Production Control Manager

Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

The Facilities and Logistics Operations Division (Div 6400) is responsible for the overall physical development and maintenance of the Laboratory. The objective of the division is to provide a safe physical environment that promotes the advancement and transfer of knowledge. Our core function is the stewardship, reliability, and safe operation of the Lab’s physical infrastructure, site structures, utility systems, and equipment. Our primary goal is to provide advanced workplaces, resilient infrastructure, and comprehensive logistics to enable optimal Laboratory operations with minimal disruption.

The Logistics & Operations Planning Section (Section 643) is responsible for the strategic management and functional production operations that enable all logistics-related Laboratory activities. We exercise a Lab-wide purview to establish centralized control over all equipment, including personal property, non-collateral, and manufacturing assets. Our mission encompasses end-to-end Material Requirements Planning (MRP), equipment delivery, inventory control (WIP, loan pool, deliverables), and essential technical services. Furthermore, we provide specialized expertise in measurement systems, metrology, instrumentation, and technical logistics for project flight hardware, ensuring operational readiness and seamless support for the Laboratory's mission development and production processes.

We invite you to join the Logistics and Operations Planning Section within the Facilities & Logistics Division to serve as Group Supervisor for the Production Control Group (643E). This is a primary management position responsible for direct staff supervision, policy execution, and the strategic performance of laboratory transport and material movement assets.  In this role, you will function as an inter-organizational leader and primary manager, responsible for supervising daily operations, assigning tasks, coordinating schedules and material readiness, and ensuring compliant delivery of production control services across the Laboratory.

Tasks include but are not limited to:

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team of direct report JPL employees (minimum of two or more FTEs), hourly staff, and/or contractor professionals across Production Control, Planning, and Scheduling.
• Establish goals, performance measures, training plans, and career development strategies.
• Monitor day-to-day activities of staff and make decisions/weighted recommendations on hiring, promotions, salary changes, performance appraisals, and coaching.
• Build a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on safety, reliability, accountability, open communication, and customer focus.

Production Control Operations

• Oversee full production lifecycle activities, including work order release, shop floor confirmation, WIP tracking, and material staging and consumption reconciliation.
• Manage material availability analysis, kit readiness, inventory consolidation, BOM accuracy, material master integrity, and configuration control.
• Coordinate kitting activities across multiple inventory distribution points, consolidation areas, and shared resource work centers.
• Maintain compliance with internal policies, NASA regulations, government property accountability, and audit readiness standards.
• Coordinate the disposition of non-conforming materials (e.g., RTV, purge actions, WIP stops), engineering changes, and special handling items in alignment with independent Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) and Technical Authority protocols.

Planning & Scheduling Management

• Own the master production schedule, priorities, and load plan that drive daily factory activity and long-range planning.
• Maintain ERP/MRP planning parameters including lot sizing, safety stock, Kanban strategies, inventory targets, lead times, and capacity constraints for production environments.
• Actively manage work in progress, unlock stalled jobs, drive recovery plans, and de-conflict schedules with operational constraints, including institutional mission freeze operational periods.
• Represent Production Control and Planning in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) cycles and cross-functional planning forums.

Cross-Functional & Logistics Integration

• Partner daily with Engineering, Supply Chain, Logistics, Quality, Program Leadership, Manufacturing, and Maintenance Operations.
• Coordinate with institutional Logistics Management to ensure responsible stewardship, lifecycle management, receipt, identification, tracking, safeguarding, discrepancy resolution, and custody transfer of personal property, flight hardware, and Government-Furnished Material (GFM) per NASA requirements.
• Lead cross-functional efforts to resolve material shortages, supply risks, and schedule conflicts impacting on-time delivery.
• Present operational status, constraints, risk mitigations, and schedule metrics in project meetings and technical briefings.

Data, Analytics & Capacity Modeling

• Use data analysis, queries, trending, and metrics to identify operational bottlenecks, support root-cause corrective actions, and measure effectiveness.
• Maintain and refine capacity models for critical work centers, tracking labor utilization, equipment loading, yields, and resource constraints.
• Track and report key performance indicators including material order coverage, aging work orders, WIP flow and cycle time, MRP end-item deliverables, schedule adherence, and inventory accuracy.
• Drive operational transparency through web-based digital workflow systems, automated task/work-order lifecycles, and real-time data reporting.

Continuous Improvement & Program Support

• Support specialized program planning including flight hardware, space electronics, metrology systems, high-reliability builds, and new product introduction.
• Translate functional plans into executable daily shop operations aligned with task budgets, capacity, and program milestones.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, and Theory of Constraints methodologies to optimize workflow.
• Represent the Production Control organization on Laboratory committees and working groups as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or related discipline with a minimum of 2 years of lead experience in a manufacturing, production control, or logistics environment; OR a Master’s degree with a minimum of 2 years of lead experience.
• Proven experience leading daily operational tasks and workflows for teams in complex manufacturing or technical environments.
• Strong proficiency with MRP/ERP systems (Oracle preferred), shop floor execution systems, BOM management, and production scheduling.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across functional teams, resolve material and schedule conflicts, and drive execution in a dynamic, multi-program environment.
• Strong analytical skills including data manipulation, capacity tracking, and operational metric reporting.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to gain the cooperation of others.
• Must be a US Citizen.

Preferred Skills:

• Advanced degree in Operations, Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field.
• 8–10 years of professional experience in production control, planning, scheduling, manufacturing, or supply chain.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, electronics hardware manufacturing, or government contracting environments.
• Direct experience supporting NASA or DoD flight hardware programs, including familiarity with NASA property and materials management standards and NPR 7120.5 flight project management policies.
• Experience with Oracle MRP/ERP, Power BI, Tableau, Business Warehouse, or advanced planning tools.
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, Theory of Constraints, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with electronics PWA and PWB assembly, integration, and test operations.
• Background in satellite, spacecraft component, metrology, or instrumentation production.

The nature of this work may require occasional non-standard hours to meet critical project deadlines and support operational requirements.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

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Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.