - Minimum (Non - Bay Area) $60,000
Pay Range - Maximum (Non - Bay Area) $73,500
Buyer II Pay Range
Pay Range - Minimum (Bay Area) $73,500
Pay Range - Maximum (Bay Area) $101,000
Pay Range - Minimum (Non - Bay Area) $64,000.00
Pay Range - Maximum (Non - Bay Area) $88,000.00
Buyer III Pay Range
Pay Range - Minimum (Bay Area) $89,500
Pay Range - Maximum (Bay Area) $123,000
Pay Range - Minimum (Non – Bay Area) $78,000
Pay Range - Maximum (Non - Bay Area) $107,500
Additional Information
Time Type
Full time
Employee Type
Assignee / Regular
Travel
Relocation Eligible
No
The salary offered to a selected candidate will be based on multiple factors including location, hire grade, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and with consideration of internal equity of our current team members. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, candidates may be eligible for other forms of compensation such as participation in a bonus and a stock award program, as applicable.
For all sales roles, the posted salary range is the Target Total Cash (TTC) range for the role, which is the sum of base salary and target bonus amount at 100% goal achievement.
Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
In addition, Applied endeavors to make our careers site accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us via e-mail at Accommodations_Program@amat.com, or by calling our HR Direct Help Line at 877-612-7547, option 1, and following the prompts to speak to an HR Advisor. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
