Senior Buyer - Manufacturing & Supply Chain

At REGENT, we're on a mission to revolutionize regional transportation between coastal cities. We're not just building vehicles, we're creating a new category of transportation: the seaglider. These groundbreaking wing-in-ground-effect craft travel just above the water's surface, combining the speed of an airplane with the low operating costs of a boat. Capable of 180 miles at 180 mph on today's battery tech (and up to 400 miles with next-gen batteries), seagliders will unlock fast, affordable, and sustainable coastal transit for passengers and cargo - connecting cities, islands, and communities like never before.

Backed by leading investors and powered by a team of passionate, forward-thinking engineers, builders, and operators, we're now scaling from a breakthrough prototype to full production - and building the team to make it happen.

Role Overview

As a Senior Buyer - Manufacturing & Supply Chain at REGENT, you'll be an early foundational member of REGENT's Supply Chain team supporting our vehicle programs. You'll own sourcing and procurement execution across prototype, pilot, and early production builds - while helping establish the supplier relationships, processes, and category foundations that scale through 2026 and into the production ramp.

This is a hands-on role built for someone who thrives in ambiguity: designs evolve, priorities shift, and you'll need to move fast while protecting cost, schedule, and quality. You'll operate with high autonomy initially and report to a Director of Supply Chain (to be hired) as the organization scales. If you like clean drawings, frozen BOMs, and stable demand - this isn't that job. If you want to build the supply base that makes a first-of-its-kind vehicle real - this one's for you.

If you're energized by working at the intersection of cutting-edge innovation, real-world impact, and hands-on engineering, you'll be in the right place - and we'd be thrilled to have you on the team!

What You'll Do

• Own sourcing and purchasing for assigned categories (e.g., composites/structures, machined parts, systems, or indirects), including RFIs/RFPs, supplier selection, and PO execution.

• Actively manage supplier schedules, lead times, delivery risk, and changes in a fast-moving build environment.

• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Finance to translate evolving requirements into executable supply plans (ESI, make/buy, cost modeling, VA/VE, tooling and rate readiness.)

• Build and manage supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery, and responsiveness; support negotiations, pricing agreements, and long-term supply arrangements.

• Help shape the early supply chain operating system: sourcing strategies, supplier segmentation, and category playbooks that will carry into production.

What You'll Bring

• Experience in purchasing/sourcing/supply chain, ideally within EV, aerospace, or similarly complex engineered products.

• Strong command of engineering-driven procurement: drawings, BOMs, specs, change management, and long-lead planning.

• Comfort operating in early-stage environments with incomplete data - able to prioritize, drive decisions, and communicate clearly across functions. Track record selecting and managing suppliers for advanced manufacturing parts and holding the line on schedule, cost, and quality

• Demonstrate ability to take products from prototype to certification to production ramp.

• Familiar with composites, machined structures, or electromechanical systems; experience in regulated industries; ERP/MRP exposure (NetSuite or similar); strong commercial negotiation and cost analysis skills.

Who We're Looking For

• Collaborative Team Player: You believe that great things happen when teams work together. You communicate effectively and collaborate with engineers, stakeholders, and other cross-functional teams to align on goals and move projects forward. You bring people together, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and moving towards a shared vision.

• Creative Problem Solver: You thrive on tackling complex challenges and finding innovative solutions. You don't just patch issues - you improve processes, anticipate downstream impacts, and help turn one-off fixes into scalable solutions that raise the bar for future builds.

• Adaptable & Agile: In a fast-paced, ever-evolving startup environment, you quickly adapt to changing priorities and requirements. You approach challenges with a calm, resilient mindset, and know how to pivot and adjust your approach as needed, ensuring that progress continues without missing a beat.

• Innovative Mindset: You're driven by curiosity and a passion for technology. You're passionate about driving continuous improvement, embracing new technologies and methodologies to enhance efficiency, quality, and team performance.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation including a robust equity incentive plan.

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance - we cover 100% of your premiums.

• 401(k) with company matching, so you can plan for the future.

• Generous flexible time off, paid parental leave, and company-wide holiday breaks.

• Relocation packages available for those moving to join our team.

• Daily, free catered lunches

• Learning & professional development opportunities

If you're ready to take on an exciting challenge, grow with us, and make a lasting impact, we want to hear from you. Even if you don't meet every requirement, but you see yourself contributing to our mission, we encourage you to apply! We value diverse skillsets and experiences and believe in the potential of passionate individuals to make a big impact.

Equal Opportunity Employer

REGENT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.