What Does a Procurement Engineer Do?

Procurement engineers are responsible for sourcing and purchasing the materials, equipment, and services that their company needs to operate. They work with vendors to negotiate deals on everything from raw materials to finished products, ensuring that they get the best possible price while meeting all of their company’s requirements.

Procurement engineers also commonly manage inventory and supply chains. This includes tracking orders as they move through production and shipping processes, monitoring inventory levels, and making sure that supplies are available when needed.

Procurement Engineer Job Duties

Procurement engineers have a wide range of responsibilities, which can include:

• Developing procurement plans based on strategic business objectives, including identifying suppliers and negotiating contracts with them
• Developing methods of evaluating supplier performance based on quality of product or service, price, delivery time, or other factors that affect customer satisfaction
• Ensuring compliance with laws and regulations by conducting audits of suppliers’ records
• Preparing reports on bids received from suppliers and evaluating the bids’ compliance with government regulations
• Reviewing requisitions and purchase orders to ensure that they are complete and accurate
• Reviewing bids from suppliers to ensure that they are reasonable in terms of price, quality of product, and delivery time
• Developing new products for commercial use based on customer needs and desires
• Negotiating contracts with suppliers on behalf of the company or organization purchasing the product or service
• Coordinating with internal departments to ensure that orders are delivered on time

Procurement Engineer Salary & Outlook

Procurement engineers’ salaries vary depending on their level of education, years of experience, and the company size and industry. They may also earn additional compensation in the form of bonuses.

• Median Annual Salary: $82,500 ($39.66/hour)
• Top 10% Annual Salary: $122,000 ($58.65/hour)

The employment of procurement engineers is expected to grow much faster than average over the next decade.

Demand for procurement engineers will stem from the need to reduce costs and improve efficiency in manufacturing industries. As companies continue to globalize, they will need to find ways to be more competitive and produce products at a lower cost.

Related: Procurement Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Procurement Engineer Job Requirements

The following are some of the requirements that are typically needed in order to become a procurement engineer:

Education: A bachelor’s degree is a minimum requirement for procurement engineers. Some employers prefer candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, supply chain management or business administration. Courses in mathematics, statistics, business and engineering are useful for this role.

Training & Experience: Most of an engineer’s training will take place while obtaining their education. Students will learn about the various aspects of engineering while completing coursework and projects. They will also receive on-the-job training from their first employer. This training will help them learn about the company’s specific needs and how to apply their skills in a practical setting.

Certifications & Licenses: While certification is not usually a requirement for an procurement engineer role, it can be useful for increasing your earning potential and differentiating yourself from other candidates.

Procurement Engineer Skills

Procurement engineers need the following skills in order to be successful:

Technical skills: Technical skills are the foundation of your career as a procurement engineer. You use technical skills to research and analyze data, develop and implement procurement strategies and create and review procurement documents. Technical skills are the foundation of your career as a procurement engineer.

Communication skills: Communication skills are necessary for procurement engineers to have, as they often work with other individuals from various departments. Procurement engineers often communicate with suppliers, engineers and other procurement staff to discuss and negotiate contracts, review and approve proposals and more.

Problem-solving skills: As a procurement engineer, you may be responsible for finding solutions to problems that arise during the procurement process. For example, if a supplier doesn’t meet the requirements of a contract, you may be responsible for finding a new supplier or finding a way to make the current supplier meet the requirements.

Critical thinking skills: Critical thinking is the ability to analyze a situation and make a decision based on the information you have. Procurement engineers use critical thinking skills to make decisions about the best way to source materials, the best way to negotiate with suppliers and the best way to ensure the quality of the materials they receive.

Project management: Project management skills allow you to oversee the procurement of a project from start to finish. This can include managing the budget, managing the timeline and managing the team of procurement engineers. Project management skills can help you to be an effective procurement engineer by allowing you to oversee the procurement of products and services for an organization.

