Production and Test Planner

YOUR MISSION 

As Production and Test Planner, you will be the backbone of production and test scheduling for True Anomaly's spacecraft delivery operations. You will own the day-to-day coordination, detailed scheduling, and capacity tracking that enables the Production and Test Engineering team to execute on aggressive timelines. You will build and maintain detailed production schedules, track work orders through MRP/PLM systems, coordinate with engineering and technicians to sequence builds and tests, and provide real-time visibility into schedule status and bottlenecks. You will partner with the Director of Production and Test Engineering to translate program milestones into executable work packages, identify resource constraints before they become problems, and ensure that every spacecraft moves through the production pipeline efficiently. This role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to balance competing priorities while maintaining schedule discipline and clear communication across teams. 

  

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Build and maintain detailed production and test schedules at the work order and task level using MRP/PLM/MES systems. 

• Coordinate daily and weekly scheduling with production technicians, test engineers, and manufacturing engineers to sequence work efficiently. 

• Track work order status, identify schedule slips or resource conflicts, and escalate risks to leadership proactively. 

• Provide inputs to the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) by translating detailed production schedules into program-level milestones. 

• Perform capacity analysis and workload forecasting to identify staffing needs, equipment bottlenecks, and facility constraints. 

• Coordinate test stand and facility reservations (TVAC, vibration, EMI/EMC, FlatSat) to maximize utilization and minimize idle time. 

• Generate schedule reports and metrics (on-time delivery, cycle time, resource utilization) for leadership review. 

• Support production meetings by providing schedule status, highlighting critical path items, and tracking action items to closure. 

• Work with procurement and supply chain to ensure materials and tooling are available to support scheduled builds. 

• Maintain accurate records of as-built configurations, test completions, and schedule performance in PLM/MES systems. 

• Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying schedule inefficiencies and recommending process changes. 

  

What Success Looks Like 

• Production and test schedules are accurate, up-to-date, and trusted by the team as the single source of truth. 

• Schedule conflicts and resource bottlenecks are identified early and resolved before they impact delivery. 

• Work orders flow smoothly through production with minimal delays or rework due to planning issues. 

• Leadership has clear visibility into schedule performance, risks, and capacity utilization at all times. 

• Test facilities and equipment are scheduled efficiently with high utilization and minimal conflicts. 

• Schedule metrics show continuous improvement in on-time delivery, cycle time, and predictability. 

  

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, or related field, or equivalent experience. 

• 3+ years of experience in production planning, scheduling, or operations coordination in manufacturing or aerospace environments. 

• Proficiency with MRP, PLM, or MES systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Epicor, Arena, Dassault, Siemens Teamcenter). 

• Strong knowledge of production scheduling principles, capacity planning, and critical path analysis. 

• Experience coordinating schedules across multiple teams and functional areas with competing priorities. 

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present schedule status and risks clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders. 

• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple concurrent schedules. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Project, or equivalent scheduling and analysis tools. 

  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Experience in aerospace, space systems, or high-reliability manufacturing environments. 

• Familiarity with AS9100/ISO9001 production standards and quality management systems. 

• Experience with test facility scheduling (TVAC, vibration, shock, EMI/EMC, environmental chambers). 

• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles, value stream mapping, and cycle time reduction techniques. 

• Experience building or contributing to Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) for complex programs. 

• Familiarity with Gantt charts, PERT charts, and critical path scheduling methodologies. 

• Proficiency with data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI) or scripting languages (Python, SQL) for schedule analytics. 

• Understanding of spacecraft assembly, integration, and test workflows. 

• Active DoD clearance or ability to obtain one is a plus. 

• Bachelor’s Degree