Manufacturing Controls Lead – Core automation

Hypersonica GmbH; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mission-driven environment

Autonomy

Real share options

No micromanagement

Learning and growth

Job summary

Hypersonica GmbH in Greater London is seeking a senior automation/controls engineer to build baseline manufacturing controls platforms, establish supplier standards, and create vendor specifications across complex production environments.

You will work with manufacturing engineering, operations, QA, and data teams to ensure traceability, document designs, and drive fast, high-accuracy execution in a demanding defense-oriented setting.

Qualifications

• Senior automation/controls engineer with extensive experience in automated manufacturing.
• Experience on complex integrated manufacturing systems, ideally in aerospace/defence.
• Able to shape policy and standards in greenfield projects from ground up.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and fast-evolving environments requiring proactive testing.
• Strong understanding of MES to PLC code structure and data continuity.
• Delivery-focused with pragmatic engineering trade-offs and minimal over-engineering.
• Collaborative, capable of acting as a technical integrator across disciplines.
• Hands-on by instinct, willing to support build, integration, and test when needed.

Responsibilities

• Build the baseline for Hypersonica’s manufacturing controls platform and set standards at PLC and controls component level.
• Establish partnerships with component suppliers and create preferred standards and lists.
• Create controls specifications for equipment vendors and line integrators.
• Support integration of in-line hardware and controls into MES/ manufacturing execution systems with data continuity.
• Work with manufacturing engineering to capture use cases and requirements for controls systems.
• Collaborate with Quality and Data Engineering to define methods to capture critical process information and ensure traceability.
• Develop code standards/templates for line integrators and equipment manufacturers.
• Create buy-off and testing requirements for FAT/SAT from a controls perspective.
• Lead and coordinate with international vendors and integrators for state-of-the-art equipment.
• Produce and maintain clear documentation including code, specs, and design justifications.
• Act as a credible problem-solver in ambiguous environments and keep programs moving.

Skills

Automation engineering

Controls system design

Systems integration

MES/PLC architecture

Ambiguity tolerance

Hands-on troubleshooting

Tools

PLC programming environments

MES integration tools

Job description

What you'll do

• Build the baseline for Hypersonica’s manufacturing controls platform. Developing standards on a PLC and controls component level
• Establish partnerships with component suppliers and create preferred standards and preferred component lists
• Create controls specifications for manufacturing equipment vendors and line integrators
• Support integration of in-line hardware and controls into enterprise and manufacturing execution systems and ensure data continuity between systems
• Work closely with manufacturing engineering and operations to capture use cases and requirements towards the controls systems.
• Collaborate with Quality and Data Engineering to define methods and tools to capture critical process information and data in line and ensure traceability requirements.
• Develop code standards / templates to be used by line integrators and equipment manufacturers.
• Create buy-off and testing requirements with regards to functionality, performance and safety, to be achieved during FAT / SAT from a controls perspective.
• Lead and work with international vendors and integrators to secure state-of-the-art equipment for production, supervision and testing.
• Produce and maintain clear documentation, including code, specifications, and design justifications.
• Act as a technically credible problem‑solver in ambiguous environments, closing decisions and keeping programs moving at pace.

Who you are

• Asenior automation / controls Engineer with extensive firsthand expertise and experience in automated, complex manufacturing with highest quality standards
• Experienced working on complex, integrated manufacturing systems. Ideally in aerospace,defence, or otherhigh‑performance, cross functional environments under intense time pressure.
• Able to work in green field, shaping policy and standards from ground off.
• Dealing well with ambiguity and uncertainty, willing to anticipate, test and reconsider if necessary.
• Strong automation engineering fundamentals and understanding. Covering various levels of integration from an MES level down to PLC code structure.
• Pragmatic and delivery‑focused, able to make sound engineering trade‑offs without over‑engineering
• Comfortable collaborating across disciplines and acting as a technical integrator, not just a specialist.
• Hands‑on by instinct, willing to support build, integration, and test when needed.
• Calm and effective in ambiguous, fast‑moving environments where priorities evolve.
• Motivated by building real, high‑consequence hardware where mechanical and system correctness truly matter.

What we offer

• A mission driven environment with the opportunity to work on one of Europe’s most consequential defence challenges, with direct impact on sovereign capability and security.
• Daily collaboration with top experts across engineering, operations, and defence, with real opportunity to learn from the best, contribute, and grow.
• High ownership and autonomy; no time tracking, no micromanagement, just clear objectives and accountability for outcomes.
• A fast paced environment where good ideas are implemented quickly, and feedback from test and flight drives real decisions.
• A culture that values clarity, integrity, and excellence, and supports people who take initiative and push boundaries responsibly.
• Competitive compensation and real share options aligned to responsibility and impact, not tenure or hierarchy.