Plant Manager

Baseyard; Braga; Presencial; EUR 90 000 - 130 000; Tempo integral

Vantagens oferecidas por esta oferta de emprego

Health insurance

Accident insurance from day one

Professional development opportunities

Corporate events

Resumo da oferta

BASEYARD is seeking a hands-on Plant Manager to build and lead a modern manufacturing facility in Braga, Portugal. You will oversee production, planning, supply chain, procurement, logistics, and maintenance, while working with Engineering and Quality to transfer new products from development to serial production.

The role requires strong leadership, experience in advanced manufacturing, and a hands-on mindset to scale operations in a fast-growing environment. English required.

Qualificações

• The candidate has proven leadership in plant management and manufacturing operations.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in advanced manufacturing environments.
• Strong background in production planning, supply chain, and operational excellence.
• Experience with electronics/defence or high-mix, low-volume production is a plus.
• Knowledge of integrating new products from development to serial production.

Responsabilidades

• Build and lead BASEYARD’s manufacturing organisation from the ground up.
• Manage daily plant operations ensuring safe, on-time, high-quality production.
• Establish production planning, scheduling, and capacity planning processes.
• Lead supply chain, procurement, and logistics activities.
• Drive NPI and industrialisation of new products into production.
• Develop KPI dashboards for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.
• Ensure compliance with quality systems, export controls and defence regulations.
• Collaborate with Engineering, QHSE, and R&D to scale manufacturing.
• Oversee maintenance, facilities, utilities, and manufacturing infrastructure.

Conhecimentos

Leadership experience

Manufacturing operations

Industrialisation

NPI experience

ERP/MRP knowledge

Lean/Six Sigma

Quality & compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem-solving

English communication

Formação académica

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Ferramentas

ERP/MRP systems

Manufacturing software

Descrição da oferta de emprego

BASEYARD is building a next-generation industrial ecosystem for defence and dual-use technologies in Portugal. Our mission is to help advanced technology companies industrialise, manufacture, and scale unmanned systems, mission-critical platforms, electronics, and integrated defence technologies.

As an advanced manufacturing and industrialisation hub, BASEYARD supports customers throughout the product lifecycle—from engineering and prototyping to industrialisation, serial production, supply chain management, testing, and global delivery. Our expertise spans unmanned aerial, ground, surface and underwater systems, electronics, embedded technologies, robotics, and advanced manufacturing.

We are looking for an experienced and hands-on Plant Manager to build and lead our manufacturing operations in Braga, Portugal, establishing a modern and scalable production facility capable of supporting multiple high-tech products and customers.

Role Description

This is a full-time, on-site position based in Braga, Portugal.

The Plant Manager will be responsible for establishing, leading, and continuously improving BASEYARD’s manufacturing operations.

The role will oversee production, planning, supply chain, procurement, logistics, warehouse operations, industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, maintenance, HSE, and operational excellence, while working closely with Engineering and Quality to successfully transfer new products from development into serial production.

The successful candidate will play a key leadership role in building a scalable manufacturing organisation capable of supporting advanced defence and dual-use technologies.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead BASEYARD’s manufacturing organisation from the ground up.
• Manage daily plant operations, ensuring safe, efficient, high-quality, and on-time production.
• Establish production planning, scheduling, capacity planning, and resource management processes.
• Lead supply chain, procurement, logistics, warehouse, and inventory management activities.
• Establish manufacturing processes for electronics, mechanical assemblies, integrated systems, and unmanned platforms.
• Drive New Product Introduction (NPI) and ensure smooth transition from engineering into production.
• Work closely with Engineering to industrialise new products and optimise manufacturability, assembly, testing, and production processes.
• Establish production layouts, workflows, workstations, material flows, and manufacturing infrastructure.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and monitor KPIs for safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, capacity, and operational performance.
• Ensure production compliance with applicable quality systems, customer requirements, export control requirements, and defence industry regulations.
• Build, develop, and manage production teams, supervisors, planners, manufacturing engineers, and operations support functions.
• Support supplier qualification, production readiness, and manufacturing capability assessments.
• Work closely with QHSE to establish quality control, traceability, NCR/CAPA, and production compliance processes.
• Oversee production equipment, maintenance, facilities, utilities, and operational infrastructure.
• Ensure appropriate production documentation, work instructions, BOMs, routings, and manufacturing records are established and maintained.
• Prepare operational budgets, monitor manufacturing costs, and drive cost optimisation initiatives.
• Support customer audits, certifications, factory visits, and operational due diligence.
• Participate in long-term operational strategy, factory expansion, capacity development, and scaling of production capabilities.

Scope

The Plant Manager may be responsible for:

• Warehouse & Logistics
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement
• Capacity & Resource Planning

The Plant Manager will work in close partnership with Engineering, QHSE, R&D, Business Development, Finance, and Executive Management.

What We're Looking For

• Proven leadership experience in plant management, manufacturing operations, production management, or industrial operations.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary production organisations within advanced manufacturing environments.
• Strong background in production management, planning, supply chain, manufacturing engineering, industrialisation, and operational excellence.
• Experience in electronics, aerospace, defence, robotics, automotive, industrial equipment, electromechanical products, or other complex manufacturing industries.
• Strong understanding of NPI and transitioning products from development into serial production.
• Experience establishing and improving manufacturing processes, layouts, material flows, and production systems.
• Knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing planning tools.
• Understanding of quality management systems such as ISO 9001, AS9100, or similar standards.
• Experience managing operational budgets, KPIs, manufacturing costs, productivity, and performance improvement.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Strong decision-making, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Practical, hands-on mindset and willingness to build operations from the ground up.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-growing and changing environment.
• Good English communication skills are required.

Nice to Have

• Experience in defence or dual-use manufacturing.
• Experience with UAV, UGV, USV, UUV, electronics, embedded systems, robotics, or autonomous platforms.
• Experience establishing a new production facility or significantly scaling manufacturing operations.
• Experience with contract manufacturing, EMS, or high-mix, low-volume production environments.
• Knowledge of defence industry quality and compliance requirements, including AQAP.
• Understanding of export control and controlled technologies.
• Experience with supplier industrialisation and production readiness assessments.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma implementation.
• Experience with digital manufacturing, Industry 4.0, MES, automation, or smart factory initiatives.
• Experience participating in EU-funded R&D or industrial projects.

What Success Looks Like

• BASEYARD's manufacturing organisation and core operational processes are successfully established.
• Production planning, supply chain, warehouse, NPI, and manufacturing processes operate as an integrated system.
• New products transition efficiently from engineering and prototype stages into repeatable serial production.
• Production consistently meets safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity targets.
• Manufacturing capacity and resources are aligned with the commercial pipeline and customer demand.
• Operational KPIs provide clear visibility into plant performance and drive continuous improvement.
• The facility is capable of supporting multiple products and customers while maintaining quality, traceability, and operational control.
• Manufacturing capabilities scale effectively as BASEYARD's customer base and production volumes grow.

What We Offer

• A key leadership role in building one of Europe’s next-generation defence and dual-use industrial platforms.
• Opportunity to establish and lead a modern advanced manufacturing facility from the ground up.
• Direct involvement in industrialising cutting-edge unmanned systems, electronics, robotics, and advanced technologies.
• High level of ownership, autonomy, and strategic influence.
• International working environment with ambitious growth plans.
• Opportunity to grow together with BASEYARD as the company expands across Europe.
• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Health insurance after probation period.
• Accident insurance from the first day of employment.
• Professional development opportunities and continuous learning.
• Corporate events, team activities, and additional employee benefits.