Production Readiness & Planning Manager

Company Overview

Red 6 is an innovative Augmented Reality (AR) technology startup leading the way in synthetic air combat training. Our primary technology, supporting our ATARS product, enables pilots to simulate the cognitive challenges of flying while accessing realistic, scalable training in dynamic outdoor environments.

Position Overview

Red 6 is seeking a highly organized and execution-driven Planner / Scheduler to support production operations and supply chain activities for complex aerospace products.

This role combines detailed scheduling with focused project coordination, ensuring that all elements required for production—including material availability, documentation, engineering changes, and test readiness—are aligned, tracked, and executed on time. The position will play a critical role in driving Manufacturing Readiness across multiple products by coordinating cross-functional deliverables and maintaining integrated schedules.

This role also supports product lifecycle and sustainment efforts, including ECO/ECN implementation planning and DMSMS (obsolescence) tracking, ensuring long-term material availability for DOD and aerospace customers.

Unlike a traditional Program Manager, this role is centered on execution, readiness tracking, and cross-functional coordination, ensuring that production teams—both internal and contract manufacturers—have everything required to successfully build and deliver hardware.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Readiness & Execution Management

• Lead Manufacturing Readiness processes for multiple products, ensuring all cross-functional deliverables are completed prior to production.

• Plan and run Manufacturing Readiness meetings, tracking inputs from Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Test teams.

• Maintain and track readiness checklists, deliverables, and exit criteria for production builds.

• Identify gaps in readiness—including material shortages, documentation gaps, ECO implementation status, tooling readiness, and test readiness—and drive closure.

• Ensure alignment between internal teams and contract manufacturers prior to build execution.

Planning, Scheduling & Material Readiness

• Develop and maintain integrated schedules that include supply chain, material delivery timelines, manufacturing activities, ECO implementation, and production milestones.

• Track part-level schedules and material availability, including long-lead items, custom components, and critical supply dependencies.

• Ensure all materials are scheduled to arrive in alignment with manufacturing build schedules.

• Identify and communicate material risks, shortages, or delays that could impact production readiness.

• Work closely with Supply Chain and Procurement to align purchase orders, supplier commitments, and delivery schedules with build plans.

• Track critical path items, including both execution tasks and material dependencies.

ECO / ECN & Configuration Change Coordination

• Support planning and execution of Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) / Engineering Change Notices (ECNs) within production schedules.

• Track implementation of changes across inventory, work-in-progress, and supplier pipelines.

• Coordinate with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to ensure timely and controlled rollout of design changes.

• Ensure schedule alignment for cut-in dates, revision control, and disposition of affected materials.

• Plan and coordinate qualification builds for second-source components, including scheduling, material readiness, and cross-functional alignment.

• Track readiness and completion of validation and qualification activities associated with alternate/dual-sourced components.

• Coordinate First Article Inspection (FAI) and other qualification requirements for new or alternate components.

• Ensure alignment of test, quality, and documentation requirements for component qualification and release to production.

DMSMS & Lifecycle (Obsolescence) Support

• Track and coordinate activities related to DMSMS (Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages).

• Maintain visibility into end-of-life (EOL) components and last-time-buy opportunities.

• Support Supply Chain and Engineering in planning for alternate sourcing, redesigns, or lifetime buys.

• Ensure production schedules account for component lifecycle risks and long-term availability requirements.

• Support sustainment planning to ensure continued supportability for DOD and aerospace customers.

Cross-Functional Project Coordination

• Coordinate activities across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, and Test teams.

• Track and manage multiple concurrent initiatives supporting production and supply chain execution.

• Drive accountability by tracking action items, owners, and deadlines.

• Escalate risks and blockers—including material availability and obsolescence risks—that could impact production readiness or schedule.

Meeting Leadership & Communication

• Lead recurring cross-functional meetings (e.g., Manufacturing Readiness Reviews, Build Readiness, Production Status).

• Document meeting minutes, action items, owners, and due dates with clear follow-through.

• Provide structured updates to leadership on schedule status, material readiness, ECO progress, and risks.

• Ensure clear communication between internal teams and contract manufacturers.

Tools, Reporting & Visibility

• Utilize Microsoft Project to build and maintain detailed schedules.

• Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting tools to track schedule performance, material readiness, and lifecycle risks.

• Provide regular updates on schedule adherence, material availability, ECO status, and readiness gaps.

• Ensure alignment and consistency across scheduling and tracking tools.

Production & Supply Chain Support

• Support execution of internal production and contract manufacturing builds.

• Track material readiness, long-lead components, supplier delivery performance, and EOL risks.

• Coordinate closely with Supply Chain and Procurement to ensure on-time delivery of all required components.

• Support alignment with traceability, compliance, and documentation requirements.

Required Qualifications

• 3–7 years of experience in planning, scheduling, or project coordination in a manufacturing or hardware environment.

• Experience tracking material readiness, supply chain schedules, or production planning activities.

• Familiarity with ECO/ECN processes and configuration control in production environments.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives.

• Proven experience developing and maintaining integrated schedules that include material dependencies.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Project (or similar scheduling tools).

• Experience leading meetings, documenting action items, and driving follow-through.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to present clear, structured status updates.

• Ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams.

• US Citizen (security clearance is a plus).

• Willingness to work onsite in Louisville, CO and travel to CM facilities as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting DOD or aerospace production programs.

• Familiarity with AS9100 quality environments.

• Experience with DMSMS / obsolescence management.

• Experience supporting custom component supply chains.

• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and supply chain analytics tools.

• Background in electromechanical aerospace systems or avionics hardware.

• Familiarity with contract manufacturing environments.

Full-Time Employee Benefits

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision (100% coverage for Employees)

• Paid time off, including vacation, sick, paid holidays, and parental leave

• Short and Long-Term Disability

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

• 401(k) Retirement Plan

• Voluntary Worksite Benefits (Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity)
  

Note

Red 6 reserves the right to change its current benefits program at any time, in a manner that is consistent with applicable federal and state regulations.

This job description is not a contract and confers no contractual rights, privileges, or benefits on any applicant or potential applicant. Red 6 has the right to change any and all terms of this job description, including, but not limited to, job responsibilities, qualifications, and benefits. Nothing in this job description constitutes an offer or guarantee of employment.

Red Six Aerospace, Inc, is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

California: https://www.caljobs.ca.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx

Colorado: https://www.connectingcolorado.com/

Florida: https://www.employflorida.com/vosnet/Default.aspx
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), Red 6 Aerospace, Inc. operating company you are applying to work for (hereinafter, “we”, “our”, or “us”) may collect personal information and use it for certain business purposes as described below in this Job Applicant and Employee Privacy Notice. We are required to disclose the following information to California “consumers” regarding our collection of their personal information. Under the CCPA, “consumers” means California residents, including job applicants, employees, or contractors of a business.  

Candidate Privacy Notice