Senior Manager, Demand Planning

Vast is looking for a Senior Manager, Demand Planning to lead and scale the Demand Planning organization supporting the development and production of our next-generation human-rated space stations.

This role will own the strategy, organization, processes, systems, and operating rhythms that translate engineering and program requirements into executable demand signals across procurement, inventory, and manufacturing. The Senior Manager will be accountable for material planning strategy and readiness across multiple programs and builds, ensuring leadership has clear visibility into material requirements, shortages, inventory risk, planning accuracy, and readiness against critical program milestones.

The ideal candidate combines deep MRP and material planning expertise with strong organizational leadership, systems thinking, and the ability to build and scale planning capabilities in a fast-paced engineering and manufacturing environment. This leader will serve as a key Supply Chain partner to Engineering, Manufacturing, Procurement, Inventory, Finance, and Program leadership, driving alignment and decisions that enable program execution.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead, develop, and scale the Demand Planning organization, establishing functional scope, priorities, performance expectations, and long-term capability needs

Define and own the Demand Planning and sparing strategy across development and production programs, ensuring material plans support program schedules, build priorities, and business objectives

Own the end-to-end demand planning framework that translates engineering, program, and production requirements into executable planning signals demand across procurement, inventory, and manufacturing  strategies for inventory optimization and master data management

Establish enterprise planning strategies and operating rhythms for demand aggregation, BOM analysis, MRP runs, program schedule reviews, shortage management, material readiness, and inventory planning across multiple programs and builds

Partner with Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Inventory, and Program leadership to identify material risks, establish priorities, and drive risk abatement against critical program milestones

Define and drive Demand Planning KPIs, dashboards, and executive-level business reviews that provide clear visibility into material readiness, planning accuracy, inventory health, and program risk

Lead the evolution of MRP, master data, planning systems, automation, and business processes to improve accuracy, scalability, visibility, and execution speed

Serve as the escalation point for significant material and planning risks, driving cross-functional recovery strategies when supply threatens critical program milestones

Build scalable processes, tools, standards, and training that strengthen planning discipline and improve how Engineering, Manufacturing, Programs, and Supply Chain operate together

Develop the organizational roadmap for Demand Planning, including talent strategy, systems capabilities, process maturity, and future resource requirements as Vast scales development and production

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience

8+ years of experience in demand planning, material planning, production planning, supply chain, operations, or a related function

3+ years of experience leading and developing teams in a complex manufacturing or hardware environment

Demonstrated experience building, scaling, or significantly maturing a demand planning, material planning, or related supply chain function

Deep experience with MRP, BOMs, inventory planning, material requirements, shortage management, and material readiness in a manufacturing environment

Experience establishing planning strategies, operating rhythms, KPIs, and governance across multiple programs, products, or production builds

Demonstrated ability to identify systemic planning and material risks and drive cross-functional teams toward resolution

Experience partnering with senior leaders across Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Inventory, Supply Chain, and/or Program Management

Strong analytical and systems-thinking capabilities with the ability to translate complex data into clear business decisions and actions

Strong executive communication and influencing skills with demonstrated ability to drive alignment across multiple levels and functions of an organization

Preferred Skills & Experience:

Experience in aerospace, defense, spaceflight, automotive, or high-growth hardware manufacturing

Experience leading demand or material planning for complex aerospace development, qualification, and production programs

Experience managing planning organizations supporting multiple products, programs, or production builds simultaneously

Advanced experience with MRP, ERP, MES, PLM, and manufacturing planning systems

Deep understanding of BOM management, engineering change management, master data, inventory optimization, material readiness, and production planning

Experience defining and implementing planning system architecture, reporting, analytics, and automation

Demonstrated success building or transforming a planning organization during rapid company or production growth

Experience developing organizational structures, hiring plans, career frameworks, and planning talent

Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment while balancing immediate program execution with long-term organizational scalability

Additional Requirements:

Willingness to work extended hours or weekends as needed to support critical program milestones

Ability to travel to other Vast locations as needed

Pay Range: California

$136,940—$194,388 USD