Production Planning Engineer

Are you passionate about human space exploration, understanding the origins of the universe, and working with a passionate and diverse team to make a difference? We need your talent, teamwork, and energy to help us achieve great things that inspire people all over the globe. Bring creative ideas and diverse backgrounds to help us envision, shape, and deliver systems that will enable the exploration of space while benefiting people here on Earth.

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Production Planning Engineer to join the team with Nexus, a teammate company. The Production Planning Engineer will develop and maintain systems critical to NASA’s deep space exploration pursuits.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the Master Production Schedule (MPS) for production and processing services (soft goods fabrication, electrical production, event support, testing, etc.), ensuring alignment with program milestones and on-time deliveries.
• Communicate project progress, status, and potential issues to stakeholders and leadership.
• Serve as the planning focal for program hardware builds, from procurement through delivery.
• Lead cross-functional production planning reviews and provide regular status to senior leadership.
• Own capacity planning, make/buy decisions, and scenario modeling to inform critical path strategies.
• Drive proactive risk management by identifying and resolving bottlenecks and delays.
• Integrate planning activities within ERP/MRP/MES systems, ensuring configuration integrity.
• Collaborate with leadership to optimize build sequencing and resource allocation.
• Track production KPIs, generate dashboards, and deliver planning insights.
• Analyze production data to optimize lead times, reduce waste, and improve efficiency.
• Mentor junior team members and support their professional development.
• Perform additional job duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field.
• Experience in manufacturing, assembly, and testing of critical hardware.
• 10+ years of production planning or project management experience, preferably in the aerospace field.
• Familiarity with engineering drawings and GD&T interpretation.
• Strong knowledge of scheduling tools (MS Project, Primavera).
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and make informed scheduling decisions.
• Demonstrated attention to detail.
• Experience working in an Agile work environment preferred.
• Proven organization skills to meet tight deadlines with high-quality results.
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship or US Permanent Residency is required.
• Must be able to complete a U.S. government background investigation.
• Must be willing to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet critical project milestones.

Preferences

• A resilient and proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Passion for space and the mission.
• Entrepreneurial, growth mindset.
• High emotional intelligence and ability to collaborate within teams and cross-functionally.

Benefits

• Excellent personal and professional career growth opportunities.
• 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off), when applicable.
• Onsite cafeteria (breakfast & lunch).
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching).
• Educational reimbursement.
• Parental leave.
• Employee stock purchase plan.
• Tax-saving options.
• Disability and life insurance.
• Pet insurance.

Note: Benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and applicable agreements.

Work Environment

• Generally an office environment, but can involve inside or outside work depending on task.
• Work may involve sitting or standing for extended periods (90% of time).
• May require lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. (5% of time).
• Standard office equipment (PC, telephone, printer, etc.).
• Regular attendance in accordance with established work schedule is critical.
• Ability to work outside normal schedule and adjust to meet peak periods and surge requirements.