Program Material Planner

Position Title: Program Material Planner

Requisition ID: 1908

Position Location: Sterling, VA

Position Reports To: Material Planning Manager

Supervises Others: No

At Trident Systems Space Electronic Systems (SES) division, we believe in the power of using strong engineering principles to drive innovation and solve complex problems. We foster a culture of rigorous engineering and continuous improvement, leveraging the full knowledge of our organization through collaborative product development processes that include design and peer reviews. We combine our expertise in space electronics with right-sized development processes to create innovative, high-performance space-based electronic systems that meet our customers' evolving needs.

We are a mission partner supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, and Civil space customers. We develop complex, radiation effects mitigated, designs that balance competing requirements in modern space programs, delivering cutting-edge solutions that enable our customers to achieve more in space.

Position Summary

The Program Material Planner (internal level III) is responsible for program-facing material ownership for assigned programs. This role serves as the primary Supply Chain point of contact for Operations Program Managers and program teams, translating schedules, demand signals, bills of material, inventory, open supply, and material risks into executable material plans. The role provides dotted-line direction to assigned Material Planner IIs, coordinates common-component planning and shortage recovery, and drives material readiness across functional teams while preserving approved planning, procurement, engineering, and quality controls.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Supply Chain point of contact for assigned programs and Operations Program Managers for material readiness, shortages, long-lead material, open supply, projected availability, and material risk.
• Own the program material interface across Planning, Procurement, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Program Management.
• Provide dotted-line priority direction to assigned Material Planner IIs supporting common components, planning signals, shortage resolution, and material recovery actions.
• Analyze schedules, demand signals, forecasts, work orders, bills of material, inventory, allocations, open supply, lead times, and planning parameters to build program material plans.
• Lead material readiness reviews covering shortages, critical parts, long-lead risks, supplier exposure, inventory constraints, and recovery actions.
• Coordinate with Procurement on approved purchasing actions, supplier commitments, expedites, de-expedites, and recovery plans.
• Align with Manufacturing and site execution teams on production schedules, kitting, staging, material movement, and build priorities.
• Partner with Engineering and Quality on part changes, nonconformances, alternates, obsolescence, new product introductions, and technical material risks.
• Support proposals and engineering changes with quote inputs, lead-time assumptions, material cost estimates, and supplier availability data.
• Maintain ERP/MRP planning data, including demand and supply status, due dates, lead times, order policies, lot sizes, planning parameters, and material status notes.
• Escalate material risks early with clear facts, recovery options, owners, and timing to protect program execution and production cadence.
• Ensure program requests are received, evaluated, and executed through approved Supply Chain governance; support occasional travel or off-site work and perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Finance, Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 4 years of material planning, production planning, buyer/planner, program material control, supply chain, or related experience in a manufacturing, aerospace and defense, electronics, or similarly regulated environment.
• Experience using ERP or MRP systems to plan material requirements, manage demand and supply signals, evaluate shortages, and maintain planning data.
• Working knowledge of bills of material, demand and supply planning, lead-time management, inventory drivers, order policies, shortage resolution, material allocation, and production schedule support.
• Ability to coordinate material readiness across Planning, Procurement, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Program Management.
• Experience communicating material status, projected availability, risks, recovery actions, and schedule impacts to program teams or operational leadership.
• Experience coordinating or prioritizing work through dotted-line, project, or cross-functional influence.
• Experience supporting part quoting, material cost analysis, lead-time analysis, proposal material inputs, or long-lead material planning.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, especially Excel; ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain accurate records, communicate clearly, and execute work in compliance with company procedures and contractual requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience planning electronic components, printed circuit board assemblies, machined parts, cable assemblies, or outside processing and services.
• Experience in low-volume, high-mix manufacturing environments supporting space, aerospace, or defense programs.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, Dynamics NAV, or comparable ERP/MRP systems.
• Experience using demand-driven planning methods, buffer-based replenishment concepts, or similar planning disciplines.
• Experience supporting new product introduction, engineering changes, long-lead material planning, production readiness, or material recovery efforts.
• Familiarity with government contracting material controls, including FAR or DFARS flowdowns, counterfeit parts prevention, and AS9100D or ISO9001 quality systems; CPIM, CSCP, or similar supply chain certification preferred.

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $67,000 - $111,000

Please Note: Actual compensation offered will be determined based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills, education, certifications, internal equity, business considerations, and geographic location where applicable.

Benefits

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits including but not limited to:

• Health benefits
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Basic life with AD&D
  • Short term disability
  • Long term disability
  • Ancillary (Voluntary life with AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital, and pet)
  • Spending accounts (HSA, FSA, and DCFSA)
• Paid time off
• Holidays
• 401(k) (including company match)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Leaves (Parental, maternity, and military)
• Annual discretionary bonus (for eligible roles)

Trident Systems reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Trident Solutions is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [email protected].

Pay Transparency: The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)