Program Buyer

Veterans Encouraged to Apply

Detroit Defense proudly supports those who have served. We welcome applicants with military experience, including those transitioning to civilian careers. Your leadership, adaptability, and mission-focused mindset are valued here. Detroit Defense is a 4x recipient of the Hire Vets Gold Medallion Award.

Detroit Defense is seeking an experienced Program Buyer located in our Sterling Heights, MI facility. This is a rewarding opportunity for a Program Buyer that will be responsible for managing the overall sourcing activities around current and new programs. This position must be adept at working directly with suppliers as well as internal customers on a day-to-day basis, in support of the goals and objectives of the Purchasing department.

This Program Buyer will plan, negotiate, and manage the strategic execution of sourcing for all products and services that support program requirements, while ensuring the materials or services are procured through the optimal combination of lead time, price, and service level. The Program Buyer will manage the requisition process, develop blanket purchase orders, and ensure on-time deliveries from suppliers. This position requires extensive intra-departmental and cross-functional collaboration to support all departments.

• Ensure compliance with all company purchasing policies and procedures
• Onboard new suppliers according to established policies, which include supplier training and assessment reviews
• Support new product development efforts
• Develop and execute commodity strategies to support existing and new program requirements
• Analyze new program quotes and provide sourcing summary and strategy plan to program team
• Lead supplier engagement and negotiations during all sourcing phases
• Manage blanket purchase agreements
• Manage primary supplier relationships and provide feedback to suppliers regarding performance and quality issues
• Collaborate with suppliers and/or internal customers to negotiate and resolve delivery requirements, material shortages, or quality improvements
• Maintain data integrity including vendor master data, item costs, and PO data
• Maintain documentation for areas of responsibility
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a United States Government Security Clearance
• A minimum of ten years of buying experience in a manufacturing environment
• Experience in material planning and production scheduling within an integrated ERP system
• Strong knowledge of APQP methodologies used in new product development
• Strong, organizing, prioritizing, communication, written and analytical skills
• Strong knowledge of best practice processes
• Customer focused, consistently placing client as top priority
• Prior experience with DoD supply support (Logistician) would be ideal but is not mandatory

• Experience in Costpoint ERP system use
• Experience in contract negotiations and execution

• Medical, Dental & Vision Benefits
• Company Paid Life and AD&D
• Company Paid Short Term and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending & HSA Accounts
• Legal & d Services
• 401k with Company Match
• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick days

At Detroit Defense, we deliver mission-critical solutions that enhance national security, protect the warfighter, and enable readiness through innovation, technical excellence, and end-to-end lifecycle support.

Remaining steadfast in our core values of Trustworthy, Mission Driven, Creative, and Agile we are a complex systems integrator for the U.S. Government, Detroit Defense provides solutions to meet the technical and programmatic challenges faced by our customers. Our proven success in multi-domain cross-platform system-of-systems integration results in fielded capability for warfighters. From R&D to production, fielding, and sustainment, Detroit Defense provides services and solutions to Empower Those That protect Us.

Detroit Defense is a proud recipient of the 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025 Hire Vets Gold Medallion Award.

Detroit Defense is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity or gender expression), age, mental or physical disability, creed, ancestry, citizenship, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, medical condition, genetic trait or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.