Procurement Engineer for Robotics Components

About the role

RIVR is a robotics startup developing wheeled‑legged robots for complex, unstructured environments. As a Procurement Engineer you will act as the technical‑business bridge, taking the negotiation load off engineers and ensuring hardware arrives on time, on quality, and on budget.

Key responsibilities

• Serve as primary contact for technical suppliers, handling pricing, quality, lead times, and contract terms.
• Independently manage purchasing of robot‑specific commodities such as PCBs, custom cables, and mechanical components.
• Professionalize material tracking workflows and prepare for future ERP implementation.
• Partner with the CTO in Zürich and Head of Supply Chain in Shanghai to translate engineering requirements into production plans.
• Identify supply‑chain risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Assist engineers with make‑vs‑buy decisions and provide cost‑justification studies.
• Support transition from prototype to volume production by managing vendor technical reviews.
• Ensure all procured parts meet durability, performance, and safety standards.

Required profile

• Proven track record managing substantial purchase orders and vendor contracts.
• Ability to read technical drawings and engineering specifications for mechanical and electrical components.
• Strong bias for action in evolving processes and ability to make hardware design trade‑offs.
• Exceptional verbal and written English and experience working with international teams.
• Experience in technical procurement or supply‑chain management in a hardware‑centric industry.

Required skills

• Technical procurement and vendor negotiation.
• Cost analysis and should‑cost modeling for custom‑machined or injection‑molded parts.
• Use of CAD or similar schematic capture software.
• Familiarity with ERP systems or first‑time ERP implementation.