Production Planning Support Engineer - Planner (Job ID: 1382)

Colonna's Shipyard

Norfolk, Virginia

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Analysis Skills, AutoCAD, Bill of Materials (BOM), Budgeting, Business Operations, Business Support, CAD (Computer-Aided Design) Software, Capacity Analysis, Change Requests/Orders, Communication Skills, Conflict Resolution, Construction, Continuous Improvement, Corrective Action, Cost Control, Data Quality, Design Document, Documentation Plan, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), Employee Benefits, Engineering Drawing, Heavy Equipment/Vehicles, Identify Issues, Industrial Engineering, Inventory Levels, Inventory Management, Leadership, Lift/Move 20 Pounds, Logistics, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Process Planning, Materials Management, Materials Planning, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Negotiation Skills, Office Equipment, Operational Support, Operations Planning, Order Management, Organizational Skills, Performance Analysis, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Procurement Management, Production Management, Production Planning, Production Schedule, Production Specifications, Production Support, Production Systems, Productivity Management, Project Development, Project Engineering, Project Estimates, Project Execution, Project Planning, Purchasing/Procurement, Quality Assurance, Resource Management, Risk Analysis, Schedule Development, SolidWorks, Steel Industry, Technical Support, Technical Writing, Time Management, Willing to Travel, Writing Skills
LOCATION
Norfolk, Virginia
POSTED
2 days ago
Production Planning Support Engineer (Planner)
 
Purpose:
 
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.
 
Additionally, the Production Planning Support Engineer ensures that equipment, personnel, and materials are effectively aligned to support efficient production output. 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.
 
The position is located onsite in Norfolk VA and may require hours beyond a standard work week to support business operations, as needed.  Position may require limited travel. 
 
Job Description:
 
Key elements of the position include:
 
Project Execution Planning
  • Breaks larger projects into management work packages (tasks/phases), defines project scope, estimates resources (labor, materials, budget), establishes timelines & milestones, and support progress tracking
  • Establishes detailed project execution plan and the development of overall project engineering budgets and supports scheduling functions
  • Reviews and approves design documents, change orders, material requisitions and specifications for construction or procurement use
  • Prepares 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 to support production schedules
  • Manage and 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 production 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 potential production issues while identifying potential 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, in coordination with purchasing
Qualifications:
  • Position requires bachelor’s degree in engineering (Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing, or related field) and at least 5 years relevant experience.  Additional experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
    • Experience must include engineering‑centric support of production planning, including support for logistics, purchasing, material management, and production processes.
  • Must have strong knowledge of Microsoft Office suite – specifically Excel, Word, Outlook.
  • Must have knowledge, understanding, and experience in manufacturing processes, production planning, bill of materials, shop floor controls and costing principles.
  • Must be able to read and interpret technical documents, to include production drawings. 
  • Must have experience using CAD software (AutoCAD or similar)
  • Must have experience within the construction and/or maritime industry
  • Must have aptitude to solve problems both independently and in groups.
  • Must have excellent written and verbal communication abilities supported by strong negotiation, personnel leadership, and conflict resolution skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • 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 plus years of experience in AutoCAD and/or Solidworks highly prtefered.
Travel Requirements:
  • Minimal Travel; 15% or less.
Physical Requirements:
  • Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods.
  • Able to sit and work on a computer for long periods of time.
  • Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.
  • Communicating with others to exchange information.
  • Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds.
  • Work is generally performed within an office environment, with standard office equipment available, but also requires safe navigation and regular partnership with operations teams within shipyard/industrial environments.
Respect, Pride, Truth, Family – These are our VALUES and the guidelines that make us a leader in our industry. We are pleased and confident in stating that our skilled employees are among the most respected experts in the ship repair industry.
 
Colonna’s Shipyard, Inc. is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
 
Additionally, Colonna’s Shipyard provides a variety of benefits to support your best health, wellness, and future, to include medical/dental/vision options, company paid disability insurances, 401k with match, legal services, as well as company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO).
 
Pay Range: $67,747 - $91,658
Determination of base salary considers various factors, including but not limited to scope of responsibility, candidate’s relative and specific experience, education level, key skills, as well as other business considerations.  The company also provides a variety of benefits to support employees’ best health and wellness.  Additionally, the company offers a 401k retirement program with match, paid holidays, and competitive paid time off (PTO)

About the Company

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Colonna's Shipyard

Colonna’s Shipyard, Inc. is located in the historic Berkley section of Norfolk, Virginia and is the oldest continuous family owned and operated private shipyard in the United States. Founded in 1875 by Charles J. Colonna, a 26 year old ship carpenter with limited resources, the early business was limited to pier-side repairs. Within 2 years, Charles had added his first marine railway powered by two horses that had a lift capacity of about 40 tons, and he was off and running. Although over 140 years old, Colonna’s Shipyard continues to maintain its commitment to modernization, making the capital investments necessary for improvements in efficiency and productivity. Today, Colonna’s is a diverse industrial company with extensive capabilities in commercial and government ship repair, machining and large steel fabrication. Colonna’s strength is our employees. We employ the best and the brightest in the shipyard industry and we are proud of all that they do. From welders and ship fitters to government contract specialists, we have the right people in place to make sure the job is completed to the highest standards.

COMPANY SIZE
100 to 499 employees
INDUSTRY
Marine Mfg & Services
FOUNDED
1875
WEBSITE
https://www.colonnaship.com/