Production Assistant
Modus Advanced, Inc.
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Pay: $25–29/hour depending on experience
Reports to: Production Supervisor / Lead
Employment Type: Full-time, Non-Exempt (Hourly)
Shift: M–Th, 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Position Overview
Join the Modus Advanced team as a Production Assistant and become the connective tissue that keeps our production floor moving. In this role, you’ll own the production paperwork and the ERP data that keep jobs flowing—building job binders, generating pick lists, and, above all, making sure material consumptions, time outputs, and job status are recorded accurately and on time in our Business Central ERP system—while serving as a flexible floor resource who supports material flow, shipping, and staging when needed. The components our teams produce support life-saving medical devices, critical defense systems, and aerospace innovations.
At Modus Advanced, one day matters. The jobs you keep organized and the data you keep accurate move faster and cleaner through the floor, freeing our managers and programmers to focus on the work only they can do. Your organization, follow-through, and attention to detail directly impact our ability to deliver excellence to our customers on time.
What Success Looks Like
As a Production Assistant, your primary focus is keeping production documentation and ERP data accurate and moving. You make sure every job has a correct, complete binder before it hits the floor; you own the timely, accurate entry of consumptions, time outputs, and job status in Business Central; and you act as the guardrail on the floor—following up with the team so production information actually gets captured in the system in real time, rather than being reconstructed later or left to managers and programmers to chase.
A successful Production Assistant is proactive, organized, and dependable. You catch a job binder or a bad transaction before it causes a problem downstream, you keep the ERP a source of truth people can rely on, and you take administrative weight off the managers and programmers so they can stay on higher-value work. When the paperwork and data are under control, you’re a flexible extra set of hands the floor can count on—helping with shipping, staging, inventory, or whatever the day needs.
Key Responsibilities
Production Documentation and Job Setup
- Create and assemble job binders and travelers, ensuring each job has complete, accurate paperwork before it reaches the floor
- Review job binders for errors and correct them before they cause downstream problems
- Generate pick lists and coordinate the pulling and staging of materials for upcoming jobs
- Maintain accurate traveler and production records throughout the manufacturing process to support traceability
ERP Data Ownership (Business Central)
- Own the accuracy and timeliness of production data in the Business Central ERP system—this is a core, defining responsibility of the role, not a background task
- Record material consumptions, labor and time outputs, quantities, and job status against the correct jobs and POs
- Reconcile what physically happens on the floor with what the system shows, catching and correcting discrepancies before they compound
- Ensure production transactions are entered completely and on time so inventory, job costing, and scheduling data stay trustworthy
- Serve as the floor’s point person for getting production information into the ERP correctly, rather than leaving it to managers and programmers to enter piecemeal
Floor Coordination and Data Integrity
- Act as the floor “guardrail”—following up with the team to ensure production data makes it into the ERP and paperwork accurately and on time
- Put up guardrails and processes that make it easier for the floor to record information correctly the first time
- Chase down missing paperwork, transactions, and information so jobs are not delayed or mis-costed for lack of data
- Work closely with the planning team to translate job plans into floor-ready binders and picks
- Track job status and flag paperwork, data, or material gaps that put schedule at risk
- Take administrative load off managers and programmers so they can focus on programming, setup, and production
Inventory and Material Support
- Conduct cycle counts, stock verification, and inventory adjustments for raw materials and work-in-process
- Verify quantities against travelers and pick lists with a high standard of accuracy
- Monitor consumable and material levels and coordinate restocking before shortages stop production
Flexible Floor Support (Floater Role)
- Serve as a flexible resource across the floor when paperwork is under control—supporting shipping, staging, and material movement
- Prepare and stage parts and move materials between work centers, inspection, and storage as needed
- Maintain organized, efficient work and staging areas following 5S principles
- Follow all safety protocols while working on the floor, and escalate quality or material concerns promptly
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to streamline documentation and material flow
Required Qualifications
Education and Experience
- High school diploma or equivalent required
- 1–2 years of production support, coordination, administrative, or manufacturing experience preferred
- Experience with production paperwork, job travelers, or ERP data entry in a manufacturing environment strongly preferred
- Ability to read, write, comprehend, and communicate in English
Technical Skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and strong general computer skills
- Experience with, or a strong aptitude to quickly master, Microsoft Business Central ERP (or a comparable ERP system)—ERP data ownership is central to this role
- Comfortable navigating multiple software platforms and keeping data accurate under volume
- Ability to read and follow work instructions, travelers, job routers, and basic engineering drawings
- Basic understanding of manufacturing workflow and shop-floor documentation
Physical Requirements
- Ability to move between a workstation and the production floor throughout the day
- Ability to stand, walk, and move around the floor for extended periods
- Good eyesight (correction allowable) for detailed documentation and basic inspection work
- Ability to lift and move up to 25–35 pounds as required for material handling
Personal Attributes
- Exceptional organization and attention to detail—this role lives and dies by accurate paperwork
- Proactive and persistent—willing to chase people for information and hold the line on data quality
- Self-motivated with the ability to juggle many jobs and priorities at once without losing track
- Genuinely invested in doing the administrative work well, not treating it as a stepping-stone to skip past
- Strong communication skills and a collaborative, team-first approach
- Commitment to safety, quality, and ethical behavior
What We Offer
Comprehensive Benefits Package
- Competitive pay commensurate with experience
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan with company matching
- Paid time off and holiday pay
- Professional development opportunities
- Tuition reimbursement program
Growth Opportunities
The Production Assistant role is a deliberate entry point into Modus. It gives you exposure to the full production floor and our core systems, opening clear paths forward—into operator and machinist tracks, into quality, or into production planning and coordination roles. You’ll receive mentorship from experienced operators, machinists, and engineers along the way.
Work Environment
State-of-the-art manufacturing facility with modern CNC and production equipment in Carlsbad, CA. Climate-controlled environment with a strong safety culture and comprehensive training programs. You’ll work in a collaborative, fast-paced setting with direct access to our engineering staff (more than 10% of Modus personnel are engineers) and the opportunity to support mission-critical projects for aerospace, defense, and medical device customers.
Our Commitment to Excellence
At Modus Advanced, we maintain the highest standards of quality and precision. Our AS9100, ISO 9001, and ITAR certifications reflect our commitment to excellence in everything we do. As a Production Assistant, you’ll be an integral part of maintaining these standards while keeping the floor moving for our customers’ critical missions.
We’re looking for team members who understand that in our world, precision isn’t just about meeting specifications—it’s about enabling innovations that save and protect lives.
Ready to join our team? Apply today and become part of a company that’s accelerating tomorrow’s innovations
Pay: $25.00 - $29.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
