Director of Industrial Planning

Orbitworks is scaling from an early-stage satellite manufacturer into a high-performing industrial organization, and we're looking for a Director of Industrial Planning to build and lead the planning framework that enables that growth.

This role serves as the operational bridge between planning and execution, ensuring production plans are realistic, resources are aligned, operational risks are anticipated, and recovery actions are coordinated when execution deviates from plan.

You'll work cross-functionally with AIT, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Facilities, Programs, and Engineering to establish robust planning processes, improve operational predictability, and strengthen the company's ability to scale satellite production while maintaining agility.

If you're motivated by solving complex operational challenges, building planning systems, and enabling manufacturing organizations to execute at a higher level, this role offers the opportunity to shape the operational backbone of a rapidly growing space company.

Key Responsibilities

Industrial Planning & Operational Governance

Own the industrial planning framework across Industrial Operations, including Master Production Scheduling (MPS), production planning governance, capacity planning, and industrial readiness.

Develop production plans that balance customer demand, manufacturing capability, material availability, workforce capacity, and testing constraints.

Establish planning cadence, governance mechanisms, and operational reviews to improve schedule predictability and execution discipline.

Build and maintain resource, equipment, facility, and workforce capacity models to support future production growth.

Operations Management & Recovery Planning

Monitor production execution, identify emerging risks and bottlenecks, and coordinate cross-functional recovery plans when schedules deviate.

Lead structured recovery efforts for material shortages, engineering changes, production delays, resource constraints, and test capacity limitations.

Develop operational dashboards and KPIs that provide visibility into production health, planning performance, and execution risks.

Ensure operational decisions are driven by data, priorities, and business impact.

Cross-Functional Coordination

Act as the operational integrator between AIT, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Facilities, Programs, and Engineering.

Coordinate manufacturing readiness with engineering releases, configuration changes, supplier readiness, and production priorities.

Influence senior stakeholders across multiple organizations to drive alignment without direct authority.

Ensure operational readiness reviews proactively identify gaps before they impact production.

Digital Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

Drive adoption of digital manufacturing tools, production reporting, dashboards, automation, and manufacturing data visibility.

Improve planning processes, operational workflows, and decision-making frameworks using Industrial Engineering principles and Lean methodologies.

Standardize planning processes and governance to enable scalable satellite manufacturing operations.

Champion continuous improvement initiatives that improve schedule adherence, capacity utilization, and operational efficiency.

Experience – Must Haves

10–15+ years of experience in Industrial Planning, Manufacturing Operations, Production Planning, Industrial Engineering, or Operations Management within aerospace, space, avionics, defense, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments.

Proven experience owning or leading:

• Master Production Scheduling (MPS)

• Production Planning

• Capacity Planning

• Industrial Readiness

• Manufacturing Operations Planning

Strong understanding of manufacturing execution within high-mix, low-to-mid-volume production environments involving complex electromechanical products.

Demonstrated ability to coordinate cross-functional organizations including Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Programs, and Facilities.

Experience leading operational recovery efforts, managing production constraints, and improving schedule predictability.

Track record of influencing senior technical stakeholders and driving execution without direct organizational authority.

Skills & Attributes

Strong systems thinker capable of balancing strategic planning with day-to-day operational execution.

Deep understanding of production planning, capacity modeling, industrial engineering, and manufacturing operations.

Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate operational data into actionable decisions.

Experience with digital manufacturing tools, ERP/MRP systems, MES platforms, reporting dashboards, and manufacturing analytics.

Excellent communication, facilitation, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Calm and structured under pressure, with the ability to coordinate recovery efforts during operational disruptions.

Comfortable operating in fast-paced, ambiguous startup environments while building scalable operational processes.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Electrical Engineering, Operations Management, or a related technical discipline.

Advanced degree (MBA, MSc, or equivalent) preferre

Orbitworks' mission is to make space simple for organizations that want to deploy physical and virtual missions to space. Building on Loft Orbital's heritage, Orbitworks will be the first commercial firm in the United Arab Emirates to mass-manufacture satellites. Orbitworks aims to manufacture tens of satellites annually and operates out of a 50,000-square-foot facility in Abu Dhabi.