Planning Manager

Ontic • Chatsworth, CA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Aerospace Production Planning Manager is responsible for leading production planning, scheduling, and materials coordination activities to ensure the efficient manufacture and delivery of aerospace products. This role drives cross-functional alignment between manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, quality, and program management to meet customer commitments, optimize resource utilization, and maintain compliance with aerospace industry standards. The ideal candidate combines strong analytical and operational leadership skills with deep knowledge of aerospace manufacturing environments, ERP/MRP systems, and production control processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field.
• 5–10 years of production planning, scheduling, or operations management experience in aerospace or advanced manufacturing.
• 3+ years of leadership or supervisory experience.
• Strong knowledge of MRP/ERP.
• Experience working in AS9100 or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Must meet export control compliance requirements. To meet export control compliance requirements, a “U.S. Person” as defined by 22. C.F.R. §120.15 is required. “U.S. Person” includes U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee.

Nice To Haves

• Visual experience a plus.
• APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP, or CLTD).
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Familiarity with aerospace production environments including machining, composites, or avionics manufacturing.
• Experience supporting government, defense, or commercial aerospace programs.
• Knowledge of capacity planning and constraint management techniques.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage master production schedules to support customer delivery requirements and operational goals.
• Balance production capacity, labor, machine availability, and material constraints to optimize throughput.
• Monitor production progress and adjust schedules proactively to mitigate delays or disruptions.
• Lead Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) and demand planning activities.
• Ensure accurate production forecasting and inventory planning.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, engineering, procurement, quality, and logistics teams to ensure seamless production execution.
• Coordinate new product introductions (NPI) and engineering changes into production schedules.
• Identify bottlenecks and implement corrective actions to improve flow and efficiency.
• Support shop floor operations with prioritization and production control guidance.
• Oversee material planning and inventory control strategies to maintain optimal inventory levels.
• Ensure material availability aligns with production schedules and customer commitments.
• Monitor supplier performance and coordinate with supply chain teams to address shortages or late deliveries.
• Reduce excess and obsolete inventory through strategic planning initiatives.
• Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) including on-time delivery, schedule adherence, inventory turns, and capacity utilization.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on operational efficiency, cost reduction, and process standardization.
• Support Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Develop and maintain planning procedures, workflows, and documentation.
• Lead, mentor, and develop production planners and schedulers.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performance team environment.
• Support workforce planning and departmental resource allocation.
• Provide training on ERP/MRP systems and production planning best practices.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical insurance
• Competitive PTO, holiday pay, and sick leave
• Company 401K plan with up to 4% matched contribution
• Annual bonus program (varies by level and discretionary based on company and individual performance)
• Flexible working arrangements
• Paid volunteering opportunities
• Access to mental health champions across our sites
• Commitment to development
• Employee referral program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager