For our office in Leuven, we are looking for highly qualified and motivated professionals like you. If you think you have what it takes to keep Septentrio firmly in Pole Position, get in touch. 

We need you for the position of 

NPI Purchaser

The Job

As an NPI Purchaser, you are responsible for managing the end-to-end purchasing activities that support Septentrio's New Product Introduction (NPI) projects. Working as the purchasing expert within multiple cross-functional Product Life Cycle (PLC) teams, you ensure new products are introduced on time, at the best total cost of ownership, and with a robust supplier base ready for serial production.

You collaborate closely with Engineering, Industrialization, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Product Management, Finance, Legal, and suppliers worldwide to drive purchasing activities from concept through industrialization. This is a highly autonomous role for someone who enjoys combining technical understanding, commercial negotiations, project coordination, and supplier management in an international environment.

Your Mission

New Product Introduction (NPI) Purchasing

• Manage all purchasing activities throughout the Product Life Cycle (PLC), from supplier selection to production readiness.
• Lead RFIs, RFQs, quotation benchmarking, and supplier evaluations for new product developments.
• Support product teams by providing component cost estimates, sourcing recommendations, and purchasing expertise during development.
• Ensure purchasing deliverables are completed in line with project milestones and time-to-market objectives.

Supplier Management & Procurement

• Act as the primary purchasing contact between Engineering, Industrialization, Operations, and suppliers throughout new product introductions.
• Manage purchase orders for prototypes, tooling, non-recurring engineering (NRE), and pilot production to ensure timely material availability.
• Monitor supplier quality and delivery performance during prototype and pre-production phases, driving corrective actions where needed.
• Identify, qualify, and onboard new suppliers to support emerging technologies and business needs.
• Support supplier audits and participate in the preparation and negotiation of supply agreements.

Project Coordination & Cost Optimization

• Plan, monitor, and report purchasing activities across multiple concurrent NPI projects.
• Coordinate purchasing deliverables within Septentrio's stage-gated Product Life Cycle (PLC) process.
• Perform cost analyses, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) evaluations, make-versus-buy assessments, and supply chain risk analyses.
• Identify opportunities to reduce component costs, lead times, inventory levels, and supply chain risks before serial production.

Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain supplier and procurement master data for new components within SAP.
• Ensure purchasing documentation is accurate, complete, and aligned with company processes.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of sourcing strategies, purchasing processes, and supplier performance.
• Stay informed about relevant compliance requirements, including RoHS, REACH, and trade compliance regulations.

Your Qualifications

Experience & Background

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field with proven experience in technical purchasing.
• 3–5 years of purchasing experience within an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing purchasing activities within New Product Introduction (NPI) or stage-gated product development projects.
• Strong understanding of technical drawings, specifications, and manufacturing processes, ideally within electronics or electromechanical products.
• Experience with supplier selection, RFIs/RFQs, contract negotiations, and supplier performance management.
• Knowledge of product costing, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), Incoterms, and supply chain risk assessment.
• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems (SAP preferred) and good knowledge of Microsoft Office. Experience with JIRA, Confluence, or Product Data Management (PDM) tools is a plus.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent project planning and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple NPI projects simultaneously.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to evaluate commercial and technical trade-offs.
• Proactive, structured, and self-driven, with a strong sense of ownership.
• Confident communicator who enjoys collaborating in cross-functional, international project teams.
• Results-oriented, quality-focused, and comfortable working as the purchasing expert within multidisciplinary development projects.
• Fluent in English. Knowledge of Dutch and/or French is an asset, or willingness to learn.
• Willingness to travel internationally (approximately 10%), including occasional intercontinental supplier visits and periodic travel within Europe.

Our Offer

In exchange for your talent, we offer a very competitive compensation package in a top-notch high-tech, international working environment. At Septentrio you'll have room to grow, both personally and professionally. Our on-boarding plan is legendary, our homework policy family-friendly. Get in touch and help us shoot for the moon, the stars and beyond.