Head of Production (m/f/d)

Rocket Factory Augsburg; Augsburg; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

International team events

Flexible hours

Home office 1 day/wk

Wellness program

30 days leave

Team events

Free parking

Job summary

Rocket Factory Augsburg seeks a Head of Production / Manufacturing (m/f/d) to lead operations for aerospace components, driving efficiency, quality, and on-time delivery. You will shape scalable manufacturing structures and industrialize new products, reporting to senior management.

You will partner with Engineering, Quality and Supply Chain, implement Lean and CIP, pursue automation and digitalisation, and ensure compliance with EN 9100/ISO 9001 standards.

Qualifications

• Several years’ management experience in manufacturing, ideally in aerospace or regulated industries.
• In-depth knowledge of operational production control and mass production processes.
• Proven track record in lean management and CIP.
• Experience implementing automation, digitalisation or investments in production.
• Knowledge of EN 9100 / ISO 9001 and audit/regulatory requirements.
• Strong leadership, hands-on implementation, and pragmatic approach.
• Fluent German and English; proficient with ERP and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operational and strategic management of manufacturing (quality, costs, productivity, on‑time delivery).
• Lead, motivate, and develop production staff and managers.
• Ensure smooth operations with capacity and resource planning.
• Industrialise new products and create scalable production structures for growth.
• Analyse, standardise, and continuously optimise processes using lean methods.
• Identify and implement automation and digitalisation projects.
• Ensure compliance with aviation standards and audits; support customer/regulatory approvals.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to sustain production development.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Lean management

Aerospace manufacturing

Quality standards EN 9100

Automation & digitalisation

ERP systems

German & English

People management

Project management

Education

Engineering degree (Mech/Prod)

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

About Rocket Factory Augsburg

At Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), we have one clear goal: to create low-cost, flexible, and reliable access to space. We specialize in building small launch vehicles designed to deploy satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond. Together with you, we aim to revolutionize space services and help improve life on Earth. Sounds interesting? Then join our journey and become part of the team driving the New Space movement in Europe.

About the Team

Our international and agile team is looking for support from a motivated person as a Head of Production / Manufacturing (m/f/d), where you will be responsible for the operational management and continuous improvement of our manufacturing operations for aerospace components and systems. In addition to ensuring efficient, high-quality, and on-time production, you will drive the industrialization of new products, the optimization of manufacturing processes, and the expansion of scalable production structures.

Working closely with the development, quality, purchasing, and project management teams, you will lay the groundwork for sustainable growth and an efficient manufacturing organization. You will report directly to senior management.

Your Tasks

• Overall responsibility for the operational and strategic management of manufacturing with regard to quality, costs, productivity, and on-time delivery.
• Leading, motivating, and developing employees and managers in the production area.
• Ensuring smooth manufacturing operations as well as efficient capacity and resource planning.
• Further developing the manufacturing organization and creating scalable production structures for future growth.
• Industrializing new products and transitioning development and prototyping processes to series production.
• Analyzing, standardizing, and continuously optimizing manufacturing processes using lean management methods and continuous improvement (CIP).
• Identifying and implementing automation and digitalization projects to increase efficiency and process reliability.
• Ensuring compliance with aviation-specific standards, regulatory requirements, and internal quality standards.
• Planning and overseeing audits, as well as providing support for customer and regulatory approvals.
• Working closely with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure the sustainable development of production processes.

Your Qualifications

• A successfully completed degree in mechanical engineering, production engineering, industrial engineering or a comparable technical qualification.
• Several years’ management experience in the manufacturing industry, ideally in the aerospace sector or a similarly regulated industry.
• In-depth knowledge of operational production control, as well as experience in the industrialisation of new products and the establishment or optimisation of mass production processes.
• A proven track record in the analysis, standardisation and continuous improvement of production processes using lean management methods and continuous improvement (KVP).
• Experience in implementing automation, digitalisation or investment projects within production.
• Good knowledge of relevant quality and industry standards (e.g. EN 9100, ISO 9001) as well as experience in dealing with audits and regulatory requirements.
• Strong leadership and communication skills combined with a pragmatic, hands‑on approach and a strong focus on implementation.
• Very good command of German and English, as well as confidence in using ERP systems and standard MS Office applications.

We offer

• Atmosphere: Experience life in an international & dynamic New Space start-up
• Flexibility: Fit your working schedule to your needs with flexible working hours
• Home Office: Full-time employees benefit from 1 day per week home office
• Health: Sweat, stretch or squat it out with EGYM Wellpass
• Paid Time Off: 30 days annual leave and special leave days
• RFA Family: Join regular company and team events
• Parking: Free parking for car and bike

Ready to take the next step?

Join RFA and help build one of Europe’s most efficient launch systems. Work alongside 300+ colleagues from over 40 countries and take ownership from day one.

If you’re looking to grow, take responsibility, and contribute to making space more accessible, we’d love to hear from you.

We look forward to receiving your application in German or English.