Production Planner

Job Title: Production Planner

Job Description

The Production Planner develops and maintains detailed operational and production schedules for complex aerospace engineering programs and manufacturing activities. This role coordinates closely with engineering, procurement, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams to ensure schedule adherence, material availability, and on-time delivery. The Production Planner monitors capacity, labor, and tooling constraints, analyzes key performance indicators, and drives improvements in planning processes, inventory management, and workflow efficiency. This is a newly created position with significant ownership over planning for a major aerospace program, offering the opportunity to build structure, lead scheduling activities, and support the successful execution of highly technical, high mix-low volume production.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and optimize production and operational schedules for aerospace engineering programs and manufacturing activities.

• Coordinate closely with engineering, procurement, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams to ensure schedule adherence and material availability.

• Monitor capacity planning, labor utilization, tooling availability, and production constraints to maintain realistic and achievable schedules.

• Analyze operational data and key performance indicators to identify schedule risks, bottlenecks, and opportunities for process improvement.

• Support program execution by tracking milestones, deliverables, and production readiness activities across multiple programs.

• Prepare, update, and maintain planning documentation, reports, and dashboards for leadership review and decision-making.

• Participate in cross-functional coordination efforts to align production plans with engineering changes, procurement timelines, and customer requirements.

• Collaborate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to mitigate delays, resolve operational issues, and maintain continuity of supply.

• Ensure planning activities comply with industry standards, quality requirements, and applicable regulatory guidelines.

• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to operational efficiency, inventory management, and workflow optimization within the production planning function.

• Assist in implementing ERP/MRP system updates, including the transition to SAP, and contribute to the design and improvement of planning processes.

• Work primarily on a large, complex aerospace program while also providing planning support for 2-3 smaller, self-sustaining programs.

• Act as the primary planning owner for a major government-related program, taking the lead on all scheduling and planning activities.

• Establish and refine planning processes in an environment with limited existing structure, taking initiative to create order and best practices.

• Use Microsoft Excel extensively to manage and track schedules, materials, and capacity while ERP systems are being fully integrated.

• Interpret engineering drawings, multi-level bills of materials, and production documentation to create accurate and executable production plans.

• Coordinate production scheduling and material planning for made-to-order, high mix-low volume, and highly technical aerospace products.

• Support production control activities by aligning work orders, material availability, and capacity with program timelines.

• Engage regularly with engineering, purchasing, and production teams to keep programs on track and ensure clear communication of priorities.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, engineering, or a related field.

• 5 years of experience in operations planning, production planning, or program coordination.

• Industry experience in Aerospace & Defense, supporting technical aerospace products such as electrical components and complex systems.

• Hands-on experience in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments.

• Experience with ERP systems for planning and production control; ability to work effectively with any ERP platform while transitioning to SAP.

• Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel for planning, analysis, and reporting.

• Experience working with multi-level bills of materials (BOMs).

• Experience in supply chain and planning, with exposure to multiple facets of the supply chain process rather than solely planning.

• Strong knowledge of production scheduling and the ability to build and maintain detailed production plans.

• Strong knowledge of supply chain coordination, including material planning and supplier collaboration.

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations and production control practices.

• Strong knowledge of capacity planning and the ability to balance labor, equipment, and tooling constraints.

• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, BOMs, and production documentation accurately.

• Experience working with high mix-low volume, made-to-order products in a technical manufacturing environment.

• Ability to operate effectively in a flexible, evolving environment with limited existing processes and structure.

• Strong analytical skills to interpret operational data and KPIs and identify risks and improvement opportunities.

• Effective communication and collaboration skills to work cross-functionally with engineering, purchasing, production, and supply chain teams.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing principles and Continuous Improvement methodologies.

• Experience supporting specific aerospace programs or large government-related programs.

• Experience participating in or supporting ERP implementations, particularly transitions to SAP.

• Comfort working as the sole planner for a major program, with the ability to take ownership and lead planning activities.

• Experience creating or formalizing planning processes in environments with minimal pre-existing structure.

• Ability to manage multiple programs simultaneously, including a primary large program and several smaller programs.

• Strong attention to detail when working with complex, multi-level BOMs and technical documentation.

• Proactive problem-solving mindset with the ability to anticipate constraints and propose practical solutions.

Work Environment

ITAR-regulated aerospace environment supporting design-to-production of aircraft systems, drones, and advanced technologies. 100% onsite, Mon-Fri, 7:00-7:30 a.m. start.

Job Type & Location

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

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $34.00 - $44.00/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 Oceanside,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on May 29, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® double diamond winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io (%View email address on click.appcast.io) for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.