Junior Production Planner

Gorilla Circuits•San Jose, CA

8d•$20 - $23•Onsite

About The Position

The Junior Production Planner supports the planning, scheduling, and coordination of PCB manufacturing activities to help ensure timely production and delivery. The role assists with production schedules, work orders, material availability, production tracking, and coordination across departments so manufacturing priorities align with customer requirements, production capacity, and delivery commitments. The position works closely with Production, Engineering, Purchasing, Quality Assurance, Customer Service, Inventory Control, and Shipping. It monitors production and customer order progress, reports potential delays, supports scheduling adjustments, maintains planning data and documentation in ERP/MRP systems, and contributes to continuous improvement in production planning, inventory management, and manufacturing efficiency. The role is full-time, non-exempt, and on-site/in person. It combines office work with occasional visits to manufacturing areas and requires compliance with company safety policies and required PPE.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
0–2 years of experience in production planning, manufacturing coordination, inventory control, or a related manufacturing environment preferred.
Basic understanding of production planning, scheduling, and manufacturing workflows.
Ability to read and understand production schedules, work orders, and manufacturing documentation.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Outlook, and Word.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.
Ability to work collaboratively with multiple departments.
Ability to identify scheduling conflicts and communicate potential production delays.
Willingness to learn PCB manufacturing processes and production requirements.
Ability to work in office and manufacturing environments; sit, stand, and walk for extended periods as required.
Ability to occasionally enter manufacturing areas and comply with company safety policies, procedures, and required PPE.
Ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related field.
Previous experience in PCB manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, or a fast-paced production environment.
Familiarity with manufacturing processes, production scheduling, or material planning.
Experience with ERP/MRP systems.
Basic understanding of PCB fabrication processes, including inner layer processing, lamination, drilling, plating, imaging, etching, solder mask, surface finish, routing, and electrical testing.
Familiarity with manufacturing lead times and production routing requirements.
Understanding of work-in-process tracking and production bottlenecks.
Knowledge of material requirements planning and inventory coordination.
Familiarity with quick-turn PCB manufacturing and expedited production scheduling.
Basic understanding of ISO 9001, AS9100, and applicable manufacturing quality standards.

Responsibilities

Assist in developing, maintaining, and updating daily and weekly production schedules based on customer orders, manufacturing capacity, and delivery requirements.
Review production work orders for accuracy, completeness, and alignment with customer specifications.
Monitor schedules and communicate changes, delays, or potential issues to the Planning Manager and relevant departments.
Coordinate with Production Supervisors to communicate and support manufacturing priorities.
Assist in prioritizing urgent orders, expedited jobs, and customer delivery requirements.
Track production progress through PCB manufacturing processes and support schedule adjustments for equipment availability, labor resources, material shortages, and changing customer demands.
Generate, review, release, and maintain manufacturing work orders in the company ERP/MRP system.
Verify work order quantities, due dates, routing instructions, and manufacturing requirements; monitor open orders for delays or discrepancies.
Maintain accurate work order statuses and production records, and coordinate with Engineering and Production to resolve missing or incorrect information.
Ensure manufacturing documentation is available and properly maintained throughout production.
Monitor raw material availability, review material requirements, coordinate with Purchasing and Inventory Control, and communicate shortages or supply delays that may affect schedules.
Track incoming materials and support inventory accuracy and material planning to minimize production interruptions.
Monitor work-in-process throughout the manufacturing cycle, track progress, and identify potential bottlenecks.
Provide production status updates and coordinate with Production, Quality, Engineering, and Shipping to support on-time order completion.
Assist in resolving scheduling conflicts and production delays; maintain production tracking reports and scheduling documentation.
Participate in daily production meetings and provide updates on work order status, priorities, and delivery schedules.
Monitor customer order due dates and production completion schedules; coordinate order status and expected completion dates with Customer Service and Shipping.
Identify orders at risk of missing delivery dates and promptly escalate concerns; support expedited requests and priority adjustments.
Help maintain accurate delivery commitments and production status information.
Prepare and maintain reports on open work orders, WIP status, overdue jobs, and scheduled deliveries.
Assist in analyzing production performance and identifying opportunities to improve scheduling efficiency, reduce delays, improve workflow, and increase on-time delivery.
Maintain accurate planning data in ERP/MRP systems and participate in continuous improvement initiatives related to planning, inventory, and manufacturing efficiency.
Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned by management.
Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, attention to detail, confidentiality, and effective working relationships; follow company policies, procedures, safety regulations, and production and quality expectations.