Aerospace & Defense Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois
Illinois offers significant opportunities in aerospace & defense, anchored by Boeing's Chicago headquarters and major facilities across the state. Key employers include Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, and Lockheed Martin, with concentrations in Chicago, Aurora, and the broader Chicagoland area. The state's strong manufacturing base and proximity to major defense contractors create diverse visa sponsorship opportunities.
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Job Summary
The Buyer / Senior Buyer, Indirect is responsible for procuring the necessary products and services required to support non-manufacturing activities at the minimum total cost. This involves negotiating and procuring a variety of assigned commodities, including non-standard and technical items. Additionally, this role will develop and manage suppliers to meet our stringent delivery, cost, and quality requirements.
Essential Job Functions
- Evaluating prices, specifications, and delivery dates and award contract to bidders and/or place orders with suppliers.
- Preparing purchasing documentation and verifying nomenclature and specifications of purchasing requisitions.
- Developing expertise on procurement of Indirect, engineering, and/or non-manufacturing products and services to support the Business' requirements.
- Implementing continuous replenishment strategies with assigned suppliers.
- Executing supplier rationalization plans and support transition to existing and/or new suppliers.
- Supporting negotiation and execution of commercial agreement to reach lowest total cost including terms to mitigate economic and currency fluctuations as appropriate for assigned commodities (e.g., long-term agreements, make/buy, market tests, etc.).
- Supporting, and when required leading, cost reduction projects and improvement initiatives to achieve overall business objectives.
- Updating and maintaining purchase orders in Materials Resource Planning (MRP) system.
- Analyzing data, including enterprise requirements, planning information, and prepare reports as needed to facilitate and recommend actions to ensure optimal supply chain execution.
- Evaluating supplier performance requirements including quality, cost and timing expectations.
- Working with vendors for improved delivery, quality, lead time, and price performance. Evaluating these metrics with the critical suppliers regularly.
- Complying with plant safety procedures to ensure a safe environment.
- Improving internal and external customer satisfaction.
- Complying with Supply Chain and Purchasing procedures and Quality System requirements.
- Protecting confidential and/or sensitive information including implementation and adherence to Confidentiality or Non-Disclosure Agreements.
- Complying with all safety, health and environmental regulations as prescribed by law, company's policies and regulations requirements. Being pro-active in the Safran HSE standards and procedures within daily work, staying alert to potential safety hazards and reporting accordingly.
- Other duties may be assigned.
Job Requirements
Education/Experience
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, environmental health & safety, or business from an accredited institution.
- SAP Experience, preferred.
- Previous work and/or internship experience in Supply Chain Management, preferred.
Typical experience:
- Buyer - 5 or more years' related work experience or equivalent education and/or experience.
- Senior Buyer - 10 or more years' related work experience or equivalent education and/or experience.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- The position requires a working knowledge of commodities assigned, supply sources, and contracting methods and strategies.
- Analytical ability to prepare supplier performance reports, cost/price analyses, and other performance measures.
- Possess ability to drive for results, hold self and others accountable, and continuously improve.
- Proficient user of computers and computer software.
- CPSM or CPM certification, preferred.
- Experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, preferred.
- Familiarity/experience with lean manufacturing, Kaizen events, and continuous improvement techniques (e.g., RCCA, Six Sigma methodology), preferred.
- Working knowledge of AS9100, ISO-9001, preferred.
- Use of and deployment of electronic data interchange procurement, preferred.
- Knowledge of procurement methods, cycle count steps, hazard Materials Lean and Continuous Improvement (Kaizen).
- Ability to maintain sustainable relationships with suppliers.
Travel Specificity
Occasional travel may be required (10%).
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position and occasionally move around the office. Constantly operate and use a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copier/printer. The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information. The ability to observe, identify and assess details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds across office for various needs.
Work Environment
The work environment is in office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
Experience within aerospace industry a plus, not required.
Company Information
Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.
Safran is in the 2nd place in the aerospace and defense industry in TIME magazine's "World's best companies 2024" ranking.
Safran Electronics & Defense offers its customers onboard intelligence solutions allowing them to understand the environment, reduce mental load and guarantee a trajectory, even in critical situations, in all environments: on land, at sea, in the sky or space. The company harnesses the expertise of its 13,000 employees towards these three functions: observe, decide and guide, for the civil and military markets.
Location
Location: Rockford, Illinois, United States
Contract type
Contract type: Permanent
Contract duration
Contract duration: Full-time
Required degree
Required degree: Bachelor's Degree
Required experience
Required experience: More than 5 years
Professional status
Professional status: Professional, Engineer & Manager
Salary range
Salary range: $90,000 - $115,000
ITAR
ITAR: ITAR Controlled position
Aerospace & Defense Job Roles in Illinois
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Search Aerospace & Defense Jobs in IllinoisAerospace & Defense Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which aerospace & defense companies sponsor visas in Illinois?
Major sponsors include Boeing (headquarters in Chicago), Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin, and General Dynamics. Boeing is the largest employer, with significant operations in Chicago and suburban facilities. Defense contractors like BAE Systems and smaller suppliers throughout Chicagoland also provide sponsorship opportunities, particularly for engineers and specialized technical roles.
Which cities in Illinois have the most aerospace & defense sponsorship jobs?
Chicago leads with Boeing's headquarters and numerous defense contractors. Aurora hosts significant aerospace manufacturing facilities. The broader Chicagoland metropolitan area, including suburbs like Schaumburg, Des Plaines, and Rolling Meadows, contains major aerospace suppliers and defense technology companies. Rockford also has notable aerospace manufacturing presence with smaller employers.
How to find aerospace & defense visa sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate specializes in connecting international professionals with visa sponsorship opportunities in Illinois aerospace & defense. The platform filters jobs specifically by companies with H-1B visa and other sponsorship history. Focus on major contractors like Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon, plus smaller suppliers throughout Chicagoland that frequently sponsor technical roles.
Which visa types are most common for aerospace & defense roles in Illinois?
H-1B visas dominate for engineering positions, systems analysts, and technical specialists. O-1 visas apply to professionals with extraordinary ability in aerospace engineering or defense technology. L-1 visas are common for transfers within multinational defense contractors. TN visas serve Canadian and Mexican engineers, while E-3 visas are available for qualified Australians.
What are the prevailing wage considerations for aerospace jobs in Illinois?
Illinois aerospace roles typically command higher prevailing wages due to Chicago's cost of living and specialized skill requirements. Defense contractors must meet federal prevailing wage standards for sponsored positions. The state's concentration of aerospace engineering talent and proximity to major universities like Northwestern and University of Illinois creates competitive compensation requirements for visa sponsorship.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored aerospace & defense jobs in Illinois?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.