Purchasing Manager

You in this Role,  As the Purchasing Manager at Unusual Machines, you will play a vital role in keeping our supply chain strong, efficient, and ready to meet the demands of both our consumer and enterprise markets. You’ll be responsible for sourcing components and finished goods, optimizing vendor relationships, managing inventory levels, and helping us grow our procurement processes alongside a rapidly scaling company. From supporting high-volume e-commerce to emerging defense and industrial-grade drone systems, your work will have immediate and visible impact across the business.

A Day in the Life

• Review supplier quotes from overseas (e.g., Asia) for new drone components
• Meet with the engineering team to align on BOM (Bill of Materials) for upcoming product launches
• Analyze landed costs and collaborate with finance to refine product margins
• Sync with the warehouse team to assess inventory levels and ensure order fulfillment
• Tackle logistics or supplier-related issues as they arise
• Communicate cross-functionally to keep purchasing activities aligned with overall business priorities
• Prioritize and adapt in a fast-paced, evolving environment where each day brings new challenges

What You’ll Do

Procurement & Sourcing

• Identify, evaluate, and negotiate with global suppliers across FPV hardware, components, and accessories
• Manage the full purchasing cycle including RFQs, POs, and vendor contracts
• Track vendor performance, pricing trends, and delivery timelines

Inventory Planning & Control

• Forecast demand and manage reorders to prevent stockouts or overstocking
• Coordinate closely with warehouse and logistics teams to monitor inventory health
• Resolve shipping issues, delays, and ensure accurate ETAs are maintained

Cost & Margin Optimization

• Analyze landed costs, import duties, tariffs, and currency fluctuations
• Propose strategies to reduce cost without compromising quality
• Support margin analysis in collaboration with finance and product teams

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with engineering, marketing, and sales on new product procurement
• Manage BOM documentation and ensure timely part availability for launches
• Assist with international compliance, customs paperwork, and certifications

What You Bring

• 3–5+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain (ideally in electronics, drones, robotics, or consumer tech)
• Proven success working with international suppliers, particularly in China or Southeast Asia
• Strong negotiation skills, analytical thinking, and detail orientation
• Familiarity with ERP systems like NetSuite
• Comfortable navigating spreadsheets, costing models, and logistics platforms
• Experience with Shopify or similar eCommerce tools a plus
• A self-starter mindset with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment
• Bonus: A passion for or familiarity with FPV drones and the drone tech space

What You’ll Gain

• A key role in a company scaling into enterprise, defense, and high-performance drone tech
• Influence over procurement strategy and operations across multiple product lines
• A collaborative, startup-like environment where your ideas and execution matter
• Flexibility, creativity, and autonomy in your day-to-day work

Salary Range : $60,000 to $80,000/year (based on experience)
Benefits Include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance (with ~80% of premiums covered by the company)
• 401(k) plan
• Unlimited vacation time
• Equity incentives through stock options

The People : At Unusual Machines is the parent company to Rotor Riot and Fat Shark, two of the most respected and recognizable brands in the FPV drone industry. Your contributions both big and small will be valued, recognized, and rewarded at every step along our exciting journey. Our team is passionate about growth, innovation, and collaboration. We are constantly striving to improve and better ourselves so that we can better support our customers.

One more thing:  If you are unsure if you have the qualifications, apply anyway! We don’t hire off key words. We hire real living people who have choices that we want to hear. If you are smart and can learn that is what you need.