Team Lead Category Procurement (all genders)

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. ABOUT THE TEAM Our procurement team, embedded within the supply chain department, consists of Category Buyers, Non-Production Buyers, and Prototype Buyers. Together, we ensure production continuity by sourcing essential parts, planning supplier orders, managing safety stock, and implementing multi-source strategies, while selecting strategic suppliers to support our continuous ramp-up. We thrive in an agile, high-workload environment, where success requires strong organizational skills and the ability to effectively manage and prioritize information from various channels. YOUR MISSION As the Team Lead Procurement Indirect Material and Prototypes, you will be responsible for the strategic oversight and operational execution of all non-production goods and R&D prototypes. Your mission is to lead complex supplier negotiations (e.g. R&D contracts), implement dedicated sourcing strategies, find early preventive measures in order to mitigate the risk of creating monopolists, ensure the continuous and compliant supply of indirect materials and critical R&D components, directly supporting STARK’s seamless business operations and rapid development cycle. RESPONSIBILITIES * Team Leadership and Development: Provide disciplinary and technical leadership to the Procurement team, mentoring team members (e.g., Procurement Managers, Non-Production Buyers) and managing resource allocation to ensure departmental goals are met.  * Strategic Sourcing - Indirect and Prototypes: Develop and execute advanced sourcing strategies for all non-production goods (e.g., test equipment, IT, office supplies) and R&D prototype materials. Lead high-stakes negotiations for R&D contracts, pricing, and framework contracts with strategic suppliers. * Operational Procurement Management: Oversee the entire procurement lifecycle for indirect and prototype materials, from identifying and qualifying suppliers to managing purchase requests (PRs) and converting approved requests/Jira tickets into formal Purchase Orders (POs). * Risk and Supply Assurance: Proactively analyze spending patterns and market trends to identify opportunities for cost savings and consolidation. Manage and monitor supplier performance, ensuring adherence to quality, delivery, and compliance standards for non-production goods and R&D parts. * Process and Tool Ownership: Oversee the optimization and implementation of digital procurement processes and tools, utilizing ERP systems (Oracle NetSuite) for inventory, purchasing, and data clean-up. Ensure effective integration of the Jira ticketing system for internal requests. * Cross-Functional Interface: Serve as the main point of contact for internal stakeholders (R&D, Finance, IT, Logistics). Resolve issues related to orders, delivery delays, discrepancies, or incorrect invoicing. * Reporting & Governance: Report directly to the Global Head of Procurement including preparing reports and analyses on supply chain performance and evaluating/implementing supply chain management software and technologies QUALIFICATIONS * Completed degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, or a comparable qualification. * Several years of professional experience in strategic procurement or supply chain management, including demonstrated experience in a leadership or team lead role. * Profound knowledge in all areas of the supply chain, from forecasting and material planning to negotiation and troubleshooting of bottlenecks. * Exceptional skills in contract negotiation and managing supplier performance in a fast-paced, defense-related environment. * Strong analytical and conceptual skills with a proven ability to solve complex problems and develop innovative solutions. * Structured, independent, and goal-oriented way of working. * Strong teamwork skills and a willingness to take responsibility. * Experience in the defense, aerospace, or high-tech electronics industry is highly valued. NICE TO HAVE * Experience in the defense, aerospace, or high-tech electronics industry is highly valued. * Fluency in both German and English.

