Senior Material Planner

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

Role:

We are seeking an experienced Senior Material Planner to lead material planning and inventory execution across production and new product introduction (NPI) programs. This role is critical to ensuring the right materials are available at the right time to support the build and delivery of next-generation space communication systems.

You will own end-to-end material planning activities, translating demand, production schedules, and engineering changes into actionable procurement and inventory strategies. Working closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Strategic Sourcing, Mission Management, and the Sites team, you will ensure material availability while balancing inventory investment, supplier lead times, and production priorities.

As a member of the Supply Chain team, you will proactively identify material constraints, develop mitigation plans, and drive cross-functional alignment to minimize production disruptions. You will play a key role in optimizing planning processes, improving ERP data accuracy, and supporting the company’s rapid growth through scalable planning practices.

This role requires exceptional analytical skills, a deep understanding of MRP planning, and the ability to make data-driven decisions in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities. If you enjoy solving complex supply chain challenges and directly contributing to the success of cutting-edge aerospace hardware, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities:

• Own material planning and inventory management for assigned product lines, executing MRP planning activities to ensure material availability for production, NPI, engineering builds, and customer demand.

• Analyze demand, inventory, supplier lead times, and production schedules to develop material forecasts, identify shortages, manage supply commitments, and drive material readiness through cross-functional collaboration with Strategic Sourcing, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Program Management.

• Optimize inventory performance by maintaining planning parameters (lead times, safety stock, reorder points, lot sizing, and planning policies), supporting ECOs, product transitions, and NPI while minimizing excess and obsolete inventory.

• Perform root cause analysis on material shortages, inventory discrepancies, and planning exceptions, implementing corrective actions and continuous improvements to improve inventory health, planning accuracy, and operational performance.

• Maintain accurate planning data within ERP systems, including item master data, BOMs, supplier information, and planning parameters, while developing dashboards and reporting to monitor material availability, inventory health, supplier performance, and schedule adherence.

• Contribute to the growth and scalability of the planning organization by leading inventory optimization initiatives, improving planning processes, and mentoring junior planners.

Basic Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in material planning, production planning, supply chain, or inventory management within a manufacturing environment.

• Strong understanding of MRP/ERP planning systems and experience managing material availability for complex manufacturing or production environments.

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, formulas, and data analysis.

• Experience working cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Operations teams, utilizing strong analytical, organizational, prioritization and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Startup, high-growth, or NPI manufacturing experience

• Background in aerospace, satellite, telecommunications, electronics, or defense industries or familiarity with PCBAs, electromechanical assemblies, or other complex hardware systems.

• Experience with the Manufacturo MRP system, SQL, Superset or other data visualization tools.

• Experience with inventory optimization, demand forecasting, and capacity planning.

Additional Information:

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.