Lead Planner - MRO
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Key details
- Salary
- $122K–$136K/yr
- Location
- Palo Alto, CA, United States
- Work style
- Onsite
- Level
- Senior
- Job type
- Full-time
- Experience
- 5–8 yrs
- Function
- Skilled trades & Manufacturing
- Focus area
- other
- Posted
- 5d ago
Skills
aircraft maintenanceas9100customer serviceerpexcelgoogle sheetsjiramaintenance planningmrpproduction control
About the role
Pivotal is the leader in the emerging market of electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. We design, develop, and manufacture light eVTOL aircraft and are renowned for the BlackFly aircraft the world's first light eVTOL to fly manned missions and enter the consumer market.
Efficient, compact, and simple, Pivotal aircraft are designed for a wide range of consumer, public service, and defense applications. Our distinctive tilt-aircraft architecture and scalable platform have been flying for over 10 years. Last year we announced our next-generation aircraft, the Helix, which is rapidly progressing toward general release and scalable production in 2026.
Mobility is one of the most highly-valued areas of modern technology investments. This is the right company, in the right space, the right strategy, at the right time. If you are ready for adventure, we invite you to join our amazing team and grow with us.
We are seeking an experienced, proactive Lead Planner, MRO to own maintenance planning, scheduling, and material coordination for Pivotal's BlackFly and Helix eVTOL fleet. This role turns maintenance requirements, customer service requests, and engineering dispositions into execution-ready work packages, and maintains the schedule, status, and availability of every aircraft in the MRO-owned fleet.
As a key cross-functional integrator, the Lead Planner, MRO partners with MRO technicians, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Flight Operations, Customer Support, and Marketing to balance customer service, fleet availability, and material readiness, while driving down aircraft downtime and giving leadership a clear, data-driven view of fleet readiness.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain maintenance work packages in Epicor and PICO ERP/MRP, including job creation, routing, operations, and material planning; release jobs and ensure work packages are execution-ready
- Monitor job progress with technicians through completion, adjusting operations, labor, and material transactions as needed to keep job records accurate
- Create and manage RMAs, Sales Orders, and other ERP transactions for repair, warranty, and customer support activities
- Maintain accurate maintenance records, serialized component tracking, and configuration data to support traceability and operational readiness
- Partner with Supply Chain to plan spares, rotables, and consumables, maintain MRP integrity, and flag shortages before they impact the schedule
- Own the induction schedule for customer aircraft, building service timelines based on scope, technician availability, tooling, facility space, and parts lead times
- Plan scheduled maintenance, inspections, life-limited part replacements, and service bulletins against fleet hours, cycles, and calendar intervals
- Lead weekly planning with MRO leads and technicians to set priorities, release work, and communicate daily and weekly schedules, including field deployments
- Create and manage the schedule for MRO-owned aircraft, with a check-out/check-in system for demos, marketing events, flight testing, and training that resolves conflicts and ensures returned aircraft are inspected before re-release
- Maintain a single source of truth for aircraft status (e.g., airworthy, in maintenance, AOG, awaiting parts, awaiting engineering)
- Track Jira ticket creation and status to capture aircraft downtime, root causes, and the stakeholder or dependency holding up return to service; escalate aged items to closure
- Publish a weekly fleet status summary and MRO metrics, including uptime, turnaround time, schedule adherence, and backlog
- Maintain AS9100-compliant planning records and ensure work packages reference current approved maintenance data
- Develop procedures and work instructions for maintenance planning, induction, and aircraft check-out, and drive continuous improvement in planning accuracy and turnaround time
Maintenance Planning & ERP/MRP Administration
Scheduling & Fleet Availability
Downtime Tracking, Reporting & Compliance
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Aviation Maintenance Management, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered
- 5+ years' experience in aviation maintenance planning, MRO production control, or a similar planning and scheduling role in the aerospace, automotive, or electromechanical industries
- Working knowledge of aircraft maintenance programs, including inspection intervals, life-limited and serialized parts, service bulletins, and return-to-service records
- Expertise in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, ERP/MRP systems (Epicor and/or PICO preferred), and Jira or a similar work-tracking tool
- Proactive problem-solver and clear communicator with excellent follow-through, comfortable holding stakeholders accountable
- Ability to travel occasionally to support field maintenance operations
Preferred Qualifications:
- FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certificate or hands-on aircraft maintenance experience
- Experience with AS9110 or AS9100 quality systems and maintenance tracking software
- Experience with eVTOL, electric, or light aircraft, including high-voltage battery systems
- APICS Certification in CPIM or CSCP
Attributes aligned with Core Values:
- Safety Above All: Demonstrates a proactive safety mindset by embedding safety into daily work, identifying and mitigating risks, encouraging open dialogue about safety concerns, and continuously improving practices and protocols.
- Customer Focus: Puts customers at the center of every action by understanding their challenges, delivering meaningful value, and supporting their success.
- Work Better Together: Seeks and values diverse perspectives, builds cross-functional relationships, and fosters trust through empathetic, fact-based communication and commitment to shared decisions.
- Be the Pilot: Drives results with clarity and purpose by focusing on what matters most, adapting to change, taking initiative, and owning outcomes.
- Embrace the Unknown: Navigates ambiguity with resilience and bold thinking, challenges the status quo, and combines innovative ideas with practical approaches to overcome obstacles and drive progress.
- Respect for People: Fosters a high-performance culture grounded in respect, professionalism, and support by balancing high expectations with a healthy, collaborative environment and being a trusted, dependable teammate.
Applicants must be eligible for employment in the United States and willing to work onsite at our HQ office in Palo Alto, CA.
Pivotal offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and 401k plans.
Pivotal is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Pivotal does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.