Production Planner

Description

COMPANY OVERVIEW

We are a defense technology company building next-generation systems engineered for manufacturability, scalability, and rapid deployment. Manufacturing isn't simply a function of our business it's a core competitive advantage. The technologies we develop have the potential to redefine modern defense, and delivering on that mission requires world-class production capabilities at speed and scale.

Operating in stealth mode, we've raised more than $250 million in funding and are investing aggressively to expand our global manufacturing footprint, accelerate production capacity, and build the infrastructure needed to deliver mission-critical capabilities to customers around the world.

To achieve this vision, we've assembled a world-class leadership team of proven operators across engineering, sales, manufacturing, and operations. As we enter our next phase of growth and prepare to emerge from stealth, we're looking for exceptional leaders who are eager to build, scale, and leave a lasting impact on the future of defense technology.

THE ROLE

We are seeking a proactive, detail-oriented, and hands - on Production Planner to serve as the critical bridge between our Supply Chain, Procurement, and Shop Floor Manufacturing teams in Leipzig. Acting as the practical, on-the-floor arm of the Production Director, you will drive production scheduling, material availability, and workflow optimization to ensure our lines run seamlessly and on schedule. Further you will be also responsible for providing planning information to the procurement and supply chain groups for both short-term and mid-term planning.

The ideal candidate possesses a deep operational understanding of manufacturing processes and complex assemblies and planning processes. You will anticipate risks, proactively eliminate critical path bottlenecks, and maintain tight alignment with Buyers and Shop Floor Leaders to transform demand schedules into flawless production execution.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Bridge Supply Chain & Production: Serve as the primary liaison between supply chain, buyers, and production teams to ensure aligned schedules and seamless operational flow.
• Production & Material Scheduling: Develop, maintain, and execute daily and weekly production schedules. Determine precisely what materials need to reach the assembly lines and when, verifying that proper inventory is staged in advance.
• Proactive Bottleneck & Risk Management: Deeply analyze production sequences and assembly workflows to foresee risks, identify critical paths, and address potential material shortages or line delays before they impact delivery schedules.
• Buyer & Procurement Alignment: Work directly with Buyers and Procurement Specialists to track incoming purchase orders, prioritize urgent parts, and ensure material delivery timelines align with manufacturing targets.
• Short- and mid-term production planning: Establish mid-term production plans for procurement and supplychain in close cooperation with the sales and procurement teams (Sales and Operations Planning).
• ERP System Ownership: Maintain high data integrity within the ERP system, managing Work Orders (WOs), Bill of Materials (BOM) availability, inventory movements, and shop floor status updates.
• Capacity & Workflow Optimization: Monitor production line throughput, work-in-progress (WIP), and station capacity to support continuous improvement and scalable serial production.

Requirements

• Production Planning Experience: 3+ years of experience in production planning, material control, or scheduling within a fast-paced manufacturing environment (e.g., aerospace, defense, automotive, or high-tech hardware).
• ERP Proficiency: Proven hands-on experience managing production modules, Work Orders, and MRP/BOM structures within ERP systems (e.g., SAP, NetSuite, Infor, or similar).
• Hands-on Shop Floor Mindset: Strong physical presence on the shop floor with a practical, root-cause problem-solving approach to manufacturing challenges.
• Proactive Ownership: Highly autonomous and self-motivated, with a proven ability to anticipate risks, take immediate initiative, and see the big picture without waiting for direction.
• Cross-Functional Communication: Excellent communication skills to effectively coordinate between engineering, purchasing, quality, and shop-floor technicians.
• Languages: Professional proficiency in English and German.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or equivalent practical experience.
• Sales and Operations Planning experience
• Prior experience in aerospace, defense, or complex electromechanical hardware manufacturing.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing principles, 5S, or Kanban scheduling systems.

WHAT MAKES YOU SUCCESSFUL

• Operational Instincts: You intuitively understand how physical assembly lines operate and how minor material delays impact overall delivery milestones.
• Relentless Follow-Through: You don't just track material on paper-you walk the floor, check the staging areas, and verify that the right parts are physically in place.
• Thriving in Ambiguity: You excel in a fast-paced, high-growth startup environment where processes are actively being established, taking pride in bringing structure to dynamic operational settings.
• Ability to work across / with several functions