Material Planner
Loft Orbital and Orbitworks are looking for a detail-oriented Material Planner to support the planning and scheduling of production activities for spacecraft assembly and integration. You'll work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure materials and resources are aligned to meet production goals, helping bring spacecraft from concept to orbit with precision and collaboration.
This role begins in our Golden, Colorado facility for 6 to 9 months where you'll train alongside our experienced team before relocating to Abu Dhabi to join the pioneering crew building the UAE's first satellite manufacturing hub.
About the Role :
- Develop and maintain material planning and Material Requirements Planning (MRP) processes, ensuring alignment across all teams
- Interface with inventory, receiving, and logistics teams to align inbound, kitting, and internal movement of parts
- Synthesize inputs from cross-functional teams such as Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, and Programs to align with the Master Production Schedule (MPS) that supports emerging and contractual demands. Collaborate with the production planner to ensure kit readiness for AIT work order releases.
- Coordinate workload across multiple programs and prioritize material requests based on production needs to ensure timely releases
- Track and report material availability vs. planned demand, including shortages and critical path items
- Manage material demand integrity for components and subassemblies within the ERP system, driving procurement and production schedules to meet commitments
- Maintain and update MRP system data, ensuring alignment with engineering BOMs and proper account assignment settings for stock items
- Proactively identify and resolve potential issues with supply chain bottlenecks or production schedules
- Provide regular reports on inventory status, schedule risks, and material forecasts to leadership and stakeholders
- Support continuous improvement of planning processes (MRP planning cycles) and system enhancements (Analytics, ECO impact analysis) to improve overall production flow and efficiency
Must Haves :
3+ years of experience in production planning, scheduling, or inventory managementBachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)Strong working knowledge of MRP / ERP systems (NetSuite or similar)Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and / or MS Project for data analysis, scheduling, and forecastingSolid understanding of BOM structures, routings, and inventory management principlesExcellent communication and collaboration skills across departmentsStrong attention to detail and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environmentBOM & MRP Planning Expertise synchronize material flow with production and engineering configurationERP System Proficiency manage demand signals and inventory status via ERPCross-functional Coordination collaborate with procurement, logistics, AIT, and engineeringData Accuracy & Attention to Detail critical for kit readiness, build quality, and delivery performanceProblem Solving & Escalation address shortages, late POs, or quality holds effectivelyUnderstanding of Aerospace / High-Mix Manufacturing necessary for complex, regulated buildsNice to Haves :
Experience with serialized and lot-traced materialsCleanroom kitting or space-grade handling experienceFamiliarity with ECO / change control processesSQL or other data programming skills for automation and reportingFamiliarity with Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologiesAPICS or PMI certifications (CPIM, CSCP, PMP)Orbitworks' mission is to make space simple for organizations that want to deploy physical and virtual missions to space. Building on Loft Orbital's heritage, Orbitworks will be the first commercial firm in the United Arab Emirates to mass-manufacture satellites. Orbitworks aims to manufacture tens of satellites annually and operates out of a 50,000-square-foot facility in Abu Dhabi.