Procurement Engineer Work Environment

Procurement engineers work in a variety of settings, including manufacturing plants, corporate offices, and government agencies. They may spend considerable time traveling to suppliers’ facilities to inspect products and to negotiate contracts. They may also work long hours to meet deadlines for submitting bids on projects. Procurement engineers typically work a regular 40-hour week, although they may occasionally work overtime to meet deadlines. The work can be stressful, and procurement engineers must be able to handle multiple projects simultaneously and make quick decisions.

Procurement Engineer Trends

Here are three trends influencing how procurement engineers work. Procurement engineers will need to stay up-to-date on these developments to keep their skills relevant and maintain a competitive advantage in the workplace.

The Need for More Technical Procurement Talent

The need for more technical procurement talent is a trend that is quickly gaining traction in the business world. This is because businesses are realizing that they need to be able to source products and services from a wider range of suppliers in order to get the best deals.

As a result, procurement engineers will need to be well-versed in the latest technologies and have the skills necessary to evaluate supplier proposals. They will also need to be able to manage complex contracts and understand the legal implications of doing business with different vendors.

More Collaboration Between Supply Chain and Procurement

The trend of collaboration between supply chain and procurement professionals is growing as companies strive to become more efficient and agile.

Procurement engineers are in a unique position to take advantage of this trend, as they are responsible for sourcing and purchasing materials and supplies for their company. By collaborating with supply chain professionals, procurement engineers can ensure that their company’s needs are being met while also helping to streamline the overall process.

Greater Focus on Sustainability

Sustainability has become an increasingly important issue for businesses in recent years. This is due to the fact that consumers are becoming more aware of the impact that their purchases have on the environment, and are therefore looking for products that are made with sustainable materials.

As a procurement engineer, you can help your company to meet the demands of these customers by ensuring that you are only purchasing sustainable products. In addition, you can also work to educate your coworkers about the importance of sustainability and how they can contribute to it.

How to Become a Procurement Engineer

A procurement engineer career path can be very rewarding. It offers the opportunity to work with a variety of products and services, as well as with different companies and industries. You’ll also have the chance to develop new processes and systems that will help improve efficiency and reduce costs.

To become a procurement engineer, you’ll need a degree in engineering or business administration. Additionally, you should have experience working in supply chain management or purchasing.

Advancement Prospects

After several years of experience, many engineers are promoted to management positions, such as project manager, department head, or division manager. Some become technical specialists. Those with good communication and interpersonal skills can move into sales, marketing, or technical writing. Some engineers eventually start their own engineering firms.

Many experienced engineers also teach in universities or technical institutes. Some become consultants, working on short-term projects for a variety of clients.

Advancement for procurement engineers usually comes in the form of promotions to higher-level positions within their company. As they gain experience, they may be promoted to positions such as project manager, department head, or division manager. Some procurement engineers eventually start their own engineering firms.

Procurement Engineer Job Description Example

At [CompanyX], we are always looking for ways to improve our products and processes. We are currently seeking a procurement engineer to join our team. The ideal candidate will have experience in supply chain management, as well as a strong understanding of engineering principles. He or she will be responsible for identifying and procuring the raw materials and components needed to produce our products. The procurement engineer will also be responsible for negotiating contracts with suppliers, as well as managing relationships with existing suppliers.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Understand the technical specifications of the products and services to be procured
• Develop and issue requests for proposals (RFPs), invitations to bid (ITBs), and other solicitation documents
• Evaluate bids and proposals, and make recommendations to management
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and conditions with vendors and suppliers
• Manage and monitor supplier performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of market trends, prices, and new products and services
• Prepare reports and analyses of procurement activities as needed
• Participate in meetings and conference calls with stakeholders, vendors, and suppliers
• Attend trade shows and conferences related to procurement engineering
• Keep abreast of developments in relevant technology and software
• Train and mentor less experienced colleagues
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or related field
• 5+ years experience in procurement, supply chain management, or similar role
• Working knowledge of MRP/ERP systems
• Strong negotiation and supplier relationship management skills
• Excellent communication, presentation, and writing skills
• Proven ability to work independently and with a team

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering, business, or related field
• 7+ years experience in procurement, supply chain management, or similar role
• Certification in supply chain management (e.g., APICS, CPSM)
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles
• Experience leading and managing a team of buyers