Position Summary: This position is responsible for developing and maintaining the production plan for the High Frequency Modules (HFM) product family. The Master Planner translates validated demand and current ERP/MRP planning recommendations into executable production run plans, quantities, schedules, and projected product availability while balancing material, capacity, and customer requirements.
The role works closely with Supply Chain, Manufacturing Control, Plant/Line Management, Engineering, Quality, Marketing/Sales, and other stakeholders to maintain schedule integrity, drive material readiness, communicate risks, and ensure production plans remain aligned with stocking objectives and customer commitments.
Salary Range - $100,000 - $110,000
Job Function:Production Planning & Master Scheduling
- Review current MAPICS / IBM i MRP and planning recommendations, together with validated demand inputs, to determine appropriate production run quantities and timing for HFM products.
- Validate production runs released by Production Control and use those released runs as the basis for forward-looking HFM production planning, scheduling, sequencing, material-readiness review, capacity evaluation, and projected product-availability dates.
- Develop, maintain, and communicate the HFM master production schedule in coordination with Plant/Line Management and Manufacturing Control.
- Validate and establish appropriate production lot sizes and timing based on material availability, routings, test requirements, capacity, and business priorities.
- Maintain detailed product availability schedules, including Gantt charts or equivalent planning tools, to forecast completion and stock availability dates.
- Evaluate schedule feasibility against known capacity, material, test, and operational constraints and adjust plans as conditions change.
- Support scenario planning for changes in demand, customer requirements, capacity, lead time, or production risk.
Material Readiness & Shortage Management
- Translate the production plan into clear material requirement timing and communicate priorities to Supply Chain.
- Monitor material readiness for planned and scheduled runs and drive cross-functional follow-up on shortages or late commitments that threaten the schedule.
- Work with Supply Chain to establish recovery plans for constrained material while maintaining clear ownership of raw-material inventory strategy within Supply Chain.
- Engage suppliers directly, when required and in coordination with Supply Chain, to clarify timing, expedite critical requirements, or protect customer commitments.
- Identify recurring material risks and support improvements to planning parameters, lead times, stocking assumptions, or replenishment strategies.
Product Availability & Customer Commitments
- Maintain projected product availability dates for stocked products, customer orders, new product requirements, and special or spike demand.
- Incorporate validated demand changes, forecast updates, new product release timing, and special customer requirements into the production plan.
- Communicate schedule risks, changes, and recovery plans to Manufacturing Control and relevant stakeholders in a timely manner.
- Support stocking initiatives by aligning planned production quantities and timing with approved stocking targets and demand signals.
Cross-Functional Coordination & Exception Management
- Partner with Plant/Line Management to confirm schedule feasibility while preserving clear ownership of production-floor execution within Manufacturing.
- Coordinate with Manufacturing Control on execution risk, late runs, shortages, holds, and other exceptions that may impact the master schedule.
- Work with Engineering on new product release timing and manufacturability inputs that affect planned production.
- Coordinate with Demand Planning and Marketing/Sales on validated demand changes, special orders, and expected demand spikes.
- Facilitate periodic schedule reviews and escalate decisions that require changes to priorities, capacity, or customer commitments.
Current ERP Execution & Future SAP Transition
- Perform current production planning and scheduling activities in MAPICS / IBM i and existing approved planning tools. For the future SAP transition, support process design, data validation, testing, training, cutover readiness, and adoption; after SAP go-live, use the applicable future-state SAP planning functionality.
- Review planning exceptions and recommended actions generated by the current MAPICS / IBM i environment and approved planning tools and determine the appropriate production-planning response. After SAP go-live, perform this responsibility using the applicable future-state SAP functionality.
- Support accurate planning master data by identifying issues with lead times, lot sizes, planning parameters, routings, or other data that affects schedule quality.
- Participate in continuous improvement activities that improve planning accuracy, schedule adherence, product availability, and stocking performance.
The duties, responsibilities and expectations described above are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the member, within the scope of the position.
Qualifications: Education: - Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent manufacturing planning experience may be considered.
Job Knowledge, Skills and Competencies: - 3+ years of production planning, master scheduling, manufacturing control, supply planning, or related experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.
- Hands-on SAP experience directly relevant to manufacturing production planning and scheduling is REQUIRED, ideally including SAP S/4HANA PP, MRP, planned and production orders, work centers, routings, material availability, capacity planning/evaluation, exception management, and production scheduling.
- Ability to work effectively in the current MAPICS / IBM i environment while supporting the future transition to SAP.
- MAPICS / IBM i, Infor XA, or comparable legacy ERP experience is preferred or beneficial, but not required.
- Ability to translate demand, inventory, lead-time, and capacity information into an executable production plan.
- Strong analytical and scheduling skills, including proficiency with Excel and Gantt-style planning tools.
- Strong cross-functional communication, follow-up, prioritization, and escalation skills.
- Ability to manage changing priorities and maintain schedule integrity across multiple products and work centers.
- Experience in electronics, RF/microwave, high-mix manufacturing, or regulated manufacturing environments is a plus.
Physical Demands:The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit and use hands to operate a computer keyboard. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Culture Focus:- Displays enthusiasm and Passion for their work
- Works to the standard of Uncompromising Quality by meeting or exceeding stated objectives and embracing continuous improvement
- Exercises sound Business Judgement, ensuring that efforts are on track with the Company's goals
- Operates with the mindset of Customer Obsession - by meeting or exceeding expectations to both internal and external customers
- Takes Accountability by taking ownership and accepting responsibility for their conduct and contributions
- Demonstrates a strong sense of urgency and accomplishes tasks with Speed and attention to detail
- Cooperates, collaborates and contributes to shared goals with a strong sense of Teamwork
- Conducts themselves with Honesty & Integrity and treats all members with Trust & Respect
Additional Requirements/Skills - Comply, understand, and support corporate safety initiatives to ensure a safe work environment
- Ability and willingness to abide by Company's Code of Conduct
Disclaimer: The listed qualifications and requirements for each position are intended as guidelines. Mini-Circuits reserves the right to hire outside of these guidelines at Management's discretion.
