Materials Manager

nLIGHT, Inc.; Longmont (CO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Holidays

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Tuition Assistance

Health Insurance

Vision & Dental Coverage

Family Leave & Disability

401k with Company Match

Job summary

nLIGHT, Inc. is seeking an experienced Materials Manager in Longmont, CO to lead material planning, procurement, and inventory management for advanced directed energy systems.

You will drive alignment with production schedules and program requirements while maintaining inventory accuracy and operational efficiency. The role partners with Production, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Program Management, and Supply Chain teams to optimize material flow and procurement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 5+ years in materials management, supply chain, purchasing, inventory control, production planning, or manufacturing operations.
• Experience leading or supervising employees in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with MRP/ERP systems and applying them to purchasing and inventory management.
• Strong Excel and data analysis skills.
• Experience forecasting material requirements to support production schedules.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily materials management activities including procurement, inventory control, material planning, and warehouse operations.
• Supervise and develop team members responsible for purchasing, receiving, inventory management, and material movement.
• Ensure materials are available to support manufacturing schedules and program delivery requirements.
• Maintain accurate material transactions within the ERP/MRP system.
• Establish warehouse processes supporting traceability, organization, and efficiency.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Program Management to align material requirements with production priorities.
• Work with suppliers to address delivery issues and support cost-effective procurement.
• Monitor KPIs related to inventory accuracy, supplier performance, and on-time delivery.
• Review inventory records and purchasing activity to identify improvement opportunities and cost reductions.
• Support compliance with company procedures, quality standards, and government contract requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement in inventory management and material flow.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decisions

Communication

Team supervision

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Engineering

Tools

MRP/ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Location:

Longmont, CO (onsite)

Experience

5+ years of experience in Materials Management or Supply Chain in a Production/Manufacturing environment

Education

Bachelors Degree in Supply Chain or related field of study preferred

Compensation

$80,000 - $115,000, depending on experience.

Summary

The Materials Manager is responsible for overseeing material planning, procurement, inventory management, and warehouse operations in support of the production of advanced directed energy systems. This role ensures material availability aligns with manufacturing schedules, customer commitments, and program requirements while maintaining inventory accuracy and operational efficiency.

Materials Managers partner closely with Production, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Program Management, and Supply Chain teams to support production objectives, improve material flow, and enhance inventory and procurement processes. The successful candidate will be a hands‑on leader with experience in manufacturing environments and a demonstrated ability to drive operational performance through effective planning and team leadership.

All applicants must possess or be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance. Preference will be given to candidates with an active U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily materials management activities, including procurement, inventory control, material planning, and warehouse operations.
• Supervise and develop team members responsible for purchasing, receiving, inventory management, and material movement.
• Ensure materials are available to support manufacturing schedules and program delivery requirements.
• Manage inventory levels and maintain accurate material transactions within the ERP/MRP system.
• Establish and maintain warehouse processes that support material traceability, organization, and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Program Management teams to align material requirements with production priorities.
• Work closely with suppliers to address delivery issues, improve performance, and support cost-effective procurement strategies.
• Monitor key performance indicators related to inventory accuracy, supplier performance, material shortages, and on-time delivery.
• Review inventory records, purchasing activity, and material usage to identify opportunities for process improvement and cost reduction.
• Support compliance with company procedures, quality standards, and government contract requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on inventory management, material flow, and operational scalability.

Required Experience / Capability

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 5-10 years of experience in materials management, supply chain, purchasing, inventory control, production planning, or manufacturing operations.
• Previous experience leading or supervising employees in a manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of MRP/ERP systems and their application to purchasing, inventory management, and production planning.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis tools.
• Experience forecasting material requirements and managing inventory to support production schedules.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across multiple functional teams.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, electronics manufacturing, or another highly regulated industry is preferred.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance.

Benefits Summary

• 4 weeks of Paid Time Off per year
• 11 paid Holidays
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Health (ACA Gold Plan), Vision and Dental Care paid by employer 100% for Employee and 75% for Dependents
• Paid Family Leave, Short and Long Term Disability paid by employer 100%
• Competitive 401k with company match and immediate vesting

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or age. For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see this government poster:

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail].