Kratos Defense and Security Solutions

Master Scheduler

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions • $80K — $95K *
Auburn Hills, MI 48326In-Person
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or related discipline (or equivalent experience).
  • 3-7 years experience in Master Scheduling, Production Planning, Program Scheduling, or Operations Planning.
  • Strong proficiency in MS Project with complex dependencies and critical path management.
  • Experience with MRP/ERP systems, preferably Costpoint, but SAP/Oracle also accepted.
  • Ability to interpret engineering drawings, BOMs, and manufacturing workflows.
  • Strong analytical problem-solving and communication skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead teams and drive accountability.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain an integrated master schedule (IMS) in MS Project to meet customer and contract requirements.
  • Coordinate with cross-functional teams to integrate various engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, test, and quality tasks into a unified schedule.
  • Lead weekly schedule updates and stand-up meetings to identify gaps, risks, and recovery actions.
  • Publish schedule reports and track project adherence to critical milestones and earned value metrics.
  • Align engine production and test capacity planning with customer demand, ensuring resource availability.
  • Monitor supply chain signals and collaborate on long-lead issues and part availability.
  • Communicate schedule health and risks effectively to leadership.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work in a pivotal role within a dynamic aerospace R&D environment.
  • Engagement with cross-functional teams enhances collaborative skills and professional development.
  • Exposure to advanced scheduling tools and MRP/ERP systems, offering learning opportunities in cutting-edge technologies.
  • Potential for career advancement in a growing industry.
  • Access to a structured program that supports compliance with AS9100 and DoD standards.
Full Job Description
GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:

The Master Scheduler is responsible for developing, maintaining, and optimizing the integrated master schedule (IMS) to ensure on-time delivery of TDI's turbine engine programs, prototypes, and production units. This role coordinates cross-functionally with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Test, and Manufacturing to convert customer demand and program requirements into an accurate, achievable, and fully resource-loaded schedule.

This position establishes schedule governance, collects real-time status from shop-floor teams, ensures constraints are visible, resolves conflicts, and drives accountability to execution milestones. The Master Scheduler will own MS Project schedule revision control, lead weekly schedule reviews, support MRP/ERP alignment (Costpoint), and serve as the central point for communicating schedule risk and recovery actions to leadership.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) Ownership
  • Develops and maintains program schedules in MS Project aligned with customer requirements, internal gating, and contract deliverables.
  • Integrates engineering, supply chain, production, test, and quality tasks into a single master plan with clear dependencies, durations, and predecessors.
  • Ensures schedule logic, baselines, critical path, and constraints are accurate and updated weekly.

Cross-Functional Coordination
  • Facilitates schedule updates from Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Test, Quality, and outside vendors.
  • Leads weekly schedule stand-ups and communicates gaps, risks, and recovery actions.
  • Coordinates with Supply Chain on long-lead identification, demand signals, and supplier on-time delivery status.

Execution Governance
  • Publishes weekly schedule reports, dashboards, and critical path summaries.
  • Tracks earned value, percent complete, work remaining, and milestone adherence.
  • Flags deviations early and drives root-cause analysis and corrective actions.

Production & Test Scheduling
  • Aligns engine build and test cell capacity planning with customer demand.
  • Creates finite production schedules for work centers and identifies resources required to execute the plan.
  • Maintains visibility of work-in-process (WIP), shortages, test status, and shipping readiness.

MRP/ERP Alignment
  • Ensures MS Project schedules align with Costpoint work orders, part availability, and BOM structure.
  • Collaborates with Inventory, Procurement, and Planning to maintain accurate supply signals.
  • Supports program cost, material planning, and labor loading through accurate data integration.

Risk, Change, and Communication
  • Performs What-If modeling to assess schedule impacts of design changes, supply chain delays, or resource constraints.
  • Manages schedule baselines, revisions, and version control within Teams or SharePoint.
  • Provides timely communication to leadership on schedule health and projected delivery performance.

Compliance & Documentation
  • Supports AS9100, DFARS, and internal gating requirements for planning and documented scheduling.
  • Maintains configuration control of all schedule files and publishes official versions to the PMO repository.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
  • No direct reports; must influence cross-functional teams through transparency, data accuracy, and consistent communication.


KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Required
  • Strong proficiency in MS Project (complex dependencies, resource loading, baselines, critical path).
  • Experience with MRP/ERP systems (Costpoint preferred; SAP/Oracle acceptable).
  • Ability to interpret engineering drawings, BOMs, routings, and manufacturing workflows.
  • Strong analytical problem-solving and decision-making skills.
  • Excellent communication and coordination skills.
  • Ability to work in a rapidly changing aerospace R&D/manufacturing environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead meetings, drive accountability, and escalate appropriately.

Preferred
  • Experience in aerospace, turbomachinery, engine production, or defense manufacturing.
  • Working knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM) and schedule performance metrics.
  • Familiarity with DoD programs, contract requirements, and gated development processes.
  • Understanding of AS9100 planning, configuration control, and documentation standards.
  • Ability to perform capacity planning and resource constraint modeling.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Required
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or related discipline (or equivalent experience).
  • 3-7 years experience in Master Scheduling, Production Planning, Program Scheduling, or Operations Planning.
  • Strong experience using MS Project and/or advanced scheduling tools.

Preferred
  • Aerospace or defense industry experience.
  • APICS CPIM or CSCP, PMP, or similar certification.
  • Experience supporting engineering development and low-volume/high-mix builds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
  • Office and manufacturing shop-floor environment with routine interaction across engineering, supply chain, operations, and quality teams.
  • May be exposed to noise, vibration, dust, and chemicals (within OSHA limits).
  • Ability to sit or stand for extended periods (8-9 hours typical).
  • Ability to lift up to 40 lbs per TDI safety guidelines.
  • Ability to work at a computer workstation for long durations.
  • Occasional travel (0-10%) to suppliers or corporate sites.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:
  • 0-25% May be required between other Kratos locations

About Kratos Defense and Security Solutions

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. provides mission critical products, solutions, and services in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Kratos Government Solutions, Unmanned Systems, and Public Safety & Security. The Kratos Government Solutions segment offers microwave electronic products, satellite communications, training systems, modular systems, and defense and rocket support services. The Unmanned Systems segment provides unmanned aerial, ground, and seaborne, as well as command, control, and communications systems. The Public Safety & Security segment designs, engineers, deploys, operates, integrates, maintains, and operates security and surveillance solutions for homeland security, public safety, critical infrastructure, government, and commercial customers. The company serves national security related agencies, the department of defense, intelligence agencies, and classified agencies, as well as international government agencies and domestic and international commercial customers; and critical infrastructure, power generation, power transport, nuclear energy, financial, IT, healthcare, education, transportation, and petro-chemical industries, as well as government and military customers. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.
Learn more about Kratos Defense and Security Solutions
Size
3,300 employees
Market Cap
$1.1 billion
Industry
Aerospace & Defense
Net Income
$79.6 million
Founded
1994
5 Year Trend
+8.4%
Revenue
$747.6 million
NASDAQ
KTOS
* Ladders Estimates

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