Manufacturing Engineering Manager (all genders)

STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionising the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design develop and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined mass-scalable and cost-effective - providing operators with a decisive edge in contested environments.

We are focused on delivering deployable high-performance systems - not future a time of rising threats STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe today.

We are seeking a visionary and collaborativeManufacturing Engineering Managerto bridge the gap between innovation and this role you will lead the transition of next-generation products from concept to high-volume production.

You will work at the critical intersection of R&D and operations guiding the industrialization process developing cutting-edge production workflows and collaborating with R&D engineers early in the design cycle to ensure products are optimized for automated manufacturing. If you thrive on turning complex designs into scalable automated and efficient production realities we want you on our team.

• Early-Stage Partnership:Partner closely with R&D teams during the prototyping phase to provide manufacturing feasibility feedback.

• Design for Excellence (DFX):Act as the champion for Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) specifically guiding R&D to define product designs that lend themselves seamlessly to automated assembly.

• Standardization:Establish design guidelines that standardize components and processes reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.

• 
  

Vendor & Capital Equipment Management

• Technical Specifications:Define technical requirements and author comprehensive Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and functional specifications for custom automation equipment robotics and tooling.

• Vendor Selection & Evaluation:Scout evaluate and select world-class equipment vendors and automation system integrators based on capability scalability cost and lead times.

• Milestone & Budget Tracking:Act as the primary point of contact for external vendors managing capital expenditure (CapEx) budgets and tracking project timelines to ensure machinery is delivered on schedule for product launches.

• Acceptance Testing (FAT/SAT):Lead Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) at vendor facilities and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) upon factory installation to guarantee equipment meets all cycle time yield and safety standards.

• SLA & Lifecycle Management:Establish Service Level Agreements (SLAs) warranty terms and preventative maintenance/spare-parts strategies with vendors to ensure long-term equipment reliability.

• Prototype to Scale:Oversee the build of pilot lines identify scaling bottlenecks and smoothly transition products from low-volume prototyping to mass production.

• Risk Mitigation:Conduct Design/Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA/PFMEA) to identify and mitigate risks early in the product lifecycle.

• Workflow Design:Design implement and continuously improve production layouts material flows and line balances.

• Automation Strategy:Identify opportunities for automation robotics and smart manufacturing (Industry 4.0) integration on the production floor.

• Documentation & Compliance:Oversee the creation of detailed manufacturing documentation including standard operating procedures (SOPs) work instructions and routing sheets.

• Team Development:Lead mentor and grow a high-performing team of manufacturing and process engineers.

• KPI Management:Define and track team metrics including cycle times first-pass yield (FPY) overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and capital expenditure (CapEx) budgets.

• Education:Bachelors degree in Manufacturing Engineering Mechanical Engineering Industrial Engineering or a related technical field (Masters or MBA is a plus).

• Experience:5 years of experience in manufacturing engineering with at least 2 years in a leadership or managerial capacity.

• NPI Expertise:Proven track record of successfully launching new products into production specifically working side-by-side with R&D teams.

• Automation Savvy:Deep understanding of automated assembly processes robotics PLC programming or vision systems and how product design choices impact automation feasibility.

• Technical Arsenal:Strong proficiency in CAD software (e.g. SolidWorks Creo) Lean Manufacturing principles Six Sigma methodologies and PFMEA execution.

• Soft Skills:Exceptional cross-functional communication and negotiation skillsability to speak the language of both abstract R&D and practical factory operations.