Procurement Specialist

WHO WE ARE At Proxima Fusion, we're driven by a bold mission – to redefine the future of sustainable energy. Our unique concept, built upon the groundbreaking W7-X stellarator and the latest advances in technology, paves the way for commercially viable fusion power plants. What’s more, our work in stellarator optimization, powered by cutting-edge computation and machine learning, is propelling us into uncharted territories of fusion technology. New higher performance design points are unlocked by high temperature superconducting magnets. To fully grasp this huge opportunity, we’re building a team of extremely dedicated and passionate people who come together driving something extraordinary, radically transforming technology in the world. WHY JOIN PROXIMA FUSION - You will get to work on some of the most complex tech challenges to bring abundant, safe, clean energy to the world. - You'll get to join and learn from an exceptional selection of accomplished and driven individuals. - Do your life’s best work and enjoy the journey. - Get to show that big things are possible in Europe when you assemble the best talent. YOUR IMPACT At Proxima Fusion, we are building the future of clean energy - and we need a Procurement Specialist who thrives at the intersection of technology and execution. In this role, you will drive the development of a robust and agile supply chain that supports our engineering and R&D ambitions. You’ll be responsible for identifying and partnering with top-tier suppliers, shaping sourcing strategies, and ensuring exceptional standards in quality, cost, and delivery. WHAT YOU WILL DO - Strategic Sourcing: Design and execute procurement strategies for professional services, technical consulting, engineering support and research agreements - Supplier Management: Identify, assess, and onboard new suppliers; strengthen partnerships with existing vendors to uphold high standards in quality, delivery, and cost-efficiency. - Contract Negotiation: Lead commercial negotiations for service agreements, statements of work (SOWs), framework agreements, and other contractual arrangements while managing commercial and operational risk. - Procurement Operations: Manage the end-to-end procurement lifecycle for services from request intake and supplier selection to contract execution, renewals, and supplier performance tracking. - Tool & Process Ownership: Drive improvements in our procurement infrastructure including systems, databases, AI adoption and process automation. - Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner closely with engineering, finance, legal, and operations teams to ensure procurement decisions are technically informed, commercially sound, and aligned with company priorities. WHO YOU ARE - Experience: 3+ years in procurement or strategic sourcing, ideally in a fast-paced environment developing complex systems or services. - Commercial & Technical Understanding: You are comfortable working with technical stakeholders and service providers, and can understand technical requirements, supplier capabilities, and project constraints. - Negotiation Excellence: Demonstrated success in contract negotiation, supplier risk management, and cost/value optimization. - Strong Communicator: Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; able to build trust with both internal stakeholders and external partners. - Tools & Systems: Hands-on experience with procurement platforms, ERP tools, and data-driven decision-making. - Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related technical field. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Fluency in English and comprehensive German. - Experience in startups, nuclear / energy, or other highly regulated technical industries such as aerospace, defense, energy, or medtech. - Familiarity with research collaborations, engineering consulting procurement, or framework agreements. - Experience helping scale procurement processes in growing organizations. INTERVIEW