Industrialization & Manufacturing Manager

Harmattan AI

ABOUT US Harmattan AI is a next-generation defense prime building autonomous and scalable defense systems. Following the close of a $200M Series B, valuing the company at $1.4 billion, we are expanding our teams and capabilities to deliver mission-critical systems to allied forces. Our work is guided by clear values: building technologies with real-world impact, pursuing excellence in everything we do, setting ambitious goals, and taking on the hardest technical challenges. We operate in a demanding environment where rigor, ownership, and execution are expected. ABOUT THE ROLE As a Mechanical Engineer on Harmattan AI’s Airframe team, you will design UAV platforms and subsystems in an autonomous, fast-paced environment. You will take ownership of projects from concept through to production, ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and manufacturability. RESPONSIBILITIES * Design and prototype UAV platforms and complex subsystems from scratch, ensuring the right balance between durability, efficiency, and performance. * Take full ownership of system-level constraints, including thermal management, mass budget (weight), COGS (cost), and environmental sealing (IP ratings). * Work closely with R&D teams (Electrical, Software, and Industrialisation) to ensure seamless mechanical integration of sensors, payloads, and electronics. * Conduct rigorous testing, including stress and failure analysis. Identify risks proactively and develop the necessary tools (test benches, calculation sheets, or scripts) to validate designs for operation in extreme environments. * Manage your own delivery packages and technical specifications with precision, consistently meeting or exceeding requirements under tight deadlines. * Oversee the manufacturing process by collaborating directly with suppliers and external manufacturers, with a focus on plastic injection moulding and precision machining, to ensure quality and schedule targets are achieved. * Maintain the “source of truth” through Confluence and professional 2D/3D documentation. Document all designs, test results, and production workflows to support knowledge sharing and continuous improvement. CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS * Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field. * Proven experience designing and prototyping mechanical systems, ideally within UAVs, robotics, or defence applications. * Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks); experience with structural and thermal analysis tools (FEA) is a strong advantage. * Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, including high-precision machining and plastic injection moulding. * Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly document complex technical concepts and lead cross-functional discussions. * Full commitment to Harmattan AI’s mission, vision, and growth plans, with a willingness to go the extra mile in pursuit of operational excellence. We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.

Harmattan AI

ABOUT US Harmattan AI is a next-generation defense prime building autonomous and scalable defense systems. Following the close of a $200M Series B, valuing the company at $1.4 billion, we are expanding our teams and capabilities to deliver mission-critical systems to allied forces. Our work is guided by clear values: building technologies with real-world impact, pursuing excellence in everything we do, setting ambitious goals, and taking on the hardest technical challenges. We operate in a demanding environment where rigor, ownership, and execution are expected. ABOUT THE ROLE As a Product Manager at Harmattan AI, you will be at the heart of company strategy, as you will be in charge of product specification and roadmap based on market and technological analysis, as well as full scale development and industrialisation of the product. You will be responsible for managing timelines, resources, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure market fit and successful delivery. RESPONSIBILITIES * Product Definition: Define product specification based on customer feedback, market analysis and technology; iterate and validate for technical, industrial and commercial feasibility. * Project Management: Develop, maintain, and update project timelines, ensuring all deadlines are met during the whole lifecycle of the product. * Technical Coordination: Oversee the architecture and the technical development of the system across R&D and industrialisation phases, resolving challenges as they arise. * Team Leadership: Inspire and manage the project team to maintain a high level of performance and quality. * Cross-functional Collaboration: Act as the key interface between technical teams, the product team, and other stakeholders (especially customers, sales, marketing and program) to align efforts and ensure tenders and projects success. * Resource Allocation: Manage the allocation of engineering and other resources to meet project goals effectively. CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS * Master’s degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, with at least 5 years of experience in technical roles. * Experience and ecosystem knowledge in one of the following field is highly desirable: defense systems, UAV/UxV/robotics, aerospace, radars/RF/radio, optronics, PNT, AI, or related industries. * Customer and product-oriented. * Proven experience managing cross-functional, high-complexity aerospace, defense or robotics projects that have reached industrialisation. * Strong technical background with the ability to understand and resolve complex engineering challenges. * Detail-oriented with excellent documentation and organisational skills. * Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and guide teams toward success. We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.

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.