Planner II in Tualatin, Oregon at Ascentec Engineering LLC

Ascentec Engineering is hiring! We are looking for a Planner II to join our team. This person will be responsible for ensuring material availability to support production schedules, customer demand, and operational commitments. This role manages material requirements, monitors supply and demand alignment, reviews shortages, and coordinates with purchasing, production, engineering, quality, and scheduling teams to support on-time execution.

The Planner II works within Epicor Kinetic and related planning systems to review MRP output, analyze planning risks, maintain accurate planning data, and support timely release of jobs or purchase requirements. This position plays a critical role in reducing production delays caused by material shortages, improving inventory visibility, and supporting executable production plans across operations.

This position is onsite (not remote/not hybrid) and not eligible for Visa sponsorship or transfer of Visa sponsorship.

1. MRP Review and Supply/Demand Alignment:

• Review MRP output and independently identify planned orders, shortages, demand changes, supply gaps, and planning exceptions
• Validate supply and demand alignment using inventory, open POs, jobs, forecasts, customer demand, and production schedules
• Determine when material risks may impact job release, production starts, or customer commitments
• Recommend recovery actions including expedite requests, inventory review, alternate supply, job timing adjustments, or escalation
• Partner with purchasing to align PO timing and supplier commitments with production needs

2. Job Readiness and Material Planning:

• Own job readiness review for assigned areas, including material availability, BOM/revision alignment, routing readiness, and open constraints
• Support timely release of jobs based on schedule need, material availability, and operational priorities
• Identify jobs that should be held, delayed, or escalated due to missing material, quality holds, engineering issues, or inaccurate data
• Communicate job readiness status clearly to production, scheduling, purchasing, and leadership
• Support recovery plans for late jobs, urgent customer demand, and changing priorities

3. Planning Parameter and Data Management

• Maintain or recommend updates to part planning parameters including lead times, order policies, lot sizes, safety stock, reorder points, and planning codes
• Review supplier planning assumptions such as vendor lead time, transit time, delivery cadence, and dock-to-stock timing
• Identify inaccurate data creating false shortages, excess inventory, schedule disruption, or poor MRP output
• Partner with engineering, purchasing, inventory control, and production to correct BOM, routing, part master, or supplier data issues
• Support periodic planning data audits and corrective action tracking

4. Shortage, Inventory, and Risk Management

• Maintain visibility to shortages, late supply, inventory discrepancies, quality holds, and blocked jobs
• Lead assigned shortage reviews and track owners, actions, due dates, and recovery timing
• Support excess, obsolete, stranded, or slow-moving inventory review by identifying consumption opportunities
• Coordinate with inventory control to resolve stock location, transaction, cycle count, or allocation issues
• Escalate material and schedule risks early with clear impact and recommended action

5. Cross-Functional Coordination

• Serve as the planning point of contact for assigned products, customers, or areas
• Collaborate with purchasing, production, quality, engineering, inventory control, and scheduling to resolve planning constraints
• Support engineering change and NPI implementation by assessing material and job impact
• Provide planning updates in production meetings, shortage reviews, and customer escalation discussions as needed
• Mentor Planner I or Expeditor roles on planning logic, follow-up methods, and standard work

6. Reporting and Continuous Improvement

• Maintain planning reports related to shortages, material readiness, past-due supply, job readiness, and planning exceptions
• Support planning KPIs including material availability, on-time job release, shortage aging, and data accuracy
• Identify recurring planning issues and recommend process or system improvements
• Document planning processes and help reduce tribal knowledge dependency
• Demonstrate readiness for Scheduler I by understanding how planning decisions affect schedule execution and capacity

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Required:

• 3+ years of material planning, production planning, purchasing, supply chain, production control, or manufacturing support experience
• Experience using ERP systems to review MRP, demand, supply, inventory, jobs, and purchase orders
• Working knowledge of MRP logic, BOMs, routings, work orders, purchase orders, and inventory transactions
• Ability to identify material risks, recommend recovery actions, and communicate impacts clearly
• Strong analytical skills with attention to detail and data accuracy
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and planning reports

Preferred:

• Experience with Epicor Kinetic
• Experience with Planet Together APS or similar scheduling software
• Experience in aerospace, semiconductor, precision machining, or contract manufacturing
• Experience maintaining planning parameters such as lead times, safety stock, lot sizing, reorder points, and planning codes
• Experience supporting ECO, revision change, or NPI planning impacts
• APICS/ASCM coursework or certification

Competencies:

• Strong systems thinking and understanding of MRP behavior
• Analytical and detail-oriented
• Proactive problem solver
• Clear communicator across shop floor, peer, and management audiences
• Able to balance material availability, inventory risk, and production needs
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with frequent priority changes
• Capable of mentoring less-experienced team members

Compensation/Benefits:

• $70,000 to $85,000 per year DOE
• Medical / Dental / Vision
• 401k with company match up to 4%
• Tiered Quarterly Bonus Program
• Short-term and Long-term Disability
• Tuition Assistance or Reimbursement
• Life Insurance
• Paid time off / paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Programs

Applicant must be able to pass a drug screen and criminal background check prior to employment.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS: To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Ascentec Engineering is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Ascentec Engineering is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.