Manufacturing Engineer – Automation & Process Development (all genders)

STARK

ABOUT US STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop, and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments. We are focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems, not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe today. YOUR MISSION You will be the core architect of our digital shop floor. Your main mission is the continuous operation, optimization, and, above all, the innovative further development of our Manufacturing Execution System (MES). In this role, you bridge the gap between IT and the shop floor: you don't just see code and data,but you truly understand the physical manufacturing processes. By ensuring a seamless, end-to-end digital production flow, you create the foundation for real-time factory intelligence. RESPONSIBILITIES * MES Ownership & Evolution: Maintain, optimize - and actively drive the further development of our MES environment to map, support, and improve our physical assembly and manufacturing workflows. * Process Digitalization: Actively collaborate with production teams to translate complex physical manufacturing processes into smart, digital workflows within the MES. * Systems Integration: Connect the MES seamlessly with ERP and shop-floor automation layers to ensure full traceability, data continuity, and quality analytics. * Production Intelligence: Develop and maintain data pipelines to monitor key performance indicators such as OEE, throughput, yield, and downtime. * Analytics & Visualization: Build and manage intuitive dashboards to provide leadership and operations teams with actionable insights. QUALIFICATIONS * The Perfect Blend: Strong IT and data skills combined with a deep understanding of physical production processes. You love data, but you also understand how a real factory floor operates. * Education: Degree in Industrial Engineering (Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen), Systems Engineering, * Data Engineering, or a related technical field with a strong manufacturing focus. * Experience: Proven experience in managing, customizing, and scaling Manufacturing ExecutionSystems (MES) within a real-world production environment. * Technical Skills: Strong proficiency in SQL, Python, and modern BI visualization tools. * Domain Knowledge: Solid understanding of the automation pyramid (ERP, MES, SCADA) and a natural curiosity for how hardware is built. * Mindset: Strong communication skills to act as a translator between production workers and software developers; meticulous attention to IT security and data governance.

STARK

ABOUT US STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionising the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop, and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective - providing operators with a decisive edge in contested environments. We are focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems - not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe, today. YOUR MISSION We are seeking a visionary and collaborative Manufacturing Engineering Manager to bridge the gap between innovation and execution. In this role, you will lead the transition of next-generation products from concept to high-volume production. You will work at the critical intersection of R&D and operations, guiding the industrialization process, developing cutting-edge production workflows, and collaborating with R&D engineers early in the design cycle to ensure products are optimized for automated manufacturing. If you thrive on turning complex designs into scalable, automated, and efficient production realities, we want you on our team. RESPONSIBILITIES R&D COLLABORATION & DESIGN FOR AUTOMATION * Early-Stage Partnership: Partner closely with R&D teams during the prototyping phase to provide manufacturing feasibility feedback. * Design for Excellence (DFX): Act as the champion for Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA), specifically guiding R&D to define product designs that lend themselves seamlessly to automated assembly. * Standardization: Establish design guidelines that standardize components and processes, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost. * Vendor & Capital Equipment Management  * Technical Specifications: Define technical requirements and author comprehensive Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and functional specifications for custom automation equipment, robotics, and tooling. * Vendor Selection & Evaluation: Scout, evaluate, and select world-class equipment vendors and automation system integrators based on capability, scalability, cost, and lead times. * Milestone & Budget Tracking: Act as the primary point of contact for external vendors, managing capital expenditure (CapEx) budgets and tracking project timelines to ensure machinery is delivered on schedule for product launches. * Acceptance Testing (FAT/SAT): Lead Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) at vendor facilities and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) upon factory installation to guarantee equipment meets all cycle time, yield, and safety standards. * SLA & Lifecycle Management: Establish Service Level Agreements (SLAs), warranty terms, and preventative maintenance/spare-parts strategies with vendors to ensure long-term equipment reliability. INDUSTRIALIZATION * Prototype to Scale: Oversee the build of pilot lines, identify scaling bottlenecks, and smoothly transition products from low-volume prototyping to mass production. * Risk Mitigation: Conduct Design/Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA/PFMEA) to identify and mitigate risks early in the product lifecycle. PROCESS DEVELOPMENT & OPTIMIZATION * Workflow Design: Design, implement, and continuously improve production layouts, material flows, and line balances. * Automation Strategy: Identify opportunities for automation, robotics, and smart manufacturing (Industry 4.0) integration on the production floor. * Documentation & Compliance: Oversee the creation of detailed manufacturing documentation, including standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and routing sheets. TEAM LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT * Team Development: Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of manufacturing and process engineers. * KPI Management: Define and track team metrics, including cycle times, first-pass yield (FPY), overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), and capital expenditure (CapEx) budgets. QUALIFICATIONS * Education: Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field (Master's or MBA is a plus). * Experience: 5+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, with at least 2+ years in a leadership or managerial capacity. * NPI Expertise: Proven track record of successfully launching new products into production, specifically working side-by-side with R&D teams. * Automation Savvy: Deep understanding of automated assembly processes, robotics, PLC programming, or vision systems, and how product design choices impact automation feasibility. * Technical Arsenal: Strong proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, Creo), Lean Manufacturing principles, Six Sigma methodologies, and PFMEA execution. * Soft Skills: Exceptional cross-functional communication and negotiation skills—ability to speak the "language" of both abstract R&D and practical factory operations. For further information please reach out to talent@stark-defence.com.

STARK

ABOUT US STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionising the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop, and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective - providing operators with a decisive edge in contested environments. We are focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems - not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe, today. YOUR MISSION As a Manufacturing Engineer (Generalist & MTM Specialist), you will focus on maximizing production efficiency, line balancing, and labor optimization. While you support broad manufacturing engineering topics, your superpower is using Methods-Time Measurement (MTM) to analyze manual operations, eliminate waste, and establish accurate standard times. You will ensure our shop floor operations are highly efficient, safe, and ergonomically sound. RESPONSIBILITIES EARLY-STAGE R&D COLLABORATION & MANUAL ASSEMBLY SOLUTIONS  * Pre-Production Design Input: Partner with R&D during the initial prototyping and design phases to review manual assembly steps. Propose design modifications that simplify manual handling, reduce component orientation complexity, and minimize assembly errors. * Predictive Labor Costing: Utilize MTM methodologies on early-stage CAD models and prototypes to estimate standard assembly times, helping R&D evaluate the labor-cost impact of different design variations. * Mistake-Proofing (Poka-Yoke): Work with R&D to define physical design features (e.g., asymmetrical alignment pins, keyed slots) that make incorrect manual assembly physically impossible. * Ergonomic Design Guidance: Ensure R&D designs avoid requiring excessive physical force, awkward hand postures, or specialized dexterity, protecting operators from repetitive strain injuries once the product hits mass production. WORK MEASUREMENT & MTM * Time & Motion Analysis: Apply MTM methodologies (MTM-1, MTM-2, or UAS) to analyze manual assembly operations, establish precise standard times, and eliminate waste. * Line Balancing & Layout: Design and continuously optimize production line balancing to eliminate bottlenecks, distribute workloads evenly, and maximize throughput. QUALIFICATIONS * Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field. * Certified MTM practitioner (strongly preferred) with proven experience applying time-study and work-measurement methodologies on a live production floor. * Strong background in Lean Manufacturing, workplace ergonomics, and facility layout design. For further information please reach out to talent@stark-defence.com.