Manufacturing Planner

Powerus; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Powerus is seeking a Manufacturing Planner in Charlotte, NC to build and maintain production plans that optimize inventory and on-time delivery. You will work across engineering, procurement, production, logistics and supply chain.

The role emphasizes scheduling, material availability, and continuous improvement in a fast-growing defense technology environment. Candidates should have experience with NetSuite and strong analytical skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent practical experience.
• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing planning, production planning or supply chain.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems in manufacturing, specifically NetSuite.
• Strong understanding of production scheduling, capacity planning and inventory management.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills with data-driven approach.
• Proficiency with Excel and production reporting tools.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain daily, weekly and monthly production schedules.
• Create and manage work orders within NetSuite.
• Monitor production progress and adjust schedules as needed.
• Coordinate priorities with manufacturing leadership to maximize throughput.
• Support new product introductions by integrating requirements into production plans.
• Partner with procurement and supply chain to ensure material availability.
• Balance production with inventory targets while minimizing excess stock.
• Monitor inventory levels and optimize turns and working capital.
• Analyze capacity and labor availability to create realistic plans.
• Participate in S&OP, demand planning and production reviews.
• Identify bottlenecks and drive improvements in planning accuracy and efficiency.
• Develop and maintain planning reports and dashboards.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to align production with business priorities.

Skills

Production scheduling

Capacity planning

Inventory management

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Organization

Communication

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Thrives in fast-paced environment

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Business or related discipline

APICS CPIM/CSCP or similar professional certification

Tools

NetSuite

Excel

ERP systems

MRP systems

Job description

Powerus is a fast-growing American defense technology company developing autonomous systems, advanced manufacturing capabilities and mission-critical technologies for defense, national security and commercial customers.

About the Role

As we continue to scale our manufacturing operations, we are seeking a Manufacturing Planner to build and maintain production plans that support operational excellence, inventory optimization and on-time customer delivery. This is a highly visible role that sits at the heart of our manufacturing operation and works across engineering, procurement, production, logistics and supply chain.

Responsibilities

• Production Planning & Scheduling
• Develop and maintain daily, weekly and monthly production schedules based on customer demand, manufacturing capacity and material availability.
• Create and manage work orders within Netsuite.
• Monitor production progress and adjust schedules to respond to changing priorities, material shortages, engineering changes or production constraints.
• Coordinate production priorities with manufacturing leadership to maximize throughput and resource utilization.
• Support new product introductions by integrating new manufacturing requirements into production schedules.
• Supply Chain & Inventory Planning
• Partner with procurement and supply chain teams to ensure timely availability of materials and critical components.
• Balance production requirements with inventory targets while minimizing excess inventory and shortages.
• Monitor inventory levels and recommend actions to improve inventory turns and reduce working capital.
• Coordinate material planning activities to support uninterrupted manufacturing operations.
• Capacity & Operational Planning
• Analyze production capacity, labor availability and manufacturing constraints to develop realistic production plans.
• Identify bottlenecks and recommend solutions to improve schedule performance.
• Participate in Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), demand planning and production review meetings.
• Support manufacturing readiness for increased production volumes as the business scales.
• Performance & Continuous Improvement
• Track and report key performance indicators including schedule attainment, on-time delivery, production efficiency, inventory performance and capacity utilization.
• Identify opportunities to improve planning accuracy, manufacturing efficiency and cross-functional communication.
• Develop and maintain planning reports, dashboards and system data.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing, planning and supply chain operations.
• Cross Functional Collaboration
• Work closely with engineering, manufacturing, procurement, logistics, quality and customer-facing teams to align production with business priorities.
• Communicate production schedules, changes and potential risks to internal stakeholders.
• Support customer delivery commitments by proactively identifying and resolving planning challenges before they impact production.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Business or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing planning, production planning, supply chain or operations.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems in a manufacturing environment - specifically Netsuite.
• Strong understanding of production scheduling, capacity planning and inventory management.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills.
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Excel and production reporting tools.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-growth manufacturing environment.

Preferred Skills

• Experience within aerospace, defense, electronics, robotics, automotive or advanced manufacturing.
• Experience supporting low-volume, high-mix manufacturing operations.
• Familiarity with demand planning, S&OP and inventory optimization.
• Experience with NetSuite or similar ERP platforms.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or continuous improvement methodologies.
• APICS CPIM, CSCP or similar professional certification.

Pay range and compensation package

What Success Looks Like

• Production schedules are accurate, achievable and consistently executed.
• Customer orders are delivered on time with improved schedule adherence.
• Inventory levels are actively managed to reduce excess stock while maintaining material availability.
• Manufacturing bottlenecks are identified early and proactively addressed.
• Cross-functional teams have confidence in production plans and delivery commitments.
• Planning processes continue to mature as Powerus scales its manufacturing operations.

Why Join Powerus

Powerus is building one of America's fastest-growing autonomous technology platforms, combining advanced manufacturing with cutting-edge defense technologies. This role offers the opportunity to play a critical part in building scalable manufacturing operations that directly support customer success, operational excellence and long-term growth.

Security and Export Control Requirements

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance. Eligibility to work on U.S. Government programs and compliance with applicable export control regulations is required.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Powerus is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.