Category Manager - Mechanical, Precision Manufacturing & Composites
Cambridge
On-site
Permanent
19 Applications
Job description
Overview
As Category Manager - Mechanical, Precision Manufacturing & Composites at Cambridge Aerospace, you will provide strategic category leadership across precision-machined and manufactured mechanical components, fabrications, composite parts and associated specialist processes. Reporting to the Director of Supply Chain & Procurement, you will combine deep technical category knowledge with commercial leadership, working confidently with Design, Manufacturing and Quality Engineers on drawings, materials, tolerances, manufacturability and supplier capability. You will manage and develop Senior Buyers within the category and build a resilient, scalable and high-performing supply base for development and production programmes. The role supports multiple company sites, and some business travel will be required.
Responsibilities
• Develop and implement category strategies for precision machining, fabricated and formed parts, composite components, tooling, specialist materials, treatments, coatings and related manufacturing processes.
• Manage, coach and develop Senior Buyers within the category, setting clear priorities, allocating work, reviewing performance and building technical and commercial capability.
• Partner with Design, Manufacturing, Quality and Programme teams from early product development through industrialisation and production.
• Act as Procurement's category expert, engaging credibly on engineering drawings, specifications, materials, tolerances, manufacturing methods, inspection requirements and supplier capability.
• Lead market engagement, supplier identification, RFQs, competitive tenders, evaluation, negotiation, recommendation and contract or purchase-order placement for complex requirements.
• Assess suppliers for technical capability, quality systems, capacity, scalability, financial resilience, delivery performance and supply-chain risk.
• Develop strategic supplier relationships and structured improvement plans, including capacity, continuity, dual-sourcing and production-readiness actions.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms, tooling and NRE, minimum order quantities, capacity commitments, intellectual property and longer-term supply agreements.
• Work with Engineering and suppliers on design-for-manufacture, value engineering and cost reduction while preserving Engineering ownership of technical approval.
• Lead commercial resolution of complex quality, delivery, capacity and technical issues, coordinating specialist support as required.
• Monitor category spend, market conditions, supplier performance and risk, providing concise reporting and escalation to the Director of Supply Chain & Procurement.
• Ensure sourcing and supplier management follow company procurement, approval, onboarding, contract-governance, quality and regulatory requirements.
Requirements
• Substantial relevant experience, typically 8+ years, in procurement, category management or supplier management within precision engineering, aerospace, defence, automotive, motorsport or another technically demanding manufacturing environment.
• Deep practical knowledge of precision machining and mechanical manufacturing processes, with experience sourcing complex components and assemblies.
• Strong understanding of composite manufacturing processes and supply chains, including tooling, materials, manufacture, inspection and production constraints.
• Ability to read and discuss engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, materials, special processes and manufacturing routes with experienced Engineers and suppliers.
• Proven strategic sourcing, negotiation, cost analysis and supplier-development capability across technically complex direct categories.
• Proven people-management experience, including objective setting, workload prioritisation, coaching, performance management and development of Buyers or Senior Buyers.
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to balance technical performance, cost, quality, delivery, capacity and supply risk.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with confidence constructively challenging internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Right to work in the UK and ability to meet any role-related screening or security requirements.
Preferred Experience
• Experience in aerospace, defence or another AS9100-regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting low-volume, high-complexity products through industrialisation and transition into higher-rate production.
• Knowledge of CNC milling and turning, fabrication, additive manufacture, composite lay-up and cure, metallic and composite tooling, surface treatments and specialist coatings.
• Experience establishing long-term agreements, capacity reservations, dual-source strategies and supplier development plans.
• CIPS qualification, engineering qualification or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
What We Offer
• Competitive compensation and stock options
• Private Medical & Dental
• Cycle to work scheme
• Lunchtime catering on site
About Us
The mission of Cambridge Aerospace is to eliminate the risk of existential war in Europe. That risk comes from the air - low-cost drones and cruise missiles now manufactured in colossal volumes by our adversaries, ballistic missiles capable of ending the world as we know it, and a new generation of hypersonic weapons that evade every existing defence.
We are building low-cost interceptors that defeat these threats, and the surveillance systems to detect and target them - at a cost taxpayers can afford, at the pace the threat demands, and with sovereign supply chains that assure delivery.
We have immense backing from the world's best venture funds. We are one of the fastest growing defence technology companies in history. And we are hiring the best people to prosecute the mission.
If you are in the top 1%, willing to work harder than you ever have, build capability better than anyone else, and contribute to the defining challenge of our time, now is the time to join us.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you are excited about this role but do not meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.
