Load Planner Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

Operations | Beaverton, Oregon, US | Permanent Full-Time, Exempt

Reports to: Production Manager

Photon Kinetics is the world’s trusted standard in optical fiber testing and measurement solutions. For more than 40 years, our instruments have helped fiber and cable manufacturers deliver the performance that enables high-speed communication networks around the globe. 95% of the world’s optical fiber has been tested using our equipment. As the world moves deeper into AI-driven computing and hyperscale data centers, the demand for precise measurement and reliable optical infrastructure continues to grow. Photon Kinetics is applying its expertise in measurement science, automation, and precision systems to help build the connectivity backbone that powers the next generation of data and AI technologies.

The Production Planner translates sales order demand into an executable production plan that supports Build Commit Accuracy (BCA) and On-Time Delivery (OTD) targets. This role owns the master production schedule — creating it, maintaining it, and defending its integrity against the constant pressure of changing demand, material constraints, and engineering holds. Day-to-day, this means generating and releasing work orders with accurate due dates and quantities, sequencing jobs across work centers, and coordinating with Purchasing and Inventory Control to confirm material availability before release. When conflicts arise — and they will — this role is expected to surface them early and drive resolution, not wait for production to discover the problem on the floor. This is a highly cross-functional role. The Production Planner works closely with the Production Manager, Supply Chain & Quality Manager, Buyer, Senior Order Admin, and Engineering. Success requires both analytical rigor in the ERP system and the communication skills to keep all of those stakeholders aligned on what's buildable, when, and why.

• Master Production Schedule Ownership Established: Within the first 90 days, take full ownership of the master production schedule — including work order creation, sequencing, and maintenance in ERP — with due dates that are accurate and achievable when set. Schedule quality should be measurable and improving.
• Material Shortage Incidents Driven to Near Zero: Establish a reliable pre-release coordination process with Purchasing and Inventory Control so that work orders are not released without confirmed material availability. Planning-caused material shortages should be rare and trending down by end of year.
• Capacity Load Visibility Delivered to Production Manager: Build and maintain a repeatable capacity planning process that gives the Production Manager clear visibility into planned vs. actual load by work center. Deliver at least one forward-looking load analysis to support headcount or scheduling decisions within the first six months.

• Create and maintain the master production schedule based on sales order demand and available capacity
• Generate and release work orders with accurate due dates and quantities
• Manage work order sequencing across work centers and skill sets
• Maintain work order accuracy in ERP — dates, quantities, and status
• Manage lot-size standards by product family
• Adjust the schedule for ECN-driven changes and engineering holds

• Coordinate material availability with Purchasing and Inventory Control prior to work order release
• Balance production load across work centers and available skill sets
• Support capacity planning with demand forecasts and load analysis
• Track capacity utilization accuracy — planned vs. actual load

• Identify and communicate scheduling conflicts and constraints proactively — before they hit the floor
• Track and report on work order aging and schedule adherence
• Monitor past-due work order count attributable to scheduling
• Maintain schedule stability within the 2-week lock window
• Report on work order release lead time relative to material and capacity readiness

• 3+ years of production planning or scheduling experience in a manufacturing environment
• MRP/ERP system experience including work order management and BOM/routing understanding
• Working knowledge of bill of material structures and production routings
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills — comfortable working with data to identify and resolve scheduling conflicts
• Effective written and verbal communication skills; able to coordinate across production, supply chain, and engineering

• APICS CPIM certification
• Experience in high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) or build-to-order manufacturing environments
• Advanced Excel skills — pivot tables, data analysis, load modeling
• Familiarity with capacity planning tools and methods

• This role has direct, measurable impact on two of PK's most important operational metrics: Build Commit Accuracy and On-Time Delivery. The work is visible and the results are trackable.
• You'll work at the intersection of production, supply chain, and engineering — not siloed in a planning function. If you want to understand how a manufacturing business actually runs, this role puts you in the middle of it.
• PK builds highly technical, low-volume fiber optic test equipment. The scheduling problems here are real and require judgment — not just system transactions.
• Small team, direct access to decision-makers. Your schedule changes get acted on the same day, not filtered through layers of management.

You’ll work on technologies that enable the next wave of AI and data center innovation. At Photon Kinetics, you’ll join a highly skilled, collaborative team where your contributions directly impact the products and relationships that connect the world. You’ll have visibility and influence in a company recognized globally for engineering excellence, precision, and trusted performance. We value different perspectives and problem-solving approaches. The best solutions come from teams that think differently.