Material Planner

Position Title: Material Planner
Requisition ID: 1740
Position Location: Fairfax, VA
Position Reports To: Associate Manager, Material Planning
Supervises Others: No

At Trident Systems Space Electronic Systems (SES) division, we believe in the power of using strong engineering principles to drive innovation and solve complex problems. We foster a culture of rigorous engineering and continuous improvement, leveraging the full knowledge of our organization through collaborative product development processes that include design and peer reviews. We combine our expertise in space electronics with right-sized development processes to create innovative, high-performance space-based electronic systems that meet our customers' evolving needs

We are a mission partner supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, and Civil space customers. We develop complex, radiation effects mitigated, designs that balance competing requirements in modern space programs, delivering cutting-edge solutions that enable our customers to achieve more in space.

Position Summary

The Material Planner is responsible for quoting parts and planning materials required to support production, engineering, proposals, and program execution. This role uses Microsoft Dynamics Business Central and demand-driven planning principles to translate demand signals into actionable supply plans, maintain planning parameters and material data, identify shortages and schedule risks, and coordinate with Procurement, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Program Management to meet cost, quality, and delivery objectives. The Material Planner helps ensure material availability for low-volume, high-mix, and regulated aerospace and defense operations while supporting inventory discipline, schedule performance, and accurate ERP data.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Quote purchased parts and material requirements for proposals, engineering changes, and program needs using supplier input, historical pricing, lead-time data, and ERP information.
• Analyze demand signals, forecasts, sales orders, work orders, bills of material, on-hand inventory, open supply, and lead times using planning systems to develop actionable material plans.
• Review and manage material requirements to support production schedules, prototype builds, engineering activity, and program priorities.
• Generate, review, and communicate planned supply actions, and coordinate with Procurement to convert approved requirements into purchasing activity.
• Apply demand-driven planning principles to support material flow, shortage prevention, schedule attainment, and inventory optimization.
• Monitor shortages, past-due supply, reschedule opportunities, and excess and obsolete exposure; escalate risks in a timely manner.
• Maintain accurate planning data in ERP systems, including lead times, order policies, lot sizes, reorder settings, due dates, and other assigned planning parameters.
• Support material readiness for production by aligning demand, supply, and schedule requirements across Manufacturing, Planning, and Procurement.
• Partner with Engineering and Quality to address part changes, nonconformances, obsolescence, alternates, new product introductions, and other material risks affecting supply continuity.
• Prepare and communicate material status, shortages, projected availability, quote inputs, and other planning metrics to leadership and program teams.
• Manage multiple priorities, follow through on commitments, and work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Support occasional travel or off-site work, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Finance, Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 2 years of material planning, production planning, buyer/planner, supply chain, or related experience in a manufacturing, aerospace and defense, electronics, or similarly regulated environment.
• Experience using ERP or MRP systems to plan material requirements, manage supply signals, and maintain planning data.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, Dynamics NAV, or comparable ERP systems.
• Working knowledge of bills of material, demand and supply planning, lead-time management, inventory drivers, order policies, shortage resolution, and schedule support.
• Experience supporting part quoting, material cost analysis, lead-time analysis, or proposal material inputs.
• Microsoft Office experience, especially Excel, and the ability to analyze data, maintain accurate records, and communicate status clearly.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience planning electronic components, printed circuit board assemblies, machined parts, cable assemblies, or outside processing and services.
• Experience in low-volume, high-mix manufacturing environments supporting space, aerospace, or defense programs.
• Experience using demand-driven planning methods, buffer-based replenishment concepts, or similar planning disciplines.
• Experience supporting proposal activity, new product introduction, engineering changes, and long-lead material planning.
• Familiarity with government contracting environments and applicable material controls, including FAR or DFARS flowdowns, counterfeit parts prevention, and AS9100D or ISO9001 quality systems.
• CPIM, CSCP, or similar supply chain certification preferred; demonstrated ownership, sound judgment, and timely escalation and follow-through preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and execute work in compliance with company procedures and contractual requirements.

Benefits

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits including but not limited to:

• Health benefits
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Basic life with AD&D
  • Short term disability
  • Long term disability
  • Ancillary (Voluntary life with AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital, and pet)
  • Spending accounts (HSA, FSA, and DCFSA)
• Paid time off
• Holidays
• 401(k) (including company match)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Leaves (Parental, maternity, and military)
• Annual discretionary bonus (for eligible roles)

Trident Systems reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Trident Solutions is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact recruiting@tridsys.com.

Pay Transparency: The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)