Senior Buyer/Planner

About Mainspring

Mainspring Energy manufactures and delivers fuel-flexible, low-emissions local power solutions that rapidly add new capacity and deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable electric power. The company began commercial shipments of its Mainspring Linear Generators in 2020 and today has hundreds of megawatts in advanced development and field operations for leading Fortune 500 companies, data centers, and utilities. Mainspring also partners with global energy leaders including AEP, NextEra Energy Resources, Schneider Electric, and more.

The core values that ground our work, guide our decisions, and connect us together:

• Pragmatic Optimism
• Excellence without Ego
• Proactive Collaboration

Job Overview

The Buyer/Planner will be managing various commodities and suppliers from “quote to pay” to ensure continuity of supply and reduce the cost of the assigned portfolio. The candidate will be organized, communicative, hands-on and will have regular shop floor engagement and constant cross-functional engagement with production, NPI, engineering, logistics, material handling, and suppliers.  The role balances tactical buying excellence with advanced planning, supplier coordination, and cost control, ensuring uninterrupted supply while supporting business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Manage purchase orders, releases, and schedules to meet production and service requirements
Translate demand forecasts and MRP signals into executable supply plans that align with demand
Monitor inventory levels, lead times, MOQ compliance and capacity constraints
Ensure material availability while optimizing inventory and working capital
Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned suppliers
Communicate forecasts, schedule changes, and priorities clearly and proactively
Monitor supplier performance (OTD, quality, responsiveness)
Resolve supply disruptions and expedite when required

Minimum Requirements

Deep knowledge of material planning, forecasting factoring in demand, supply, lead times, inventory, and business inputs regarding risks and use-of-capital
Deep understanding of planning systems and parameters to optimize inventory levels
Ability to provide data-driven status updates to manage exceptions
Experience administering competitive RFQs and driving supplier negotiations and supporting cost reduction activities
Ability to build and manage effective supplier relationships and act as the primary interface with suppliers on delivery status, issues, and problem resolution
Ability to communicate proactively with Production, Material Handling, and Engineers about order status and schedule challenges, and manage change orders, rush-requests, and returns, as necessary

Preferred Requirements

Experience managing the transition of new products into volume production with manufacturing partners
Partner with IT and other business stakeholders on planning processes and system improvements
Experienced with cross-functional business process improvements to improve the supply chain efficiency

Qualifications

At least 5 years of experience in production control, material demand planning, or supply chain management environment
Independent, excellent communicator, and collaborator with Engineering, Quality, Program Management, and Manufacturing
Detail-oriented with thorough analytical capabilities including the ability to solve problems with minimal supervision
Proficient with Google Sheets and Google Workspace tools.  Experience with ERP packages
Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business, Economics, Supply Chain Management or similar discipline
Cultural fit: Pragmatic Optimism (creative, practical, problem solver), Excellence without Ego (expertise, rigorous, data-driven, service-oriented, leadership ability, humble), Proactive Collaboration (seeking others, inclusive, respectful) 
Smart, cognitively agile, high-horsepower, dependable person 
Clear, concise, to the point communication and presentation skills, ability to work with teams
Data-driven and analytical

Does your experience not meet all of our posted requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to positions unless they meet every listed requirement. At Mainspring, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, flexible, and collaborative environment, so if you want to help us transition the world to clean and affordable electricity, and don’t meet all posted requirements for a particular role, we’d still love to hear from you. Mainspring can sometimes be flexible enough to shift responsibilities for the right person, or otherwise identify open or upcoming roles that may better fit your professional background.

In more traditional words, Mainspring Energy, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

This compensation and benefits information is based on Mainspring Energy's estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future. We generally do not negotiate on salary once we have made an offer. The level of pay within the range will depend on a variety of job-related factors that may include location, relevant prior experience and/or education, or particular skills and expertise. New hires joining the company tend to be paid within the starting base pay range noted above, with opportunities to increase pay over time based on development of additional skills, competencies, and company-specific knowledge.