Senior Material Planner

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access space. The rockets and satellites we build, and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation, and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit. We are working to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

Rocket Lab’s Supply Chain team is responsible for the flow of all materials, products, and components throughout the business. With many of our own products functioning as critical components to our own and our customers’ missions, the Supply Chain team has a direct impact on the success of our rocket, satellite, and optics programs. They set up the assembly kits that enable our technicians to put together our optical payloads, manage inventory, look after shipping and receiving, manage direct and indirect procurement, and inspect and ensure that all our materials and products are compliant and up to standard.

They are the chain that links our teams together and are critical to our success.

Based onsite at Rocket Labs Optical Systems in Tucson, AZ, the Senior Material Planner is responsible for managing MRP and planning for every part that Rocket Lab makes or buys. Material Planners are quarterbacks on a very large team of players that support operations and supply chain; they call the plays and ensure everyone within production and supply chain knows their next action.

Material Planners interact with engineering, quality, production, supply chain, and finance to ensure they are planning and managing the production schedule, supplier lead times, inventory levels, and engineering build timelines.

• Responsible for demand, supply, and fulfilment planning within MRP
• Responsible for ensuring bill of materials, parts, and master data, are maintained within ERP
• Accountable for timely release of purchase planning messages to procurement
• Accountable for timely release of work orders to production
• Responsible for updating demand to accommodate engineering change orders and communicating changes to procurement
• Accountable for creating visibility of material position (with line of balance reports, material shortage reports, clear to build reports, etc.)
• Work in a cross functional team environment as a strong team player and demonstrate ability to work with other functional groups to achieve company-wide goals
• Other duties asked by your manager, relevant to your role

• 5+ years of experience and a bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of work experience (9+ total years of work experience)
• Proven ability to produce material line of balance, and conduct clear to build reviews
• Proven knowledge of Material Planning fundamentals for master data management, order policy, BOM management, and planning release and fulfillment
• Proficient in MRP systems
• Proficient in MS Office, ERP systems, math and statistics

• Prior experience in aerospace, EV automotive, or other disruptive manufacturing industries
• Prior experience in rapid growth environment
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings
• Experience with AS9100, US export controls (ITAR and EAR)
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with the ability to prioritize effectively and efficiently
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities
• Team oriented, strong ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced…