Job Description

Company Overview

Nippon Seiki is a world-class manufacturer of instruments for vehicles, agricultural, and construction equipment. Established in 1946, Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Japan, with numerous facilities worldwide. Nippon Seiki North America ("NSNA"), a group company of Nippon Seiki, located in Aurbun Hills, MI, is a tier one supplier of instrument clusters and head-up display units for FCA US, General Motors, BMW, Honda, Harley Davidson, Suzuki, Polaris, Arctic Cat and other OEM's.

Purpose of Job

The primary role of the NSNA Advanced Purchasing Buyer II (Electronics Engineer) is to lead cost estimation and sourcing activities for NSNA programs, with a focus on embedded electronic components. This position will work closely with costing team members, engineering, manufacturing locations, program management and supplier quality to ensure project milestones are met and to deliver best total cost for new programs. In addition, this role will actively engage in supplier development to support NSNA’s business needs of continuous growth and strong supplier partnerships. This role will also engage in pricing negotiations and strategic supplier strategies.

Major Duties/Responsibilities

Top duties or activities in a given year. Not all tasks/steps performed are listed.

• Act as the purchasing representative inside the project teams, and actively support projects from acquisition phase through APQP and launch and through life of programs (VA/VE).
• Drive sourcing of new components from the acquisition phase of the project, up to the industrialization of new projects, including major changes in make market, analyzing future material needs.
• Evaluate risks in current supply base and work closely with Supplier Quality, Supply Chain and Manufacturing to maintain strong supply chain and manage contingency plans during sourcing of new components.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing and Quality on new product designs and investigates new technical partners as needed for that development. Focus on early Supplier involvement for new products and customer quotes. 
• Negotiate and maintain contractual agreements, protecting intellectual property, quality, delivery, and lean principles to ensure world class competitiveness with supply base.
• Follow up on supplier and material status during product development to ensure acquisition, to avoid delays to SOP, and facilitate handoff to production purchasing to ensure communication.
• Achieve and maintain Bill of Material (BOM) costs based on targets and in cooperation with Engineering team; Control BOM cost on each maturity step of the project, or for each change. Define measures to close the gaps to target BOM.
• Implement cost optimized concepts considering material, manufacturing, development and quality costs.

Education, Experience and Knowledge

Required and/or preferred level of education, knowledge and skills that are necessary.

• Bachelor Degree in Supply Chain Mgmt. or Electrical Engineering 
• MBA or advanced degree is a plus

• This role requires a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, ideally within the automotive industry (Tier 1 preferred), with a strong background in Electrical Engineering and Purchasing.
• 3 to 5 years of experience in electrical engineering, including design, development, testing, and troubleshooting of electrical systems and components in compliance with industry standards.
• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment preferred, including direct involvement in plant operations and/or supporting functions within a product manufacturing company.
• Work experience in areas similar to Clusters, ECUs, ADAS, EV/HEV, HUD’s.
• Technical ability working with electronics.
• High level of teamwork skills.
• Excellent verbal & written communication (English) and networking skills.
• Proven level of negotiation acumen.
• Knowledge in project management.
• Drive and passion for a challenging environment.
• Experience working with interdisciplinary teams and remote teams.
• Competence in problem solving, team building, planning and decision making.
• Experience and knowledge in financial analysis, including forecasting & budget management preferred.
• Work requires strong customer service skills.
• Ability to communicate in Spanish or Japanese preferred. 
• Ability to negotiate and operate in different cultures and to work under pressure.
• Willing to travel.
• Work requires Microsoft Office knowledge, advanced knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Work requires strong analytical skills (i.e. customer and/or supplier release analysis).
• Able to accommodate calls during off-hours and weekends to ensure customer issues are resolved.

• Adaptation/Flexibility : Includes keeping an open mind regarding new ideas and ways of doing things. Willing to consider alternative interpretations or ways of looking at the situation. Demonstrating flexibility.
• Initiative/Results Driven : Includes setting high standards of performance for self and others. Striving to accomplish goals even if it means personal sacrifice. Putting the goals of the organization above own goals.
• Judgment/Decision Making : Includes making decisions and takes actions that have beneficial impact. Effectively evaluating information in order to come up with sound conclusions and recommendations.
• Resource Management : Includes setting clear objectives to guide action for self or others to accomplish goals. Organizing or adjusting information, people and materials to meet those goals.
• Team Work : Includes encouraging and supporting the ideas and effort of others. Finding ways to help the team or group perform effectively.

Additional Information

Work Hours

Monday-Friday, 8 am – 5pm. Off-hours as needed.

Hybrid position, 2 days onsite / 3 days offsite

25% international and/or domestic. 

If domestic travel is necessary, valid drivers’ license is required.

If international travel is necessary, valid passport is required.

NA

DISCLAIMER

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Nippon Seiki North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

Candidates must meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years to comply with labor laws and job responsibilities.

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