Operations & Project Manager

Flyer One Ventures; Madrid; Hybrid; EUR 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangement

Direct exposure to founders

Job summary

Flyer One Ventures is seeking an Operations & Project Manager to oversee day-to-day operations and coordinate engineering and production projects for a fast-growing hardware startup. The role requires managing procurement, supply chain, facilities and internal processes while aligning with cross-functional teams across engineering, R&D and production.

Ideal candidates have hands-on experience in hardware environments (robotics/defense), strong organizational skills, and proficiency in English

Qualifications

• 4–8 years of experience in operations, project or programme management.
• Experience in hardware, robotics, aerospace, defense or other complex engineering environments.
• Proven ability to manage cross-functional projects from planning through delivery.
• Professional working proficiency in English and Spanish.
• Based in Madrid or willing to relocate.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations, including procurement, supply chain, vendors, facilities and internal processes
• Plan and coordinate projects across engineering, R&D, production and customer deployments
• Track project timelines, milestones, budgets, risks and dependencies
• Coordinate with engineering teams, external manufacturers and production partners
• Identify bottlenecks, resolve operational issues and keep projects on track
• Build and improve internal processes, workflows and reporting systems
• Manage relationships with suppliers, contract manufacturers and external partners
• Work closely with the founders to support operational efficiency and company growth

Skills

Operations management

Project management

Cross-functional coordination

Stakeholder management

Procurement

Supply chain

Vendor management

Job description

We are working with a European defense technology company developing AI-powered autonomous robotic systems.

We are looking for an Operations & Project Manager to oversee day-to-day operations, coordinate engineering and production projects, and help build the processes needed to support a fast-growing hardware startup.

This is a hands‑on role for someone who combines strong operational skills with experience managing complex technical projects and working across multiple teams.

What you will own:

• Manage day-to-day operations, including procurement, supply chain, vendors, facilities and internal processes
• Plan and coordinate projects across engineering, R&D, production and customer deployments
• Track project timelines, milestones, budgets, risks and dependencies
• Coordinate with engineering teams, external manufacturers and production partners
• Identify bottlenecks, resolve operational issues and keep projects on track
• Build and improve internal processes, workflows and reporting systems
• Manage relationships with suppliers, contract manufacturers and external partners
• Work closely with the founders to support operational efficiency and company growth

What we are looking for:

• 4–8 years of experience in operations, project or programme management
• Experience in hardware, robotics, aerospace, defense or other complex engineering environments
• Proven ability to manage cross-functional projects from planning through delivery
• Hands‑on experience with operational processes, suppliers or production coordination
• Strong organisational, problem‑solving and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently
• High ownership, attention to detail and comfort working in a fast‑paced startup environment
• Professional working proficiency in both English and Spanish
• Based in Madrid or willing to relocate

Strong advantages:

• Experience in hardware manufacturing, industrialisation or new product introduction (NPI)
• Background in drones, UAVs, robotics or defense technology
• Experience working with contract manufacturers and supply chains
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies in hardware development
• PMP or similar project management certification
• Understanding of defense industry requirements

Location and ways of working:

This is a full-time role based in Madrid, with a hybrid working arrangement.

The company offers a competitive compensation package, significant autonomy and the opportunity to work directly with the founders while helping scale an innovative European defense technology company.