Production Planner III-Composites

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

As an end-to-end responsive space company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. Our small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles allow us to service the entire lifecycle of government and commercial missions from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. We utilize carbon composite structures, patented propulsion technologies, and common components across our vehicles to iterate quickly, improve reliability, and deliver payloads at a lower cost.

SUMMARY

The Carbon Composites – Production Planner (Level 3) ensures that composite parts and assemblies flow efficiently through kitting, layup, cure, machining, inspection, and integration in accordance with program milestones. This role is pivotal to maintaining schedule integrity across operations that rely on fiber-based composite materials (prepreg, dry fiber, resin systems) and specialized processes such as autoclave curing and bonding.

You will track production flow, manage work-in-progress, and proactively identify and resolve constraints in materials, tools, or operations that could impact build readiness. This role requires familiarity with composite manufacturing techniques and a strong foundation in MRP-based planning, allowing the planner to bridge technical production detail with supply chain execution and program demand.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own and drive the production plan for composites work centers (layup, cure, machining, bonding, finishing).
• Coordinate raw material requirements (e.g., prepreg, dry fiber, resin systems, adhesives, films) to support composite builds.
• Partner with Materials, Manufacturing Engineering, and Technicians to ensure composite part kits are complete, consumables are stocked, and tooling availability is aligned.
• Track MOs through composite-specific processes and identify bottlenecks before they impact delivery.
• Ensure traveler accuracy, schedule integrity, and WIP visibility for all composite builds.
• Develop recovery plans for delayed parts or unplanned issues such as expired materials or rework.
• Interpret technical drawings, specs, and traveler steps related to composite operations.
• Work closely with engineering to support schedule-driven design changes and new product introduction.
• Provide updates during Tier 3 and program execution meetings on part status and material readiness.
• Contribute to quarterly planning cycles by aligning composite demand with available capacity.
• Improve planning accuracy through data analysis, feedback loops, and post-mortem reviews.
• Train and mentor less experienced planners or production coordinators as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Operations, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in production planning or scheduling, with at least 2 years in composites or aerospace manufacturing.
• Familiarity with carbon and glass fiber composites, resin systems, layup techniques, vacuum bagging, and autoclave/oven curing processes.
• Proficient in MRP/ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Odoo) and tools such as Smartsheet, Jira, and Confluence.
• Demonstrated ability to manage work orders and production timelines in a dynamic environment.
• Detail-oriented with strong organization and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working across multiple teams including engineering, quality, and supply chain.
• Fluent in interpreting engineering drawings and technical documentation.
• Clear communicator with strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
• Capable of working under tight deadlines and high-pressure situations.

Desired

• APICS/ASCM certification.
• Hands-on experience working on or supporting composite operations (kitting, layup, bonding, NDI).
• Familiarity with ITAR and AS9100 aerospace quality requirements.
• Experience with SQL, Python, or similar tools for production analytics.

Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short term disability, pet Insurance, and flexible PTO options.

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.

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on 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