Production AIT Planner

Practicus; Harwell; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Practicus is seeking a Production AIT Planner to support manufacturing and delivery of advanced satellite-electronics programmes at Harwell. You will orchestrate production schedules, AIT workflows, and shop-floor execution across Design, Procurement, Quality, Test, and Logistics to drive operational efficiency.

Working in a hybrid setting (4 days on-site, 1 day WFH), you will tackle bottlenecks, maintain data and risk registers, and ensure ECSS/ISO 9001 compliance while mentoring junior

Qualifications

• 4+ years in production planning, manufacturing operations, or AIT within space/high-tech sectors.
• Experience planning and controlling complex, multi-disciplinary hardware programmes.
• Hands-on experience with MES/ERP tools and AIT workflows.
• Strong Lean/Six Sigma background (Green Belt minimum).
• Excellent communication to influence cross-functional teams without authority.
• Experience with space flight hardware and ECSS/space agency frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage production schedule and AIT workflows for satellite-electronics programmes.
• Drive continuous improvement to increase throughput and reduce rework on the shop floor.
• Coordinate Design, Procurement, Quality, Test and Logistics to resolve bottlenecks.
• Maintain production data, risk registers, and status reporting using MES/ERP tools.
• Ensure compliance with ECSS/ISO 9001 and configuration-control processes.
• Embed in-process inspections and NC tracking with certification test sequences.
• Present status data to senior leadership and external customers/agencies; train staff.

Skills

Production planning

AIT workflows

Lean Six Sigma

MES/ERP systems

Cross-functional influence

Space hardware knowledge

Education

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Tools

MES/ERP tools

Job description

Harwell | 4 days on-site / 1 day WFH

The Role

A leading organisation within the space sector is seeking a Production AIT Planner to support the manufacturing and delivery of advanced satellite-electronics programmes.

Working as part of an active engineering and operations function, you will play a key role in orchestrating production schedules, AIT workflows, and shop-floor execution throughout the manufacturing lifecycle. You will work closely with Design, Procurement, Quality, Test, and Logistics teams to drive operational efficiency, resolve production bottlenecks, and ensure complex space hardware progresses smoothly from initial routing through to final delivery.

• Plan and manage the production schedule and AIT workflows, including developing routings and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for satellite-electronics programmes
• Drive continuous improvement (Lean/Six Sigma) across the production floor and AIT labs to increase throughput, reduce rework, and improve first-time-right rates
• Coordinate cross-functional teams (Design, Procurement, Quality, Test, Logistics) to resolve bottlenecks, technical issues, and configuration changes
• Maintain accurate production data, risk registers, and status reporting using MES/ERP and AIT-specific tools
• Ensure compliance with space industry standards (ECSS, ISO 9001) and programme-specific configuration-control processes
• Work alongside Quality Assurance to embed in-process inspections, non-conformance (NC) tracking, and swift closure while ensuring activities meet required certification test sequences
• Present technical status data clearly to senior leadership and external customers/agencies (e.g. ESA, UK Space Agency), while training junior planners and technicians on production procedures

What We’re Looking For

• 4+ years of experience in production planning, manufacturing operations, or AIT within the space, satellite-electronics, or high-tech defence sectors
• Proven track record planning and controlling complex, multi-discipline hardware programmes
• Hands-on experience with MES/ERP tools and AIT production workflows
• Strong process-improvement background with a Lean / Six Sigma qualification (Green Belt minimum)
• Excellent communication skills with a proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority
• Experience across space flight hardware, phased array antennas, or on-board processing technologies
• Familiarity with spacecraft-level or unit-level AIT campaigns
• Exposure to ESA / UK Space Agency frameworks and ECSS standards

Compliance: Please note successful candidates will be required to undergo BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) screening, including right-to-work, identity, criminal record, and a minimum of 3 years of employment history checks, as part of the onboarding process.