Planning Associate

About RTCA

At RTCA, we believe in teamwork, excellence, and delivering with pride.
One Team! One Mission! RTCA is a 60‑year‑old aerospace manufacturer of complex, high‑tolerance, difficult‑to‑machine parts. We have 4 facilities across the nation bringing exceptional cellular manufacturing capabilities and unique engineered solutions to our clients’ designed products. We are a company driven by ambitious individuals, working together to become an industry leader in lean‑cell manufacturing. Come be a part of something exceptional at RTCA!

We are seeking a motivated and detail‑oriented Planning Associate (Levels I–IV) to join our team and support production planning, scheduling, and material flow within a fast‑paced aerospace CNC precision machining environment. This full‑time role is designed for early‑career professionals who are eager to gain hands‑on exposure to production control, ERP/MRP systems, and shop floor coordination while developing a long‑term career in manufacturing planning and operations.

This position operates at the intersection of scheduling, material flow, and production execution—ensuring manufacturing operations meet delivery commitments while maintaining efficient use of resources.

• Working a full‑time, onsite position at our Fife, WA location.
• Assist with the development, maintenance, and adjustment of production schedules for CNC machining operations in alignment with customer demand, delivery commitments, and capacity constraints.
• Monitor work‑in‑process (WIP), material availability, tooling readiness, machine capacity, and labor loading; identify potential constraints or delays and elevate as needed.
• Support the release and tracking of work orders, coordinating priorities with shop floor teams including machining, inspection, quality, shipping, and purchasing.
• Update and maintain accurate production status and scheduling data within ERP/MRP systems; assist with reporting variances and supporting corrective actions for late or at‑risk jobs.
• Assist with expediting material, tooling, outsourcing, or rework flows in coordination with supply chain and procurement teams.
• Support capacity and demand analysis through data collection and basic reporting to help identify opportunities for lead time reduction, throughput improvement, and inventory optimization.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives, lean activities, and standard work development related to planning and production control processes.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (production, engineering, quality, supply chain, and logistics) to support smooth production execution.
• Provide administrative and analytical support for planning and production control activities as needed based on business priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.
• Strong interest in manufacturing operations, production planning, and supply chain coordination.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Word), with the ability to work with data and reports.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.
• Team‑oriented mindset with a proactive and professional demeanor.

Exposure to or internship experience in manufacturing, production p