Materials Planner

Description: Analyzes manufacturing, enterprise resource planning, and other material requirements based on needs of assembly demands, component replenishments, substitute parts/materials, production set-ups, engineering changes and enterprise supplies. Resolves schedule, material requirement or business system problems with cross-functional representatives. Approves part or material requisitions and initiates production and purchase change orders. Resolves master schedules and production problems and negotiates lead times.

Background/Need: - The Fabrication Engineering Group realizes prototype systems that demonstrate advanced technology. The group provides innovative fabrication, assembly, integration, and test of advanced hardware prototypes for national security applications. The group is involved from the initial design through the final build including important operational elements such as production control and material management. The group concentrates on high-complexity parts, quick-turn capabilities and activities that require concurrent engineering with program teams. Specific examples of fabrication activities include the precision machining of fiber mounts for airborne high energy laser systems, multi-functional structures using additive processes for ground-based radar systems, custom printed circuit boards (PCBs) for space-borne data processing, and highly integrated mechanical packaging for undersea communication terminals. Core mechanical competencies span precision fabrication, additive manufacturing, and 5-axis machining. Core PCB assembly capabilities include design for manufacturability (DFM), advanced solder paste jet dispensing, flexible surface mount technology (SMT) pick-n-place systems, and automated optical inspection (AOI) machines. Assembly, integration, and test (AI&T) capabilities include integration spaces, clean rooms, vibration testing, thermal testing, and space simulation chambers. The Group focuses on state-of-practice prototyping capabilities, exceptional collaboration, operational proficiency and technical excellence.

The Fabrication Engineering Group seeks a talented, creative, and motivated individual to strengthen the Group’s ability to provide rapid and innovative solutions to challenging problems. The successful candidate will work as part of an interdisciplinary program team providing fabrication expertise, coordinating design for manufacturability reviews, facilitating fabrication activities, and developing and executing program fabrication plans working in close collaboration with program teams, internal shop operations, and Group members. A unique aspect of client is that we develop prototype systems rather than high volume production.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Develop and manage the plans for internally and externally fabricated components to support prototype development for a multitude of part commodity types and programs
• Coordinate with the multi-faceted cross-functional team and program contacts to align fabrication execution plan to program and technical needs
• Translate technical data provided into process instructions to execute fabrication and assembly of prototype hardware
• Utilize planning tools to provide capacity analysis, cost, and schedule estimates to group and programs
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and manage projects related to fabrication, procurement, and project planning
• Develop strong working relationships with vendor base contacts that support external sourcing of key components for prototype development and fabrication

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in a Technical/STEM discipline
• 2 years of professional experience
• Ability to collaborate with cross functional team members to drive projects forward and to push forward action plans.

Preferred:

• Six Sigma experience or other manufacturing type methodologies.
• Previous experience working with a team of engineers to solve problems, execute fabrications, plan for manufacturing layout, etc.
• Project coordination type experience, in the sense of helping move an idea to execution (start to finish).

Managers Note: - The ideal candidate will come from an engineering background/education (vs supply chain background). The team has significant existing experience in the supply chain space and needs someone that is working in a manufacturing environment as a Process Engineer or someone in a construction type position as Field Site Engineer or in Pharma in a Production Engineer type.

Others:

• Clearance: Interim clearance is sufficient to start.
• Work Location: This candidate should expect to be onsite 5 days/wk with some flexibility as needed (but no set remote days)
• Interview Process: Initial zooms prescreen and then an in-person interview with an interview panel