Procurement Lead (Mechanical)

Build the Future of Autonomous Systems

SYOS designs and manufactures advanced uncrewed systems across air, land, sea, and subsurface domains. We combine intelligent engineering, AI-driven autonomy, and innovative design to create next-generation vehicles operating in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

About the Role

We’re looking for an experienced Procurement Lead (Mechanical) to lead day-to-day procurement activities for the Mechanical category within our Aviation business unit.

This is a hands-on leadership role where you’ll coordinate the Mechanical Procurement team, manage supplier relationships and ensure mechanical components, materials and services are sourced on time, to specification and within cost targets.

You’ll also contribute to the development and execution of our Mechanical Procurement strategy, helping build a resilient supplier base that supports SYOS’s continued growth across the UK and New Zealand.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Mechanical Procurement team: Coordinate day-to-day activities, allocate workloads, support team performance and provide procurement updates at production stand-ups and cross-functional meetings.
• Manage end-to-end procurement: Oversee purchasing activities for the Mechanical category, raising and managing purchase orders in line with project schedules, production requirements and cost targets.
• Develop supplier relationships: Build strong partnerships with mechanical suppliers, ensuring accountability for order acknowledgements, lead times, delivery commitments and ongoing supplier performance.
• Drive sourcing and cost optimisation: Support category strategy development, supplier selection, RFx activities, supplier evaluations, negotiations and cost-reduction initiatives in collaboration with Strategic Sourcing.
• Collaborate across engineering and production: Support Bills of Materials (BOMs), engineering changes and new product introductions, ensuring procurement plans align with technical specifications and programme requirements.
• Manage supply chain risks and quality: Monitor component availability, lead times and delivery risks, working with suppliers and Quality teams to resolve shortages, discrepancies and supplier non-conformances.
• Maintain procurement data and compliance: Ensure accurate supplier, pricing and lead-time information in ERP/MRP systems, contribute to KPI reporting and uphold company quality, ethical, regulatory and applicable trade control requirements.

What We’re Looking For

• At least five years’ relevant experience in procurement, buying or supply chain roles.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical components and manufacturing processes, including fabrications, composites, machined parts, castings and plastic mouldings.
• Previous experience supervising a small team, coordinating workloads or allocating responsibilities.
• Sound understanding of ERP/MRP systems, such as NetSuite, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics or Odoo.
• Familiarity with engineering drawings, Bills of Materials (BOMs) and technical specifications.
• Strong negotiation, supplier relationship management and commercial skills, with an understanding of supply chain costs alongside with understanding of import processes
• Excellent analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills, with strong attention to detail and accurate documentation.
• Competence in Microsoft Excel and procurement-related software tools.

Qualifications and Training

• CIPS qualified, working towards CIPS, or able to demonstrate equivalent relevant procurement experience.

Why Join SYOS?

Our mission is to extend human capability, protect people, and deliver operational advantage through accessible, scalable, and intelligent autonomous technology.

Join a team of engineers, builders, and innovators pushing boundaries and solving real-world challenges across robotics, aerospace, and autonomy.

If you’re an experienced procurement professional with strong mechanical category knowledge, commercial acumen and a passion for building reliable supplier partnerships, we’d love to hear from you.