Production Planner

Luna Innovations Incorporated is a global leader in the fiber optics industry. We employ a diverse team of scientists, engineers, and business professionals developing and manufacturing a new generation of technologies and products. We are seeking a Production Planner in our Blacksburg VA office, to support our North America manufacturing sites.

The Production Planner is responsible for planning, scheduling, and coordinating production activities across multiple sites to ensure that manufacturing goals are met efficiently and on time. This role involves working closely with purchasing, manufacturing, engineering, and quality teams to align production with material availability, customer demand, and resource constraints.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain production schedules based on demand forecasts, sales orders, and inventory levels
• Monitor production progress and adjust schedules to address issues such as delays, machine downtime, or material shortages
• Coordinate with procurement to ensure timely delivery of raw materials and components
• Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, and engineering teams to resolve scheduling or capacity conflicts
• Analyze production line capacity and recommend adjustments to optimize throughput and minimize bottlenecks
• Maintain accurate data in the ERP/MRP system (e.g., work orders, BOMs, routings)
• Generate reports on production performance, capacity utilization, and delivery timelines
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance production efficiency and reduce waste
• Ensure compliance with company policies, safety regulations, and industry standards
• Manage Supply Chain Team

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 2-5 years of experience in production planning or scheduling in a manufacturing environment
• Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems (NetSuite)
• Understanding of CRM systems (Salesforce)
• Familiarity with Federal Acquisitions Regulations - (FAR) Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFAR)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication and collaboration abilities
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• APICS, CPIM or CSCP certification
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies
• Familiarity with ISO standards (ISO 9001)

Physical Requirements & Work Environment:

• Very occasionally required to lift, carry, or move materials weighing up to 25 lbs; heavier items may require assistance.
• May require occasional bending, reaching, or kneeling when accessing files, materials, or interacting with production floor personnel.
• Primarily office-based work adjacent to the production floor, with regular movement between planning areas and production spaces.
• Work environment includes exposure to controlled temperature and humidity, as well as cleanroom or lab-adjacent conditions.
• Occasional exposure to moderate noise levels and bright lighting from nearby machinery or equipment.

Luna is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer - Luna provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, or service in the military or any other characteristic. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training. Luna expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment or discrimination based on any of the characteristics mentioned above.