Responsibilities for this Position
Imagine a world-class engineering environment. Now add a team of exceptional talent along with technologies that are so advanced they’re often classified. That’s what you’ll find at General Dynamics Mission Systems. Here you’ll lead amazing engineers as they invent the technologies, products and services that help our service members, intelligence analysts and first responders keep our nation safe. If you want the chance to lead, it’s time to bring your talent to General Dynamics Mission Systems.
We apply advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, AR/VR, Cloud Native and Quantum Physics to solve our customers’ missions in cyber, RF, undersea, interstellar and everything in between.
As a Senior Manufacturing Planning Specialist, you’ll own the material planning function supporting the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) fleet sustainment and modernization programs. General Dynamics Mission Systems, alongside our partner Austal USA, built 19 Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships — and our San Diego office is responsible for keeping those ships mission ready. In this role, you’ll work directly with program leadership to translate upcoming installation schedules into material procurement strategies, ensuring the right parts are on hand at the right time while managing within available funding. You’ll drive the full Program Material Request (PMR) lifecycle and take on increasing ownership of the material function as programs grow.
Key Responsibilities:
- Work directly with the Deputy Program Manager for Engineering (DPME) to analyze upcoming installation schedules and develop material procurement plans aligned to funding availability and material lead times.
- Own the end-to-end PMR process — develop, submit, and track Program Material Requests (PMRs) ensuring material is procured ahead of installation start dates with no gaps to the schedule.
- Lead procurement support activities including soliciting quotes, engaging suppliers, and assembling purchase material requirement packages.
- Compare installation schedules against material on hand and open PMRs to proactively identify shortfalls and recommend corrective action before they impact program execution.
- Receive all incoming material shipments, verify against purchase orders, enter material accurately into the inventory system, and ensure proper storage and organization on the shelf.
- Partner with project leads to kit material for upcoming installations — pulling, staging, and confirming all required parts are accounted for before work begins on the ship.
- Maintain a cable spool tracking log, recording all cable sent out to installations and material returned, ensuring accurate accounting of spool inventory at all times.
- Manage shipping operations for the National City location including CONUS and OCONUS destinations, coordinating logistics for material supporting ships in the 5th and 7th Fleet.
- Oversee calibrated tools inventory and maintain associated database(s) in compliance with calibration schedules.
- Lead cycle count execution and drive inventory data accuracy, identifying and resolving discrepancies with a continuous improvement mindset.
- Mentor and directly lead a junior team member supporting the material inventory process — assigning day-to-day tasks, providing on-the-job training on receiving, storage, kitting, and system entry, and building their capability to operate independently over time.
- Identify opportunities to improve material planning processes and make recommendations to leadership.
What You'll Experience:
- Direct collaboration with the DPME and program leadership to shape material strategies across active LCS modernization programs including Naval Strike Missile (NSM) integration, LCS Network Modernization, and LCS Mission Package Modernization.
- The challenge of managing complex procurement timelines where funding availability, supplier lead times, and hard installation dates must all align.
- Material and logistics support to ships deployed forward to 5th and 7th Fleet, including urgent spare parts coordination and engineering problem resolution.
- Exposure to earned value management and defense program financial structures.
- A team environment where your recommendations on material strategy directly impact program outcomes and ship readiness.
What You Bring to the Table:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent plus a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree.
- Intermediate to advanced understanding of bill of material concepts and MRP/ERP principles, including proficiency with IFS or similar tools.
- Experience developing and submitting procurement requests (PMRs or equivalent) in a manufacturing or defense environment.
- Working knowledge of the proposal process for both material and labor estimating.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple procurement actions simultaneously without losing detail.
What Sets You Apart:
- Experience working with program management or engineering leadership to align material plans with installation or production schedules.
- Familiarity with defense program funding structures and experience planning procurement within funding constraints.
- Experience supporting naval shipbuilding or sustainment programs such as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) or DDG programs.
- Ability to mentor and help grow junior team members.
- Understanding of earned value management and product costing.
- Strong multi-task skills while maintaining focus on details.
- Identifies opportunities to apply AI for continuous improvement and innovation.
