At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive material readiness for new aerospace programmes and manage supplier relationships.
- Company: Join Safran, a global leader in aerospace innovation and design.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 33 days holiday, private medical cover, and enhanced family policies.
- Other info: Engage in diverse groups and forums to enhance your work experience and community involvement.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of aerospace, ensuring top-quality materials for innovative passenger experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience in NPI purchasing and understanding of supply chain processes required.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
At Safran, excellence is a journey - and we'd love you to be a part of it. As a trusted global leader in aerospace, defence, and space, we are proud to be a company where diversity, innovation, and opportunity come together to shape a sustainable future where we can all succeed together through a shared vision.
Are you interested in working at the business end of Aerospace, where airline brand meets innovative passenger experience? Then your next opportunity could be with Safran Seats, an industry award winning, premium designer and manufacturer of First and Business Class seating and technology.
Our passenger experience prides itself on innovation, customization, quality and industrial design. One day you could be liaising with one of the world's largest airframers, and the next, some of the biggest airline brands around the world! In the UK, Safran Seats specialises solely in the First Class and Business Class seating markets for wide body aircraft, with industrial and engineering teams in Cwmbran and Newport, Wales and Brackley, England.
Looking after the people who make Safran great is our priority. We offer a range of flexible benefits designed to support you, both in and out of work, including:
- Competitive salary
- 33 days holiday (including bank holidays)
- Industry leading pension scheme with salary sacrifice employer contributions up to 10%
- Private medical cover (to include Digital GP and rapid access Physio with no excess) with ability to upgrade level of benefit and cover family members
- Access to salary sacrifice benefits scheme including cycle to work
- 4x Life Assurance
- Interactive benefits platform including wide range of discretionary benefits including technology, retail benefits, income protection
- Enhanced family friendly policies and benefits (enhanced maternity and paternity leave) and employee assistance programme
- Annual share save schemes
We support your ambitions with training, development, a personalised career plan and mobility opportunities. Benefit from support through Safran University and our internal Training and Development Schools.
Your role: As NPI Buyer, you'll play a critical role in driving material readiness for new programme milestones, ensuring the right parts are sourced, ordered, and delivered on time to support development, testing, and certification phases.
Collaborating closely with all departments, including engineering and programme teams, to transform requirements into clear purchasing actions; managing suppliers, RFP/Q processes, and purchase orders. The NPI Buyer is a dynamic, hands-on role where you'll be the link between programme needs and supplier performance, helping to keep complex projects moving smoothly.
Key Responsibilities:
- Keep track and report all purchased material needs across development, testing, and PDR/CDR stages, keeping everything on schedule
- Run RFP/RFQ activities, review supplier quotes, and support choosing the right partners using engineering and programme data
- Raise purchase orders through MRP and work closely with suppliers to ensure materials arrive on time, in full, and to the quality expected
- Tackle any material or invoice issues to keep the programme moving and maintain strong performance against KPIs
- Keep the team informed by creating clear purchasing health reports and dashboards for IPT and leadership reviews
- Keep costs on track by monitoring spend against budgets, spotting cost avoidance opportunities, and managing approvals for long lead items
- Oversee programme inventory, from tracking and disposition to arranging transport or airfreight when required
What You'll Bring:
- Proven experience in a fast paced NPI purchasing role
- Understanding of manufacturing, supply chain, or new product introduction (NPI) processes
- Experience working MRP (Material Requirements Planning) and ERP tools
- Proven problem solving skills with a proactive, solution focused mindset
We know that some candidates may be put off applying for jobs where they don't meet 100% of the criteria outlined in the advert. We encourage anybody to apply if you can demonstrate a variety of skills and experience relevant to the requirements of this role.
Please let us know if you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to the hiring process that may better facilitate your participation. We celebrate our differences and believe they make us stronger. We know that a fulfilling work environment is a key driver for innovative ideas and team success.
Get involved: We also have a number of groups and forums across our sites that you can get involved with, including Women at Safran, Diversity at Safran, Sports Clubs, STEM ambassadors, Employee Forum, Charity Partnerships and Wellbeing Programs.
NPI Buyer employer: Safran UK
At Safran, we prioritise our people and offer a supportive work environment that fosters diversity, innovation, and opportunity. With an impressive range of benefits including 33 days of holiday, a leading pension scheme, and enhanced family-friendly policies, we are committed to employee growth and well-being. Join us in Cwmbran, where you can be part of a global leader in aerospace and defence, contributing to a sustainable future while enjoying a vibrant work culture and numerous engagement opportunities.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land NPI Buyer
✨Join Aerospace Forums and Groups
Get involved in aerospace engineering forums and online communities, like the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). It's a great way to meet industry peers and stay updated on job openings and trends in the field.
✨Attend Industry Conferences
Keep an eye on upcoming aerospace conferences and events where you can network with professionals and showcase your interest. Events like the Farnborough International Airshow are not just about flying machines; they're a goldmine for connections and potential job leads.
✨Spotlight Your Projects
Make sure to highlight any hands-on experience or projects on your portfolio that showcase your skills in aerospace engineering. Employers love seeing practical applications of theoretical knowledge. Show us what you've got!
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
When you find companies you want to work for, head straight to their careers page to apply for full-time roles, like the one with Safran UK for a NPI Buyer. This often puts your application in front of the right people faster than just waiting for job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace NPI Buyer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for the aerospace engineering role at Safran UK, make sure to highlight your technical expertise. Include specific software skills, like CAD tools or simulation software, and any relevant engineering projects you’ve worked on. This is your chance to really shine and showcase your engineering toolkit!
Don't Skip Your Projects!:Include a section in your CV dedicated to projects that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities in aerospace engineering. Whether it's a university project, an internship, or personal work, we love seeing how you’ve applied your skills in real-world scenarios. Make it clear what your role was and the impact of the project.
Show Your Passion in Your Cover Letter:At Safran UK, we're not just looking for skills – we want to know why you’re passionate about aerospace engineering. Use your cover letter to express what excites you about aviation technology and your career goals. Share any relevant experiences or inspirations that have led you to apply for this full-time position.
Tailor Your CV for Aerospace:Make sure your CV is specifically tailored to aerospace engineering. Focus on your education, any certifications, and your work experience, ensuring you highlight aspects that relate directly to the role. Don’t forget to mention any internships or apprenticeships that have given you hands-on experience.
How to prepare for a job interview at Safran UK
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Knowledge
Aerospace engineering is all about technical precision, so make sure you’re comfortable with key concepts like aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science. We recommend going through any relevant coursework or projects you’ve worked on – these real-world examples can illustrate your understanding during the interview with Safran UK.
✨Showcase Your Projects with Confidence
Make sure to have a portfolio ready that details any significant projects you've worked on, whether it’s a group assignment or a personal endeavour. Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced, the tools you used, like CAD software, and what you learned from the experience, as this will show your problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Technical Interviews
Expect some technical questions or even problem-solving exercises during your interview with Safran UK. Get familiar with design challenges or theoretical problems related to aerospace; this can range from calculating lift and drag forces to materials selection under stress. Practising these can help you feel more at ease when faced with tricky questions.
✨Emphasise Your Passion and Teamwork Skills
As a full-time candidate, it’s crucial to convey your passion for aerospace engineering and your ability to work in teams. Highlight any group projects or internships you've done, focusing on how you collaborated with others to achieve a goal. Companies like Safran UK love seeing candidates who not only have technical skills but also fit well within their team culture.
