Material Planner
Golden, CO
Orbitworks – Operations /
Full time /
On-site
Wanna join the adventure?
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 releasesTrack 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 management
- Bachelor’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 forecasting
- Solid understanding of BOM structures, routings, and inventory management principles
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills across departments
- Strong attention to detail and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- BOM & MRP Planning Expertise – synchronize material flow with production and engineering configuration
- ERP System Proficiency – manage demand signals and inventory status via ERP
- Cross-functional Coordination – collaborate with procurement, logistics, AIT, and engineering
- Data Accuracy & Attention to Detail – critical for kit readiness, build quality, and delivery performance
- Problem Solving & Escalation – address shortages, late POs, or quality holds effectively
- Understanding of Aerospace/High-Mix Manufacturing – necessary for complex, regulated builds
Nice to Haves:
- Experience with serialized and lot-traced materials
- Cleanroom kitting or space-grade handling experience
- Familiarity with ECO/change control processes
- SQL or other data programming skills for automation and reporting
- Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies
- APICS 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.
