Senior Buyer

 

At Hypersonica, we’re redefining what’s possible in European defence technology. We exist to deliver speed, resilience, and technological independence at a pace that sets a new standard. We are a small, elite team working on problems that matter, and solving them fast.

 

By joining Hypersonica, you’re not stepping into a predefined role. You’re joining a talent dense environment where every individual shapes the direction of the company. Our philosophy is to hire a small number of exceptional people with broad, deep technical capability, strong judgement, and the ability to operate autonomously.

 

We hire for talent, not rigid boxes. This role represents a business need, but the way it evolves will be shaped by the individual. If you’ve achieved what others said was impossible, or you bring a unique combination of skills that doesn’t fit a traditional mould, we want to hear from you. The work you do here directly contributes to Europe’s technological independence.

Build and own Hypersonica’s UK procurement capability from zero, covering direct materials, complex components, tooling, equipment, services, and production requirements.

Take end-to-end ownership of the buying process, from demand definition and supplier identification through quotation, negotiation, purchase order placement, expediting, delivery, and supplier performance.

Work closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, programme, and finance teams to convert incomplete or evolving technical requirements into executable procurement plans.

Secure long-lead, flight-critical, and schedule-critical items before they become programme constraints.

Develop sourcing strategies for complex aerospace and defence hardware, including machined components, composites, electronics, sensors, actuators, propulsion-related hardware, specialist materials, tooling, and test equipment.

Identify, assess, qualify, and onboard suppliers capable of meeting Hypersonica’s technical, quality, security, cost, and schedule requirements.

Build strong supplier relationships while remaining commercially demanding on price, lead time, quality, responsiveness, and delivery performance.

Lead RFQ and tender activity, structure commercial comparisons, negotiate terms, and make clear supplier recommendations based on total programme value rather than unit price alone.

Own purchase-order accuracy, commercial terms, delivery schedules, change control, and supporting documentation.

Run active expediting and supplier recovery activity, escalating early and driving action when delivery or quality performance threatens the programme.

Partner with supplier quality and engineering teams to resolve technical issues, nonconformances, substitutions, and manufacturing constraints.

Support make-versus-buy decisions and help define which capabilities should be retained internally versus placed with external suppliers.

Build procurement processes, approval routes, supplier records, dashboards, and controls that are robust enough for defence hardware but light enough to support rapid execution.

Establish clear reporting on commitments, lead times, supplier risk, cost exposure, late deliveries, and material availability.

Support the implementation of SAP procurement processes, ensuring purchase orders, supplier data, approvals, receipts, and spend information are accurate and usable.

Build category knowledge and a supplier base that can support progression from prototype builds into repeatable production.

Contribute to the future procurement organisation, helping define where additional buyers, category specialists, or supplier-development capability will be needed.

An experienced buyer, senior buyer, procurement lead, or sourcing professional from aerospace, defence, automotive, motorsport, advanced manufacturing, or another complex hardware environment.

Proven at owning procurement end to end rather than operating within one narrow stage of an established process.

Experienced buying technically complex, low-volume, high-value, or mission-critical components and services.

Comfortable working from incomplete BOMs, evolving designs, and urgent engineering requirements without losing commercial or configuration control.

Strong at supplier identification, RFQs, commercial analysis, negotiation, contracting, purchase-order management, and expediting.

Able to distinguish between a supplier that quotes well and one that can actually deliver conforming hardware on time.

Experienced working closely with engineering and