ALTEN is a global engineering and technology consultancy operating across over 35 countries worldwide. We partner with industry leaders across sectors including Aeronautics, Aerospace, Defence, Naval, Automotive, Energy, Rail, IT and many more to deliver innovative engineering solutions that drive technological advancement & support sustainable transformation.

Our teams of passionate and agile engineers work on cutting-edge projects that shape the future of technology and sustainability. At ALTEN, we empower talented engineers to innovate, solve complex challenges, and deliver impactful solutions that build tomorrow’s world—today.

Join us and start building tomorrow’s world today!

ALTEN is seeking an experienced Production planner to support a high-profile aerospace manufacturing programme.

This position will focus on maintaining the flow of critical components through production, resolving operational constraints and driving recovery activities to protect customer delivery commitments. You will work directly with production, planning, quality and logistics teams to ensure priority parts continue progressing through every stage of the manufacturing process.

• Location: Gloucester 
• On Site: Onsite
• Clearance: Clearable 
• Experience Level: Mid level

Key Responsibilities:

• Take responsibility for a portfolio of high-priority components and production recovery activities, ensuring they progress from order release through to final shipment.
• Maintain clear visibility of critical parts throughout the complete manufacturing lifecycle, tracking progress across individual operations and support functions.
• Identify bottlenecks, unnecessary waiting periods and process delays, taking action to improve the movement of parts through production.
• Ensure every priority component has a clearly defined next step, accountable owner and achievable recovery action.
• Work closely with Production, Planning, Scheduling, Quality, Logistics and Shop Floor teams to resolve issues affecting manufacturing flow.
• Coordinate regular reviews of critical components, ensuring production priorities and recovery requirements are clearly communicated.
• Investigate and escalate manufacturing constraints including resource shortages, machine capacity, quality concerns and material availability.
• Follow the progress of recovery actions and challenge existing production priorities when necessary to safeguard key delivery dates.
• Provide clear visibility of risks, blockers and required actions to relevant engineering and manufacturing stakeholders.
• Support initiatives aimed at reducing manufacturing lead times, work-in-progress delays and production inefficiencies.
• Contribute to improved on-time delivery performance through proactive monitoring and rapid resolution of production issues.
• Promote a structured, data-driven approach to production recovery and continuous improvement.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience working within a manufacturing or production environment, ideally within aerospace or a highly regulated engineering sector.
• Strong experience in production control, manufacturing operations, production planning, expediting or recovery activities.
• Demonstrated ability to track critical parts through multiple manufacturing operations and ensure delivery milestones are achieved.
• Experience managing production recovery plans and driving actions to resolve delays.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production flow and shop-floor operations.
• Ability to identify and resolve production bottlenecks and operational constraints.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams including Production, Scheduling, Quality, Logistics and Manufacturing.
• Ability to manage and escalate issues relating to material shortages, quality concerns, machine availability and resource constraints.
• Confident managing multiple critical priorities and ensuring actions have clear owners, deadlines and follow-up.
• Strong problem-solving, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, hands-on manufacturing environment and engaging directly with shop-floor teams.

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent military experience.

Desirable Skills:

• Previous experience within an aerospace, manufacturing, engineering or similarly complex production environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations and production processes.
• Experience with production planning, scheduling, expediting or manufacturing recovery activities.
• Proven ability to track critical components or work packages through multiple manufacturing stages.
• Strong understanding of production flow, bottleneck management and lead-time reduction.
• Experience identifying and resolving issues relating to materials, quality, machinery, capacity and resources.
• Comfortable working directly with shop floor teams, Production Managers, Schedulers, Quality and Logistics.
• Experience managing or contributing to recovery plans and delivery improvement activities.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the confidence to challenge priorities and escalate risks when required.
• Good problem-solving skills and the ability to make decisions in a fast-paced production environment.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement principles would be advantageous.
• Strong communication, organisation and prioritisation skills.

Why join us? 

We bring together entrepreneurial, tech-driven people to deliver innovative solutions for leading companies.

At ALTEN, you’ll work on exciting projects, supported by ongoing learning, mentoring, and clear career development tailored to your goals.

Join a passionate team and help build tomorrow, today.

In short you get: 

• A personalised career path and a rewarding management style 
• A huge diversity of engineering projects and industries
• Private Medical Insurance
• Cycle & Tech Scheme 
• Employee assistance programme
• Life insurance & Pension Scheme
• Social atmosphere, regular gatherings & team buildings
• Flexible way of working (role dependent)

We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant & actively encourage applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists, service leavers, and military spouses/partners. We recognise the value of military skills and experience and are committed to ensuring that no applicant is unfairly disadvantaged during our recruitment and selection processes. 

ALTEN is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and values the strength that comes from a global mix of backgrounds and perspectives. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of background or protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. 

This role may require you to have or be willing to go through Security Clearance. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard; details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website Gov.UK. If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected . Details of this will be discussed with you at interview.