As Category Manager - Mechanical, Precision Manufacturing & Composites at Cambridge Aerospace, you will provide strategic category leadership across precision-machined and manufactured mechanical components, fabrications, composite parts and associated specialist processes. Reporting to the Director of Supply Chain & Procurement, you will combine deep technical category knowledge with commercial leadership, working confidently with Design, Manufacturing and Quality Engineers on drawings, materials, tolerances, manufacturability and supplier capability. You will manage and develop Senior Buyers within the category and build a resilient, scalable and high-performing supply base for development and production programmes. The role supports multiple company sites, and some business travel will be required.
Responsibilities
• Develop and implement category strategies for precision machining, fabricated and formed parts, composite components, tooling, specialist materials, treatments, coatings and related manufacturing processes.
• Manage, coach and develop Senior Buyers within the category, setting clear priorities, allocating work, reviewing performance and building technical and commercial capability.
• Partner with Design, Manufacturing, Quality and Programme teams from early product development through industrialisation and production.
• Act as Procurement's category expert, engaging credibly on engineering drawings, specifications, materials, tolerances, manufacturing methods, inspection requirements and supplier capability.
• Lead market engagement, supplier identification, RFQs, competitive tenders, evaluation, negotiation, recommendation and contract or purchase-order placement for complex requirements.
• Assess suppliers for technical capability, quality systems, capacity, scalability, financial resilience, delivery performance and supply-chain risk.
• Develop strategic supplier relationships and structured improvement plans, including capacity, continuity, dual-sourcing and production-readiness actions.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms, tooling and NRE, minimum order quantities, capacity commitments, intellectual property and longer-term supply agreements.
• Work with Engineering and suppliers on design-for-manufacture, value engineering and cost reduction while preserving Engineering ownership of technical approval.
• Lead commercial resolution of complex quality, delivery, capacity and technical issues, coordinating specialist support as required.
• Monitor category spend, market conditions, supplier performance and risk, providing concise reporting and escalation to the Director of Supply Chain & Procurement.
• Ensure sourcing and supplier management follow company procurement, approval, onboarding, contract-governance, quality and regulatory requirements.
Requirements
• Substantial relevant experience, typically 8+ years, in procurement, category management or supplier management within precision engineering, aerospace, defence, automotive, motorsport or another technically demanding manufacturing environment.
• Deep practical knowledge of precision machining and mechanical manufacturing processes, with experience sourcing complex components and assemblies.
• Strong understanding of composite manufacturing processes and supply chains, including tooling, materials, manufacture, inspection and production constraints.
• Ability to read and discuss engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, materials, special processes and manufacturing routes with experienced Engineers and suppliers.
• Proven strategic sourcing, negotiation, cost analysis and supplier-development capability across technically complex direct categories.
• Proven people-management experience, including objective setting, workload prioritisation, coaching, performance management and development of Buyers or Senior Buyers.
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to balance technical performance, cost, quality, delivery, capacity and supply risk.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with confidence constructively challenging internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Right to work in the UK and ability to meet any role-related screening or security requirements.
Preferred Experience
• Experience in aerospace, defence or another AS9100-regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting low-volume, high-complexity products through industrialisation and transition into higher-rate production.
• Knowledge of CNC milling and turning, fabrication, additive manufacture, composite lay-up and cure, metallic and composite tooling, surface treatments and specialist coatings.
• Experience establishing long-term agreements, capacity reservations, dual-source strategies and supplier development plans.
• CIPS qualification, engineering qualification or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
What We Offer
• Competitive compensation and stock options
• Private Medical & Dental
• Cycle to work scheme
• Lunchtime catering on site
About Us
The mission of Cambridge Aerospace is to eliminate the risk of existential war in Europe. That risk comes from the air - low-cost drones and cruise missiles now manufactured in colossal volumes by our adversaries, ballistic missiles capable of ending the world as we know it, and a new generation of hypersonic weapons that evade every existing defence.
We are building low-cost interceptors that defeat these threats, and the surveillance systems to detect and target them - at a cost taxpayers can afford, at the pace the threat demands, and with sovereign supply chains that assure delivery.
We have immense backing from the world's best venture funds. We are one of the fastest growing defence technology companies in history. And we are hiring the best people to prosecute the mission.
If you are in the top 1%, willing to work harder than you ever have, build capability better than anyone else, and contribute to the defining challenge of our time, now is the time to join us.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you are excited about this role but do not meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.
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