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. ABOUT THE TEAM You will join the Supply Chain Quality team, reporting directly to the Quality Manager and partnering with our Production Quality Engineer. In this highly autonomous role, you will bridge the gap between supply chain and production. We operate in a dynamic, fast-paced defense environment where we empower you to take decisive action during material crises and confidently challenge designs when quality is at risk. YOUR MISSION Our mission is to translate engineering intent into flawless supply chain execution, guaranteeing zero-defect reliability in high-stakes defense operations. As a Quality Assurance Engineer, you are the critical interface ensuring every part meets technical specifications. You will transform complex drawings into actionable Control Plans, establish team processes, and lead training. As the authority on root-cause analysis, you will determine if failures stem from supplier deviations or design flaws, immediately isolate non-conforming stock, and provide the vital feedback loop to Engineering to eliminate bad design before it hits production. RESPONSIBILITIES * Supply Chain Control Planning: Develop detailed Control Plans from technical drawings to define how parts must be verified and maintained. * Design Drawing Review: Participate in engineering drawing reviews to ensure specifications are clear, measurable, and compliant with defense standards. * Design-to-Supply Feedback: Identify recurring supply issues caused by "bad design" and collaborate with engineers to find and implement technical solutions. * NCR Technical Review: Analyze production Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs) to identify supply chain deviations; decide whether to move forward with a report or push the issue back to Design. * Root Cause Analysis: Conduct deep-dive investigations into part failures to find the "real" root cause—distinguishing between material defects and design flaws. * Stock Sweeps & Recalls: Take immediate responsibility for stock health; perform urgent "sweeps" to isolate bad parts and execute recall procedures across all storage locations. * Process Standardization: Maintain internal procedures that ensure the supply chain remains compliant with high-level quality requirements. * Testing & Tooling Support: Support the design, sourcing, or creation of custom test rigs and specialized testing solutions to ensure quality verification for complex electronic components that cannot be checked through standard inspection. * Training & Competency Management: Support the development and execution of On-the-Job Training (OJT), including the creation of technical training checklists and the management of formal competency approvals for quality-related tasks. QUALIFICATIONS * Education: Technical degree or vocational background in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering. * Experience: 1–3 years in Quality Assurance engineer or Supply Chain Quality, preferably within Defense, Aerospace, or Automotive. * Compliance Knowledge: Familiarity with ISO 9001; knowledge of NATO AQAP or EN 9100 is a significant advantage. * Technical Literacy: Expert ability to read/interpret complex engineering drawings and GD&T. * QM Tools: Proficiency in Control Plans, FMEA, and Root Cause Analysis (5-Why, Fishbone). * Documentation: High precision in technical writing for reports and procedures. * Languages: English is mandatory & German is a strong advantage  * Analytical Mindset: A "detective" approach to finding why a part actually failed. * Attention to Detail: Zero-tolerance for errors, given the high-stakes defense environment. NICE TO HAVE * Defense Standards: Basic understanding of NATO (AQAP) or Aerospace (EN 9100/AS9100) quality requirements. * Systems Handling: Strong command of ERP systems for stock isolation and QM modules for reporting. * Assertiveness: The confidence to challenge a design or stop a process when quality is at risk. * Decisiveness: Ability to act quickly during stock "sweeps" or material crises. * Collaboration: Able to work as a supportive peer to Design and Production teams.

STARK

ABOUT US STARK ist ein Verteidigungstechnologie-Unternehmen, das den Einsatz autonomer Systeme in verschiedenen Einsatzbereichen grundlegend verändert. Wir entwerfen, entwickeln und produzieren leistungsstarke unbemannte Systeme, die softwaregesteuert, in großer Stückzahl skalierbar und kosteneffizient sind. Dadurch verschaffen wir unseren Einsatzkräften einen entscheidenden Vorteil in anspruchsvollen Gefechtsumgebungen. YOUR MISSION In dieser Schlüsselposition bist du der Architekt unserer Logistiklandschaft und gleichzeitig der Motor für deren Umsetzung. Du verantwortest die strategische Weiterentwicklung unserer physischen Infrastruktur und stellst durch deine Hands-on-Mentalität sicher, dass Konzepte wie JIT oder Lean Management nicht nur Theorie bleiben, sondern im Hallenalltag lebendig werden. RESPONSIBILITIES * Strategische Layout- & Kapazitätsplanung: Du entwirfst zukunftssichere Lagerlayouts und Materialflusskonzepte (z.B. via CAD/Visio), um Flächenproduktivität und Durchlaufzeiten signifikant zu verbessern. * Hardware-Innovation: Du evaluierst neue Technologien (Automation, Mobile Devices, Flurförderzeuge), erstellst Business Cases und begleitest die physische Einführung bis zur stabilen Nutzung. * Lean & JIT Einführung: Du entwickelst Konzepte für Just-in-Time-Anlieferungen und optimierst die Wertschöpfungskette durch Lean-Methoden (Kanban, Milkrun, 5S). * Physische Prozessoptimierung & Zeitaufnahmen: Du führst fundierte Zeitstudien (z.B. nach REFA) durch und leitest daraus Prozessstandards ab, die du direkt auf dem Shopfloor mit dem Team testest und implementierst. * Projektleitung mit Bodenhaftung: Du steuerst komplexe Logistikprojekte ganzheitlich – von der ersten Analyse am Schreibtisch bis zur Begleitung der ersten Rollouts direkt in der Halle. * Schnittstellen-Architekt: Du übersetzt strategische Unternehmensziele in operative Logistikprozesse und fungierst als technischer Berater für das operative Team. * Hands On: Unterstützung bei Engpässen im operativen Bereich QUALIFICATIONS * Qualifikation: Studium im Bereich Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen, Logistikmanagement oder eine vergleichbare Ausbildung mit Fokus auf Prozessgestaltung und Logistikplanung. * Expertise: Fundierte Erfahrung in der Layoutplanung, im Projektmanagement und in der Implementierung logistischer Hard- und Software. * Methodik: Du beherrschst das strategische Handwerkszeug (Lean Management, Wertstromdesign) und hast ein Auge für die Details bei der physischen Umsetzung. * Mindset: Du bist ein strategischer Kopf, der den Erfolg seiner Konzepte an der praktischen Umsetzbarkeit misst und bei Projekthochläufen aktiv vor Ort unterstützt. * Kommunikation: Du kannst komplexe Strategien vor dem Management präsentieren und im nächsten Moment Prozesse glaubwürdig auf der Fläche vermitteln.