Senior Production Planner – Materials & Inventory

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

Benefits offered by this job

4 weeks paid time off

11 paid holidays

Employee stock purchase plan

Tuition assistance

Health, vision, and dental coverage

Job summary

The Production Planner at nLIGHT, Inc. oversees material planning, procurement, inventory management, and warehouse operations to support 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. The position partners with Production, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Program Management, and Supply Chain teams to

Qualifications

• 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.

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.

Skills

Microsoft Excel

Data analysis

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management

Tools

MRP/ERP systems

Job description

The Production Planner at nLIGHT, Inc. oversees material planning, procurement, inventory management, and warehouse operations to support 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. The position partners with Production, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Program Management, and Supply Chain teams to