Senior Material Planning Manager

Umbra builds next-generation space systems that observe the Earth in unprecedented fidelity. 

Our mission: Deliver global omniscience.

To stay ahead of climate change, geopolitical risk, and other major crises and issues, we need a global understanding of what is changing, where, and how fast. Umbra provides easy access to the highest quality commercial satellite data available, which is an indispensable tool for the growing number of organizations monitoring the Earth. We empower our customers to create the solutions that inform, inspire, and address our planet’s most pressing needs. We’re helping to create a brand new industry that has never meaningfully existed before. 

Umbra is seeking a highly experienced and results-driven Senior Material Planning Manager to lead cross-functional planning and execution across satellite and subsystem manufacturing. This pivotal role ensures synchronization between demand forecasting, material availability, procurement logistics, and shop floor execution—keeping our fast-paced production cycles on track.

You will own MRP processes, manage material readiness risk, and help scale our production planning as we expand. This position will also play a vital role in supporting Umbra’s strategic transition into the component sales market, ensuring our planning infrastructure is optimized for both integrated systems and stand-alone hardware production.

This position is based in our Santa Barbara/Goleta, CA office.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end production planning lifecycle, from interpreting demand signals to releasing build orders.
• Analyze and execute MRP outputs, verifying material availability and aligning production schedules with procurement and inventory systems.
• Drive scheduling accuracy across multi-level BOMs, long-lead components, and complex electromechanical assemblies.
• Identify and escalate procurement risks while partnering with buyers and suppliers to proactively close gaps and avoid disruptions.
• Develop and maintain realistic, resource-constrained production schedules in collaboration with Manufacturing, Quality, and Engineering teams.
• Coordinate with Business Development and Project Management, who generate demand signals, to ensure planning inputs align with customer requirements and program milestones.
• Develop and provide clear, timely material status updates and readiness reports to stakeholders and leadership.
• Continuously refine planning logic, lead times, lot sizing strategies, and MRP configuration for responsiveness and scalability.
• Support the transition of Umbra’s factory to accommodate external component sales, ensuring planning systems can flexibly serve multiple product streams.
• Champion ERP data hygiene and lead process improvements in planning, inventory control, and work order execution.
• Other duties as required.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in production planning, supply chain, or manufacturing operations within aerospace, defense, or high-tech hardware environments.
• Specific experience in PCB assembly planning and machine shop environments.
• Expertise in MRP/ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Oracle), with a strong understanding of planning module integration across departments.
• Demonstrated success aligning procurement and manufacturing functions to meet dynamic program needs.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a detail-oriented, data-driven mindset.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of distilling complex status updates for all organizational levels.
• Proven track record of driving systems thinking, planning discipline, and continuous improvement.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with aerospace-grade hardware, satellite systems, or complex electromechanical assemblies.
• APICS/ASCM certifications (CPIM, CSCP) or PMP certification.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, Kanban systems, and capacity modeling.
• Prior experience building or scaling MRP workflows in a high-growth or startup environment.
• Experience planning for dual-use factory operations—serving both integrated product builds and external component delivery.

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off, Sick, Family & Medical Leave
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD, STD (employer funded)
• Voluntary Life, Critical Illness, Accidental, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance (employee funded)
• 401(k) with 3% non-elective company contrib