Inventory Associate

Materials Associate - Military and Defense

This role supports a fast-growing defense technology organization in the Santa Ana and Costa Mesa, CA areas by ensuring that materials move efficiently from the warehouse to production lines. You will work on a day shift (typically 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) with regular opportunities for overtime. As part of the Supply Chain team, you will handle shipping, receiving, inventory control, and material movement between sites, helping to keep production running smoothly and accurately.

Responsibilities

• Process shipping and receiving activities at the Santa Ana and Costa Mesa locations as needed, ensuring all transactions are accurate and timely.
• Prepare finished stock for shipment by identifying, pulling, packing, crating, labeling, loading, and securing product for transport.
• Serve as a key point of contact to ensure material movement across sites is accurately transacted and documented for each move.
• Support orderly production and distribution of products by pulling orders from inventory, delivering production materials and supplies to designated areas, and staging finished product for final distribution.
• Complete regular cycle counts and perform all warehouse activities with a strong focus on inventory accuracy.
• Maintain inventory by identifying and labeling materials and supplies, recording inventory locations, and promptly reporting shortages or discrepancies.
• Operate forklifts, pallet jacks, and other material-handling equipment safely to move items, or coordinate with machine operators to load and unload materials from trucks and loading docks.
• Expedite the flow of material, parts, and assemblies within or between departments in accordance with production schedules and operational requirements.
• Follow and maintain standard operating procedures to ensure consistent, safe, and compliant material handling practices.
• Communicate clearly with team members and internal customers to provide excellent service and support production needs.
• Lift and move objects up to 35 lbs as part of daily material handling tasks.

Essential Skills

• At least 2 years of experience as a warehouse associate or in an equivalent materials handling role.
• At least 2 years of experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and/or other warehouse management and inventory control tools.
• Hands-on experience with inventory management that includes Lot, Serial, and Batch tracking in high-mix, high-volume production environments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office or equivalent office management software for documentation and reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks efficiently in a fast-paced, production-focused environment.
• Excellent customer service skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and professionally with internal stakeholders.
• Forklift and pallet jack operating experience, with a strong focus on safety.
• Valid driver's license.
• Ability to lift and move objects up to 35 lbs as part of daily responsibilities.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret security clearance.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in shipping and receiving operations within a warehouse or manufacturing environment.
• Experience in material handling and cycle counting processes.
• Familiarity with warehouse management and inventory control tooling, including ERP platforms such as NetSuite or similar systems.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail when handling inventory and documentation.
• Comfort working with high production volumes and a wide variety of product types.
• Ability to follow standard operating procedures and contribute to continuous improvement of warehouse processes.

Why Work Here?

You will join a rapidly growing, mission-driven technology organization that is actively expanding its facilities and capabilities. The company invests in building a strong internal team and is committed to bringing top performers on directly to support long-term growth. You will work in a culture that values innovation, accuracy, and collaboration, with opportunities to take on overtime, grow your skills in advanced supply chain and inventory systems, and contribute to impactful work that supports U.S. and allied defense capabilities.

Work Environment

You will work in a clean, modern facility within a large organization that is growing and expanding, including newly funded construction for additional space. The role is based at the Santa Ana and Costa Mesa locations on a day shift, typically from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a good amount of overtime available to support production demands. The environment is production-oriented and fast-paced, with regular use of material-handling equipment such as forklifts and pallet jacks, and daily interaction with warehouse management and ERP systems. The setting emphasizes safety, organization, and inventory accuracy while supporting advanced defense technology manufacturing.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Santa Ana, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $23.00 - $24.00/hr. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Santa Ana, CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 17, 2026.