Planner/ Inventory Manager

Role Overview 

We are seeking a Planner / Inventory Manager to own material planning and inventory accuracy in support of active hardware build campaigns. Reporting to the Director of Supply Chain, this role will focus on translating BOM releases and program build schedules into an executable material plan: maintaining the parts planning tracker, tracking demand against on-hand and incoming inventory, and ensuring Manufacturing has the right parts, in the right place, at the right time. This is a hands-on execution role suited for someone who is comfortable working in a fast-moving environment. This role also supports the purchase order process — tracking, receipt, and induction — and creates POs as needed in support of Supply Chain.

Key Responsibilities

Parts Planning & Demand Planning

• Own and maintain the parts planning tracker, cross-referencing released BOM revisions, supplier lead times, and current inventory to identify demand and gap risk before it hits the build floor 

• Translate program build schedules into part-level need dates, flagging shortfalls with enough runway for Supply Chain to act 

• Maintain visibility into what's on hand, on order, and committed against upcoming build needs

Inventory Accuracy & Control 

• Support material receipt process, ensuring material is inducted and transferred to next owner in a timely manner 

• Own inventory accuracy through regular cycle counts and reconciliation against system-of-record data 

• Maintain bin/location management and correct discrepancies as they're found, not just at count time 

• Flag excess, obsolete, or at-risk inventory to Supply Chain leadership

Build Support & Material Staging 

• Sequence and stage part availability for Manufacturing against the build schedule 

• Coordinate with Manufacturing to resolve material shortages before they impact the build floor 

• Support staging and material readiness ahead of key program milestones

Purchase Order & Lead Time Tracking 

• Support Purchase Order process: requisitions, RFQ/RFP, supplier coordination, PO creation, order tracking, receipt, and invoice reconciliation

• Track open purchase orders against quoted and confirmed lead times, flagging discrepancies (e.g., conflicting verbal vs. contractual delivery estimates) before they become schedule risk. 

• Monitor incoming deliveries and proactively surface at-risk or delayed orders to internal stakeholders 

• Maintain accurate order status data across tracking tools (e.g., Silk Line and the parts planning tracker)

BOM & Engineering Coordination

• Coordinate with Engineering on BOM revisions and part-number changes, ensuring the parts planning tracker and build staging plans stay synced to the current released BOM 
• Flag and correct recurring data-quality issues (e.g., truncated part numbers from wrapped-cell exports) before they propagate downstream 
• Surface open questions on part designations, quantities, or supplier assignments rather than resolving them silently

Cross-Functional Support 

• Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Program teams to support build schedules and test campaign timelines
• Help identify long-lead or constrained items based on current and upcoming demand 
• Support program milestone planning with material-availability input

Systems & Data Management 

• Support daily use and continuous improvement of the parts planning tracker and related tools 
• Maintain clean, accurate, and current data across inventory, demand, and order-tracking systems 
• Support improved data visibility and reporting across supply chain activities

Compliance & Documentation 

• Ensure inventory and material handling activities adhere to ITAR and internal policies, including export-controlled parts handling 
• Maintain accurate documentation for material staging, cycle counts, and material dispositions 
• Support audit readiness and traceability requirements

Qualifications

• 2–5 years of experience in production planning, inventory control, or materials management — aerospace, defense, or hardware startup environment strongly preferred 

• Working knowledge of BOM structures, parts-planning/MRP concepts, and supplier lead-time management 

• Strong Excel/spreadsheet skills; experience with ERP or supplier database tools a plus 

• Familiarity with ITAR-controlled materials handling a plus

Who You Are 

• Detail-oriented: You catch part number, quantity, and lead-time discrepancies before they become downstream problems 

• Execution-focused: You keep material staging and inventory data current, not just accurate at count time 

• Collaborative: You work effectively across Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain 

• Comfortable with ambiguity: You're effective in an environment where processes are still being built 

• Proactive: You flag risks and gaps early rather than waiting to be asked

Success in This Role Looks Like 

• Manufacturing consistently has the parts it needs, when it needs them 

• Inventory data is accurate and trusted without requiring manual double-checks 

• Material risks (lead time, shortages, BOM changes) are surfaced early, not discovered at the build floor 

• The parts planning tracker is a reliable single source of truth for part status across the program

ITAR
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Compensation:

Salary: $120000- $160000 + Equity + Benefits ( Healthcare, Vision, Dental, 401k, and Lunch)

About the Company:

We are an Aerospace & Defense startup headquartered in Gardena, CA. Our founding team hails from SpaceX, Anduril, and Lockheed Martin, and we are backed by Joint Staff-level military leadership and top-tier Silicon Valley rms. We're assembling a high urgency team committed to moving fast, solving hard problems, and defending what matters most. With a world-class business development & leadership team already in place, we are well positioned to capitalize on already overwhelming demand.