Sourcing Engineer

Role & responsibilities

Buildskill is seeking a hands-on Sourcing & Vendor Development Engineer with expertise in manufacturing processes, product costing, quality benchmarking, and supplier development.

You will identify and develop manufacturing partners for consumer products across home improvement, hardware, tools, home essentials, electrical and electronic products, industrial products, and automotive components.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, negotiate with, and develop manufacturers across India.
• Source products involving plastics, metal rods and sheets, fabricated components, tools, hardware, electrical components, electronic assemblies, and industrial components.
• Prepare should-costing models covering:Raw materials, Manufacturing processes, Manpower, Tooling, Overheads, Logistics, freight, warehousing, and handling costs
• Estimate logistics costs based on supplier location, shipment mode, volume, weight, packaging, and delivery timelines.
• Drive cost optimization and value engineering through:Design improvements, Material optimization, Process changes, Functionality-focused cost reduction
• Benchmark products against leading brands and define material and quality standards.
• Establish product specifications, inspection parameters, acceptance criteria, and inbound QC standards.
• Collaborate with manufacturers to improve product quality, functionality, and cost competitiveness.
• Conduct factory evaluations and monitor supplier quality, delivery, logistics, and commercial performance.

Preferred candidate profile

• 3+ years of experience in sourcing, vendor development, manufacturing, or procurement.
• Strong understanding of product costing, logistics costing, and manufacturing economics.
• Ability to evaluate product quality, specifications, and competitive benchmarks.
• Working knowledge of at least two manufacturing processes, including:Sheet metal stamping and fabrication, Plastic injection moulding, Rubber moulding, CNC machining or metal machining
• Experience working directly with manufacturers and developing new suppliers.
• Familiarity with should-costing is preferred; tentative or estimated costing knowledge is also acceptable.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with automobile OEMs or Tier 1/Tier 2 automotive suppliers.
• Experience in electrical and electronic products, industrial equipment, power tools, hand tools, electric motors, or electromechanical products.
• Experience in China sourcing, imports, or overseas supplier development.

Who Should Apply?

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys:

• Visiting factories and understanding manufacturing processes.
• Challenging supplier costs and improving product economics.
• Estimating and optimizing logistics costs.
• Enhancing product quality and functionality.
• Building reliable, long-term manufacturing partnerships.