Senior Materials Manager: Production & Inventory Lead

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

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Tuition Assistance Program

Health & Vision & Dental coverage

Job summary

nLIGHT, Inc. is seeking a Materials Manager in Longmont, CO to oversee material planning, procurement, inventory control, and warehouse operations for advanced directed energy systems.

You will ensure material availability aligns with manufacturing schedules and program requirements while maintaining inventory accuracy and efficiency. The role partners with Production, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Program Management, and Supply Chain to optimize material flow and procurement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Engineering, or 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.
• Experience leading or supervising employees in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with 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 data-driven decision making.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across multifunctional teams.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, electronics manufacturing, or highly regulated industry preferred.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a 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 KPIs 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.

Skills

Leadership

Procurement

Inventory management

Data analysis

MS Excel

Forecasting

Vendor management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain or related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

MS Office / Excel

Job description

nLIGHT, Inc. is seeking a Materials Manager in Longmont, CO to oversee material planning, procurement, inventory control, and warehouse operations for advanced directed energy systems.

You will ensure material availability aligns with manufacturing schedules and program requirements while maintaining inventory accuracy and efficiency. The role partners with Production, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Program Management, and Supply Chain to optimize material flow and procurement.