Sr. NPI Planner

Sanders Industries Holdings•Long Beach, CA

About The Position

Rubbercraft (RCC) is seeking a Senior NPI Planner responsible for planning, coordinating, and monitoring technical New Product Introduction (NPI) and development projects from manufacturing order release through completion. This role partners closely with NPI leadership, Engineering, Purchasing, Estimating, Manufacturing, Quality, and Sales to ensure project milestones, material readiness, manufacturing execution, and customer commitments are effectively managed. This position owns visibility into open NPI manufacturing orders, schedule accuracy, milestone tracking, and risk communication. The Senior NPI Planner provides timely updates to Sales and internal stakeholders, coordinates recovery plans when schedules are at risk, and maintains accurate planning data within the company’s MRP/ERP system.

Requirements

3–5+ years of experience in production planning, program planning, project coordination, supply chain, manufacturing, or NPI planning
Experience using an MRP/ERP system required
Strong understanding of manufacturing order management, material planning, scheduling, and capacity constraints
Ability to interpret engineering and manufacturing documentation (drawings, routers, BOMs, specifications)
Strong cross-functional communication skills and ability to collaborate with Engineering, Purchasing, Estimating, Manufacturing, Quality, and Sales
Ability to manage multiple priorities, shifting schedules, and urgent customer needs
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with a high level of ownership and follow-through
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Word)

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Business, or related field preferred
Experience in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments strongly preferred
Experience supporting technical, prototype, development, qualification, aerospace, defense, or engineered-to-order projects preferred
APICS CPIM/CSCP certification preferred

Responsibilities

Plan, schedule, and monitor technical NPI, prototype, qualification, and development manufacturing orders from release through completion
Own and maintain NPI milestone schedules, including material readiness, tooling readiness, engineering deliverables, manufacturing start dates, and customer commitments
Manage all open NPI manufacturing orders, including release timing, due date accuracy, order status, aging orders, holds, shortages, and recovery actions
Review MRP messages, planning exceptions, and material constraints to identify and communicate risks before they impact commitments
Maintain accurate planning data within the MRP/ERP system, including due dates, order status, and material requirements
Coordinate with Purchasing to ensure availability of raw materials, outside processing, tooling, components, and required services
Partner with Engineering and Estimating to understand technical requirements, drawing status, BOM readiness, specification changes, quoting priorities, and lead time assumptions
Provide timely and accurate updates to Sales and internal stakeholders regarding project status, schedule risks, recovery plans, and revised commitments
Recommend and coordinate adjustments when material, engineering, capacity, quality, or technical constraints impact delivery
Track and communicate project status using open order reports, milestone trackers, and planning tools
Support documentation of build plans, routers, sign-offs, customer requirements, and project records
Identify planning gaps, process inefficiencies, and recurring risks; recommend improvements to NPI leadership
Support safety practices, housekeeping standards, continuous improvement initiatives, and company values