Acquisition Specialist Jobs in California
Acquisition Specialist jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in defense contracting, state and local government procurement, and technology supply chain across the Los Angeles Basin, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Sacramento metropolitan area. Major employers with a lasting presence in California who hire acquisition specialists include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and the State of California Department of General Services. The most in-demand specialties are contract administration, federal procurement compliance, and IT acquisition. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Acquisition Specialist JobsOverview
Showing 3 of 104+ Acquisition Specialist jobs
This role will manage full-cycle recruiting for a variety of positions, develop proactive sourcing strategies, partner with hiring managers and outside recruiting firms, and help build a consistent onboarding experience across multiple teams and locations.
Qualifications:
What You'll Do
- Manage full-cycle recruiting from sourcing through offer and onboarding
- Source candidates through LinkedIn, Indeed, referrals, and other channels
- Build pipelines for recurring and hard-to-fill positions
- Partner with hiring managers on recruiting strategies and hiring needs
- Manage relationships with external recruiting partners
- Track recruiting activity, budgets, and key performance metrics
- Develop and improve onboarding processes, materials, and new-hire communications
- Coordinate onboarding with HR, Payroll, IT, Operations, and other internal teams
- Maintain accurate recruiting and employee records within the ATS/HRIS
- Use recruiting data to identify trends and improve hiring results
What You Bring
- 5+ years of recruiting, talent acquisition, or recruiting coordination experience
- Demonstrated experience in skilled trades recruitment, with a strong emphasis on sourcing/hiring candidates within the HVAC, plumbing, and construction industries.
- Strong hands-on sourcing experience using LinkedIn and Indeed
- Experience managing job postings, recruiting budgets, and hiring metrics
- Experience working with outside recruiting agencies
- Experience developing or improving onboarding programs
- Strong ATS/HRIS experience; ADP is a plus
- Excellent communication, organization, and relationship-building skills
- Strong Excel and reporting abilities
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently
-
$90,000-$100,000 (DOE)
- Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, Group and Life Insurance, and Long-Term Disability benefits
- 401K plan with 50% company dollar match up to 4%
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- Annual performance reviews, performed on or around your hire date (potential increases in pay will be discussed)
- Compliance Requirements
- Must be willing to submit to a background check and drug test prior to employment
- Must be willing to submit to an MVR report - No DUIs or more than 2 points on a driving record is our baseline standard
Employment Requirements
This role will manage full-cycle recruiting for a variety of positions, develop proactive sourcing strategies, partner with hiring managers and outside recruiting firms, and help build a consistent onboarding experience across multiple teams and locations.
Qualifications:
What You'll Do
- Manage full-cycle recruiting from sourcing through offer and onboarding
- Source candidates through LinkedIn, Indeed, referrals, and other channels
- Build pipelines for recurring and hard-to-fill positions
- Partner with hiring managers on recruiting strategies and hiring needs
- Manage relationships with external recruiting partners
- Track recruiting activity, budgets, and key performance metrics
- Develop and improve onboarding processes, materials, and new-hire communications
- Coordinate onboarding with HR, Payroll, IT, Operations, and other internal teams
- Maintain accurate recruiting and employee records within the ATS/HRIS
- Use recruiting data to identify trends and improve hiring results
What You Bring
- 5+ years of recruiting, talent acquisition, or recruiting coordination experience
- Demonstrated experience in skilled trades recruitment, with a strong emphasis on sourcing/hiring candidates within the HVAC, plumbing, and construction industries.
- Strong hands-on sourcing experience using LinkedIn and Indeed
- Experience managing job postings, recruiting budgets, and hiring metrics
- Experience working with outside recruiting agencies
- Experience developing or improving onboarding programs
- Strong ATS/HRIS experience; ADP is a plus
- Excellent communication, organization, and relationship-building skills
- Strong Excel and reporting abilities
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently
-
$90,000-$100,000 (DOE)
- Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, Group and Life Insurance, and Long-Term Disability benefits
- 401K plan with 50% company dollar match up to 4%
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- Annual performance reviews, performed on or around your hire date (potential increases in pay will be discussed)
- Compliance Requirements
- Must be willing to submit to a background check and drug test prior to employment
- Must be willing to submit to an MVR report - No DUIs or more than 2 points on a driving record is our baseline standard
Employment Requirements
See All 104+ Acquisition Specialist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Acquisition Specialist JobsAcquisition Specialist Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Acquisition Specialist Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- State Farm17
- AutoNation5
- The Niello Company5
- T&T Supermarket4
- Prime Healthcare Services3
Top Industries Hiring
- Science & Research
- Technology & Software
- Retail
- Construction & Real Estate
- E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in acquisition specialist jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in business administration, supply chain, public administration, or a related field
- Federal Acquisition Regulation or state procurement code knowledge preferred by California employers
- Certified Federal Contracts Manager or Certified Professional Contracts Manager credential strongly preferred
- Three or more years of experience in contract administration, procurement, or source selection
- Proficiency with procurement systems such as SAP Ariba, Deltek, or California state eProcurement platforms
- Strong written communication skills for drafting solicitations, contract modifications, and compliance reports
Acquisition Specialist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become an acquisition specialist in California?
The most direct path is earning a bachelor's degree in business, public administration, or supply chain management and then pursuing a recognized contracting credential. California does not issue a state-specific procurement license for private-sector roles, but positions with the State of California require eligibility through the California Department of Human Resources civil service examination process. Federal contracting roles on California military installations or with defense contractors typically require DAWIA or FAC-C certification aligned with the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Which companies hire acquisition specialists in California?
Employers hiring acquisition specialists in California right now include State Farm, AutoNation, and The Niello Company, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's large defense industrial base, combined with its active state and county government procurement offices, makes it one of the most consistent markets for acquisition and contracting professionals across both public and private sectors.
Which California cities have the most acquisition specialist jobs?
The cities with the most acquisition specialist openings in California are Irvine, San Jose, and El Segundo. Los Angeles and its surrounding communities anchor demand through the region's dense defense contractor presence, while Sacramento drives public-sector volume as the state capital, and the Bay Area generates openings through technology procurement and large federal agency field offices throughout the region.
Are there remote acquisition specialist jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 46% of acquisition specialist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the desk-based and analytical nature of much of the work. Contract administration, price analysis, and vendor evaluation tasks are frequently performed off-site, though roles involving source selection panels or handling classified materials typically require in-person attendance.
How can I get hired as an acquisition specialist in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a contract specialist trainee or purchasing assistant role with a California county agency, a University of California campus procurement department, or a large defense contractor running a rotational development program. The State of California also posts entry-level associate governmental program analyst positions that route new hires into procurement divisions. Earning a Certified Purchasing Professional credential and demonstrating familiarity with the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act can separate a candidate who lacks direct experience from the rest of the applicant pool.
Where can I find and apply to acquisition specialist jobs in California?
You can find and apply to acquisition specialist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Find roles that match your background and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 104+ Acquisition Specialist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Acquisition Specialist Jobs