Associate Manager, Production & Material Planning

Job Description

Job Description

Please Note:  To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At  CesiumAstro , we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

We are looking to add an Associate Manager, Production & Material Planning to our team. In this role, you will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing production scheduling, material requirements planning (MRP), and demand/supply alignment to support program execution and on-time delivery. This role manages a team of planners and works cross-functionally to ensure accurate forecasts, material availability, planning discipline, and alignment between manufacturing capacity and program needs. Operating within a regulated aerospace and defense environment, this leader ensures compliance, drives data-driven decision-making, and supports operational efficiency and continuous improvement.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee the development, maintenance, and execution of the master production schedule.
• Ensure production plans align with capacity, labor availability, material readiness, and customer/program requirements.
• Monitor schedule performance, identify constraints, and develop mitigation plans to prevent delays.
• Support engineering changes, configuration control, and production readiness activities.
• Lead coordination with Operations to level-load production and resolve scheduling conflicts.
• Manage daily/weekly MRP execution to ensure accurate demand signals, planned orders, and material flow.
• Review and validate BOM accuracy, planning parameters, lead times, and lot sizing.
• Monitor material shortages and drive cross-functional recovery plans to maintain schedule adherence.
• Collaborate with Procurement to resolve supplier delays, expedite needs, and strategic material risks.
• Ensure planning data integrity to support forecast accuracy, inventory health, and system reliability.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Production Planners and Material Planners.
• Provide clear direction, workload prioritization, and performance feedback.
• Work closely with Operations, Engineering, Procurement, Quality, and Program Management to support program success.
• Communicate planning risks, material constraints, and schedule updates to leadership and stakeholders.
• Support new product introduction (NPI), ramp-up planning, and operational readiness.
• Ensure planning and scheduling practices align with AS9100 requirements, internal policies, and customer standards.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation and data accuracy within ERP/MRP systems.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes, improve forecast accuracy, and enhance material flow.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective actions for planning, scheduling, or material-related issues.
• Reinforce standard work, process discipline, and planning performance metrics (OTD, schedule adherence, accuracy).

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Industrial Engineering, or related field. 
• 4-7 years with BS - Degree focus in supply chain planning or procurement experience, including 2–5 years in leadership roles.
• Ability to prioritize workload, multitask, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Strong understanding of production planning, material planning, scheduling principles, and MRP logic.
• Familiarity with aerospace/defense manufacturing processes, lead times, and configuration control.
• Working knowledge of BOM structure, routings, capacity planning, and shop floor workflows.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, planning parameters, and manufacturing documentation.
• Problem-solving skills using root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite).
• Understanding of FAR/DFARS and AS9100 requirements as they relate to planning and documentation.
• Clear communication skills for cross-functional collaboration and production meetings..

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.