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Production Planner – Level 2/3

San Diego, California, United States
Full Time On-site
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: None

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

The Mission Enabling Products Structures Business Unit of Northrop Grumman, designs, manufactures and operates small and medium-class spacecraft for communications, imaging, scientific, exploration and national security space applications. MEP is leading supplier of space components that power and enable satellites of all classes, provides technical engineering services to government agencies and laboratories, and is developing exciting new satellite servicing and advanced space flight technologies.

The Structures Business Unit is seeking a Production Planner to join our team.  This position is located in San Diego, CA.

This role may be filled as either a level 2 or level 3.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Planner must understand manufacturing capacity and allocate as required to meet build plan commitments. Expedites and reschedules open purchase orders to suit production-planning requirement.
  • Create and release manufacturing orders based on bill-of-materials and configuration. Close work orders after sub-assemblies, ensure assemblies and integration are complete.
  • Track material shortages for manufacturing orders, kits, sub-assemblies based on bill-of-material or drawings/configuration. Communicate to program team and management critical part shortages that will jeopardize ship schedule.
  • Maintain inventory including shelf life sensitive material and tooling for the program.
  • Coordinates and expedites flow of materials, parts, and assemblies between departments, according to manufacturing schedules or priorities, and compiles and maintains manual or computerized record.
  • Prepares purchase requests for the purchase of components or parts based on a master production schedule, shop load, and inventory requirements.
  • Perform work order variance analysis and review MRP execution and ensures accuracy of information, reconciles supply and demand, validates master scheduling requirement.
  • Update Work Orders based on Engineering Change Orders (ECOs).
  • Performs material cycle counts, assists with program close out and disposition.

Basic Qualifications for a level 2:

  • High School Diploma or equivalent with a minimum of 2 years of production planning using ERP Systems (Costpoint a plus).
  • Production control planning and scheduling experience within an aerospace manufacturing environment
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to work under pressure and very tight timelines.
  • Strong computer literacy using an ERP system and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).
  • Must have strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Must be able to walk or stand for extended periods of time as needed
  • Be willing to work overtime, as needed

Basic Qualifications for a level 3:

  • High School Diploma or equivalent with a minimum of 4 years of production planning using ERP Systems (Costpoint a plus).
  • Understanding and ability to apply continuous improvement terminology/tools: LEAN, Six Sigma principles/Lean design principles, Value Stream, and Kaizen
  • Production control planning and scheduling experience within an aerospace manufacturing environment
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to work under pressure and very tight timelines.
  • Strong computer literacy using an ERP system and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).
  • Must have strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Must be able to walk or stand for extended periods of time as needed
  • Be willing to work overtime, as needed

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Demonstrates understanding and is able to apply continuous improvement terminology/tools: LEAN, Six Sigma principles/Lean design principles, Value Stream, and Kaizen.

Primary Level Salary Range: $56,000.00 - $93,400.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $0.00 - $0.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States, building advanced systems across space, air, land, sea, and cyber domains. The company is known for some of the most complex defense programs in the world, including stealth aircraft, autonomous systems, missile defense technologies, satellites, and space-based intelligence platforms that support U.S. national security operations.

For job seekers, Northrop Grumman offers careers across a wide range of high-impact fields including aerospace engineering, software development, cybersecurity, systems engineering, manufacturing, program management, and intelligence support. The company is especially attractive to veterans, cleared professionals, and engineers who want to work on mission-critical systems that directly support the Department of Defense and intelligence community. Many roles involve long-term programs with significant technical depth and real-world operational impact.

Unlike smaller defense startups focused on narrow capabilities, Northrop Grumman operates across multiple major mission areas, giving employees exposure to highly advanced programs such as stealth platforms, space systems, autonomous vehicles, and next-generation command-and-control systems. The company is also a major leader in classified space and intelligence systems, where cutting-edge engineering and secure infrastructure play a critical role in national defense.

As global competition in space, cyber, and advanced military systems continues to intensify, Northrop Grumman remains one of the most strategically important employers in the defense industry. For professionals seeking stable, highly technical careers with long-term impact on national security, Northrop Grumman continues to stand out as a leading destination in aerospace and defense.

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