Senior Production Planner

Pilatus Aircraft USA Ltd•Sarasota, FL

4m•$86,000 - $108,000

About The Position

Be part of the founding Operations team launching the first US aircraft assembly line for Pilatus. Pilatus Aircraft USA Ltd is launching a new PC-12 final assembly operation in Sarasota, Florida. To establish this operation successfully, we are seeking highly experienced aircraft assembly professionals to join our launch team. Launch team members are selected based on proven hands-on experience, technical maturity, and the ability to work independently in a production environment. This role goes beyond traditional production planning. It combines shopfloor production control, SAP-based order management, material prioritization, and day-to-day operational steering of an aircraft assembly line. Successful candidates will complete approximately 6-12 months of advanced, hands-on training at Pilatus headquarters in Stans, Switzerland, working directly within an established production line. Training starts summer 2026. Upon return to Sarasota, Launch Team members will work alongside Mentors from the Pilatus factory, serving as core technical experts, mentors, and potential future leaders, supporting ramp-up of the Sarasota assembly line and training of new personnel. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about this opportunity. Launch Team | Pilatus Aircraft

Requirements

Technical or industrial education (e.g., industrial engineering, manufacturing, aviation, or comparable technical background)
Minimum of 5 – 8 years of experience in production control, manufacturing planning, or shopfloor operations (aerospace or complex manufacturing environment preferred)
Strong hands-on experience with ERP systems; SAP (S/4 or ECC) experience strongly preferred
Proven experience in work order release, tracking and follow-up; material prioritization and shortage management; KPI-driven decision-making
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to work fact-based and structured
Confident communicator able to interface across functions and organizational levels
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook)

Responsibilities

Helps analyze production specifications to determine manufacturing processes, tools, and personnel requirements
Prepares, releases, and controls production work orders in SAP, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and timing
Coordinates rework and follows up on orders resulting from quality findings or configuration changes
Actively prioritizes missing or critical material in coordination with logistics, procurement, and disposition
Develops operational strategies to achieve production and financial objectives
Provides engineering support for production and maintenance activities to ensure maximum production
Learns and applies Pilatus production control methods, SAP structures, and best practices during the Switzerland training assignment
Captures operational know-how and transfers production control standards into the Sarasota organization
Supports digitalization and process improvement projects related to production planning and control
Operates with a high degree of autonomy and operational ownership
Serves as a proactive coordination hub between production, logistics, quality, and engineering
Identifies process disruptions, material risks, and planning gaps early and drives mitigation actions
Leads without formal authority through data, structure, and communication
Balances schedule adherence, quality, and cost awareness in daily decision-making
Supports early problem-solving before full-rate production is achieved

Benefits

Unique opportunity to help launch Pilatus’ first US PC-12 assembly line
International training assignment, cultural exchange, language training at Pilatus headquarters in Stans, Switzerland (approx. 6-12 months)
Comprehensive support package for the Switzerland assignment (details provided separately)
Long-term career growth opportunities, including paths into Team Lead, Specialist, or leadership roles as the program matures
Competitive compensation, benefits, and retention incentives
11 paid holidays a year, plus 15 days of paid vacation time, and 6 days of paid sick/personal time to start with an increase to 20 days of paid vacation time after 5 years with Pilatus
90% of medical, dental, and vision premiums paid for single coverage and 80% for family coverage, averaging $9,600 annually
Monthly health savings account (HSA) contributions totaling $2,250 for single coverage and $3,000 for family coverage annually
401(k) retirement plan matching up to 6%
Life and long-term disability insurance premiums paid in full
The salary range for this position is $86,000 - 108,000 per year depending on experience. Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.