Head of Manufacturing – Production Scale-Up | SpaceTech

Demexios; Bayern; Presencial; EUR 120 000 - 180 000; Tempo integral

Vantagens oferecidas por esta oferta de emprego

Temporary accommodation

Relocation assistance

Equity participation potential

Competitive salary

Resumo da oferta

Demexios in Germany is seeking a Head of Manufacturing to own production operations, lead a 50–60 person team, and build the structures needed for ambitious growth. You will shape long-term manufacturing strategy while staying hands-on on the shop floor with engineers and operators.

Your challenge is to double output while maintaining top quality and delivery. You will implement Lean, design scalable processes, establish KPIs, and bridge engineering with production to industrialize new products.

Qualificações

• At least 5 years of leadership experience in manufacturing.
• Proven track record scaling production or industrial ramp-up.
• Strong technical background in mechanical/industrial engineering.
• Experience manufacturing complex, high-value technical products in metals/composites/advanced materials.
• Solid understanding of Lean Manufacturing, production planning, and KPIs.

Responsabilidades

• Lead the transition from low-volume to scalable serial manufacturing.
• Drive production ramp-up with the aim to double output.
• Develop scalable production processes and systems for non-fully automated environment.
• Identify bottlenecks and improve throughput, capacity, and delivery performance.
• Lead a manufacturing organization of ~50–60 employees and mentors leaders.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement and operational discipline.
• Bridge engineering and production to ensure readiness and industrialization.

Conhecimentos

Leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Production ramp-up

Cross-functional collaboration

German and English fluency

Formação académica

Engineering degree

Ferramentas

ERP systems

MES

Descrição da oferta de emprego

Industry: Space Tech / Advanced Manufacturing

About the company

Our client is a fast-growing German deep-tech company developing and manufacturing highly engineered components for demanding technical applications.

Combining advanced materials with cutting-edge engineering, the company is entering a critical growth phase, transitioning from small-scale, engineering-driven production towards scalable and reliable serial manufacturing.

About the Role

To support this transformation, we are looking for a Head of Manufacturing to take full ownership of production operations, lead a team of approximately 50–60 employees, and build the processes, structures, and capabilities needed to support the company’s ambitious growth plans.

The challenge? Double production output while maintaining the highest standards of quality, delivery, and operational efficiency.

This position offers a unique combination of strategic responsibility and hands-on operational leadership. We are looking for someone who enjoys defining the long-term manufacturing strategy while remaining closely involved in day-to-day operations, working alongside team leaders, engineers, and machine operators on the shopfloor.

You should be equally comfortable shaping the manufacturing strategy and rolling up your sleeves to make it happen.

Your Responsibilities

• Lead the transition from low-volume production towards scalable serial manufacturing.
• Drive production ramp-up, with the ambition to increase manufacturing output by approximately 100%.
• Develop scalable production processes and systems in an environment that is not yet fully automated.
• Identify and eliminate operational bottlenecks while improving throughput, capacity utilization, and delivery performance.

Lead and develop the manufacturing organization

• Take ownership of a manufacturing organization of approximately 50–60 employees, including operational team leaders and production engineering functions.
• Coach and develop team leaders while creating clear responsibilities, performance expectations, and accountability.
• Maintain a strong presence on the shopfloor, working closely with operators, engineers, and production supervisors.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement, operational discipline, and collaborative problem-solving.

Implement operational excellence

• Introduce and optimize Lean Manufacturing principles, standardized work instructions, production planning, and performance management.
• Establish transparent KPIs covering productivity, quality, efficiency, scrap, and production output.
• Improve manufacturing processes, material flows, equipment utilization, and resource planning.
• Develop structured documentation, traceability, and quality processes suitable for complex technical products.

Bridge engineering and production

• Work closely with engineering, quality, supply chain, and management teams to ensure production readiness.
• Support the industrialization of new products and adapt existing manufacturing processes as product requirements evolve.
• Translate technical challenges into practical, repeatable, and scalable production solutions.
  

Your Profile

What we’re looking for

• At least 5 years of leadership experience in manufacturing or production operations, ideally managing teams of 30+ employees.
• Proven track record in scaling production, increasing manufacturing output, or leading a significant industrial ramp-up.
• Strong technical background, ideally in mechanical engineering, production engineering, industrial engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience manufacturing complex, high-value technical products, ideally involving metals, composites, or advanced materials.
• Solid understanding of Lean Manufacturing, production planning, process optimization, and operational KPIs.
• Experience working in quality-critical or highly regulated manufacturing environments where documentation, traceability, and process discipline are essential.
• A hands-on leadership style: comfortable discussing strategy with senior management and solving operational challenges directly with machine operators.
• Professional fluency in German and English.

Why Join?

A genuine scaling challenge: Take ownership of a manufacturing operation at a pivotal moment, with the objective of doubling production output.

Real operational autonomy: Shape the production system, improve processes, develop teams, and directly influence the company’s growth.

Cutting-edge technology: Work with complex, innovative products combining advanced materials and demanding engineering requirements.

Visible impact: Your decisions will directly influence manufacturing capacity, product quality, customer delivery, and future international expansion.

Entrepreneurial environment: Join a fast-growing organization with short decision-making processes and close collaboration between engineering, operations, and leadership.

Competitive package and relocation support:

• Competitive fixed annual salary depending on experience
• Potential future equity participation
• Temporary accommodation support during the first months of relocation
• Visa and relocation assistance where applicable