Production Controller

Job Description
Our client provides mission-critical Laser Technologies and full-service Engineering Services (ES) solutions for their National Security, Aerospace, and NASA customers. Since their founding, they have routinely delivered critical capabilities to missions of national importance. Their state-of-the-art technology, subject matter expertise, small business agility, and cost competitiveness provide customers with best-value solutions to meet their mission needs.


Our client is seeking a hands-on, proactive Production Controller to support space flight hardware manufacturing in their ISO class 6-8 clean laboratory environments. This role requires daily physical presence on the shop floor and in cleanroom labs, actively driving work orders, removing blockers, coordinating materials, and keeping production flowing. The ideal candidate has experience with aerospace or space-flight systems and thrives in a dynamic, build-focused environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Cleanroom Lab & Shop-Floor Work Order Control (≥50% in cleanroom labspace)

• Move between work centers and cleanroom labs constantly, ensuring work is progressing smoothly.
• Verify readiness by physically checking materials, tooling, travelers, and documentation.
• Partner directly with technicians to confirm next steps, priority sequencing, and quality gates.

Work Order Tracking & Proactive Issue Resolution

• Manage and track work orders from release through completion using Costpoint.
• Identify schedule risks early through daily in-person monitoring of WIP.
• Drive immediate resolution with Procurement, Quality, Engineering, and program team when progress slows or stops.
• Maintain accurate dates, serial numbers, routing, attachments, and status updates within ERP.

Material Coordination & Shortage Management

• Run daily shortage reviews and physically validate material presence at assembly locations.
• Track incoming parts, inspection status, and Non-Conformance impacts.
• Push cross-functional owners for recovery actions and escalate blockers quickly.

Documentation & Configuration Control

• Ensure every assembly being built is using the correct BOM, router, and work instructions.
• Collaborate with program team on ECO/ECN cut-ins to minimize disruption to active builds.
• Ensure build records are up to date.

Metrics & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain daily dashboards for work-in-progress aging, shortage status, and schedule adherence.
• Identify inefficiencies on the floor and propose improvements to layout, flow, or documentation.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• 4-8 years of experience in production control or manufacturing planning for aerospace/spaceflight hardware.
• Hands-on work order tracking experience in Costpoint or equivalent ERP/MRP system.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing flows, routers, BOMs, travelers, and configuration management.
• Experience working in cleanroom environments.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and manufacturing documentation.
• Proactive mindset with strong cross-functional communication skills.
• Basic proficiency in MS Office applications
• U.S. Citizenship required (ITAR/export compliance).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with space flight hardware (avionics, propulsion, mechanisms, structures, or payload subsystems).
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree

Benefits

Our client provides a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; disability, life insurance, and AD&D; a 401(k) plan with a company match and immediate vesting; Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts; an Employee Assistance Program; education assistance; paid time off and holidays; flexible work schedules; and a 9/8/80 alternate workweek option.

Our client is a recognized leader in advanced lasers, lidars, and laser communication systems providing our DoD, NASA and aerospace customers discriminating capabilities. They pride themselves on their innovation and customer success-focused culture enabled by a creative and relaxed work environment. They foster a progressive learning environment that values inspiration, promotes professional challenge, and encourages personal growth. They offer a competitive and incentivized compensation package with excellent benefits.

Our client is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on individual merit, skills, and experience. Our client does not engage in or permit any discrimination in the workplace.