Planning Associate

Job Description

Job Description

About RTCA:

RTCA is a precision aerospace and defense manufacturing group built on decades of hands-on machining expertise, with roots spanning more than 50 years. We support mission-critical commercial and government aerospace programs across North America through four U.S. Centers of Excellence operating as an integrated platform with 150+ CNC machines and a team of 250+ professionals.

Unlike large organizations where roles can be narrow, RTCA offers hands-on ownership and real visibility – you understand how your work supports the team, the operation, and the end customer. Our flat structure allows employees to take initiative, grow their skills, and have their contributions recognized, while still providing the stability, advanced technology, and meaningful work of an established aerospace manufacturer.

At RTCA, we believe in teamwork, excellence, and delivering with pride. One Team! One Mission!

How You’ll Make an Impact

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Planning Associate (Levels I–IV) to join our team and support production planning, scheduling, and material flow within a fast-paced aerospace CNC precision machining environment. This full-time role is designed for early-career professionals who are eager to gain hands-on exposure to production control, ERP/MRP systems, and shop floor coordination while developing a long-term career in manufacturing planning and operations.

This position operates at the intersection of scheduling, material flow, and production execution—ensuring manufacturing operations meet delivery commitments while maintaining efficient use of resources.

What you’ll be doing as a Planning Associate:

• Working a Full-time, onsite position at our Fife, WA location.
• Assist with the development, maintenance, and adjustment of production schedules for CNC machining operations in alignment with customer demand, delivery commitments, and capacity constraints.
• Monitor work-in-process (WIP), material availability, tooling readiness, machine capacity, and labor loading; identify potential constraints or delays and escalate as needed.
• Support the release and tracking of work orders, coordinating priorities with shop floor teams including machining, inspection, quality, shipping, and purchasing.
• Update and maintain accurate production status and scheduling data within ERP/MRP systems; assist with reporting variances and supporting corrective actions for late or at-risk jobs.
• Assist with expediting material, tooling, outsourcing, or rework flows in coordination with supply chain and procurement teams.
• Support capacity and demand analysis through data collection and basic reporting to help identify opportunities for lead time reduction, throughput improvement, and inventory optimization.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives, lean activities, and standard work development related to planning and production control processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (production, engineering, quality, supply chain, and logistics) to support smooth production execution.
• Provide administrative and analytical support for planning and production control activities as needed based on business priorities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications (Education, skills, and experience):

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.
• Strong interest in manufacturing operations, production planning, and supply chain coordination.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Word), with the ability to work with data and reports.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Team-oriented mindset with a proactive and professional demeanor.

Preferred Qualifications (Education, skills, and experience):

• Exposure to or internship experience in manufacturing, production planning, supply chain, or operations.
• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems (GlobalShop or JobBoss a plus).
• Familiarity with CNC machining environments or precision manufacturing workflows.
• Comfort working with production schedules, work orders, and cross-functional coordination.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing or continuous improvement concepts.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to do the following:

• Ability to lift or move up to 50lbs.
• Reach forward, up, down and to the side in order to move equipment.
• Continuous standing and walking throughout the workday.
• Ability to reach with hands and arms; use hands to manipulate, handle, or feel material.
• Access, input, and retrieve information from a computer.

Work Environment:

A large percentage of work time is spent in a machine shop where temperatures vary from hot to cold. The environment may also include exposure to noise, dust, fumes, vapor from coolant, etc. Industry standard safety equipment is provided by the Company, and specific notice is posted in areas where safety equipment is required.

Compensation and Benefits:

Employee Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, long-term disability and 401(k) with up to 6% QACA company match.

The Planning Associate Compensation range for onsite Washington applicants is $22/hr - $25/hr commensurate with experience. Some shifts may include shift differential pay rates. Other site ranges may differ.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

This position must meet Export Control compliance requirements, therefore a “US Person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 is required.

RTCA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation Applicants wishing to receive information on RTCA’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact the RTCA Human Resources Department. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact the RTCA Human Resources Department. Candidates will receive consideration without discrimination in accordance with the requirements of article 9 to chapter XVIII of the City of Los Angeles Municipal Code, federal and state laws of California.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact the Human Resources Department.