Production Planning Support Engineer - Planner

Production Planning Support Engineer – Planner (Job ) at Colonna's Shipyard

Location:

Norfolk, VA.

Employment type:

Full-time. Seniority level:
Mid-Senior level. Job function:
Management and Manufacturing. Industry: Shipbuilding.

Steel America, a business unit of Colonna’s Shipyard, is seeking a highly analytical and organized Production Planning Support Engineer (Planner) to support steel fabrication and manufacturing project planning at our Norfolk, VA headquarters. This role is responsible for developing and managing detailed production schedules, coordinating material and resource requirements, and optimizing workflows to meet complex manufacturing demands. The role requires close collaboration with Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Engineering, and Materials teams and plays a critical role in maintaining visibility into production status, capacity, and work‑in‑progress.

• Project Execution Planning:
  • Break larger projects into work packages, define scope, estimate resources, establish timelines and milestones, and support progress tracking.
  • Establish detailed project execution plans and develop overall project engineering budgets; support scheduling functions.
  • Review and approve design documents, change orders, material requisitions and specifications.
  • Prepare work packages.
  • Monitor and adjust schedules to account for changing priorities, material availability, and production constraints.
  • Ensure production plans align with capacity, labor availability, and equipment utilization.
• Material Coordination & Flow Control:
  • Coordinate material flow to ensure timely availability of components and raw materials.
  • Monitor inventory levels to align with production requirements.
  • Work closely with materials, logistics, and purchasing teams to identify risks or shortages.
  • Manage material readiness and availability for execution.
• Resource Management:
  • Coordinate and schedule equipment and personnel to meet production demands.
  • Support capacity and capability analysis to improve planning accuracy.
  • Identify inefficiencies or bottlenecks and recommend corrective actions.
• Interdepartmental
  
  Collaboration:
  
  
  • Serve as a key liaison between Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Purchasing, Engineering, and Materials teams.
  • Translate engineering drawings and specifications into executable production plans.
  • Support shop floor operations by ensuring planning data is accurate and actionable.
• Reporting, Analysis & Problem Solving:
  • Track and report work‑in‑progress (WIP), production status, and schedule adherence.
  • Advise management on work status, material availability, and production issues; identify risks.
  • Assist with capacity, workload, and performance analysis.
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives through data‑driven recommendations.
• Work Order Management:
  • Prepare and manage production work orders and planning documentation.
  • Generate internal purchase requests for components or services as required.

• Degree:
  Bachelor’s in Engineering (Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing or related field) and at least 5 years relevant experience; additional experience may substitute for a degree.
• Experience in engineering‑centric support of production planning, including logistics, purchasing, material management, and production processes.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, bill of materials, shop floor controls, and costing principles.
• Ability to read and interpret technical documents, including production drawings.
• Experience with CAD software (AutoCAD or similar).
• Experience in construction and/or maritime industry.
• Problem‑solving skills, both independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, negotiation, leadership, and conflict‑resolution skills.

• Experience in a shipyard, steel fabrication, or heavy manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with ERP, MRP, or production planning systems.
• Understanding of material management, inventory control, and manufacturing workflows.
• Three or more years of experience in AutoCAD and/or Solidworks.

• Minimal travel; 15% or less.

• Stationary…