Director Value Stream (m​/f​/d

The Director Value Stream is responsible for the end-to-end industrial execution of the company's launch vehicle program. This director owns the operational strategy, manufacturing system, industrialisation, supply chain, production, testing, quality and assembly integration. Working closely with the Chief Engineer and Programme Manager, the Director Block 4 Value Stream will transform innovative engineering designs into a repeatable, scalable production system capable of delivering safe, reliable, and commercially competitive launch vehicles.

The role is accountable for achieving programme cost, schedule, quality, delivery, and operational readiness objectives while building the manufacturing capability required to scale from development through serial production and commercial launch operations.

Your Role in Our Space Mission:

Operational Leadership

• Lead all testing and assembly integration
• Develop and execute the company's industrial strategy to support rapid business growth.
• Build a world-class aerospace manufacturing organisation capable of scaling from prototype to high-rate production.
• Establish operational excellence, Lean manufacturing, digital manufacturing, and continuous improvement across the business.

Own operational delivery of the launch vehicle programme including:

• Manufacturing readiness
• Production planning
• Vehicle integration
• Test readiness
• Delivery against programme milestones

Partner with Engineering to ensure designs are manufacturable, producible, and scalable.

Provide executive leadership for:

• Production Engineering
• Process Engineering
• Factory Automation
• Tooling
• Production Planning

Develop the manufacturing system capable of supporting future launch cadence targets.

Production

Lead all manufacturing activities including:

• CNC machining
• Electrical assembly
• Composite manufacturing
• Additive manufacturing
• Vehicle integration
• Final assembly

Drive improvements in:

• Throughput and lead-time performance
• Labour based productivity
• Improving capital OEE
• Cost reduction
• Manufacturing maturity

Supply Chain

Develop a resilient, high-performing global supply chain by:

• Building strategic supplier partnerships
• Improving supplier performance
• Managing procurement and logistics
• Managing long-lead materials

Quality Assurance

Establish a culture where quality is designed into every product.

Responsible for:

• Manufacturing Quality
• Product Assurance
• NDT
• Configuration control
• Operational compliance
• Zero Defects methodology in all aspects of the programme

Test & Qualification

• Engine testing
• Structural testing

Ensure safe execution of all test campaigns.

Operational Strategy

Develop long-term operational capability supporting:

• Multiple launch sites
• Increased launch cadence
• International manufacturing expansion
• Factory automation
• Digital manufacturing
• Supply chain resilience

Qualification Checklist

The successful candidate will have:

• Extensive executive leadership experience within aerospace, defence, automotive, advanced manufacturing, or another high-technology industry.
• A proven record of scaling complex manufacturing operations from development into serial production.
• Experience leading large multidisciplinary engineering and manufacturing organisations.
• Strong knowledge of Lean manufacturing, industrialisation, and operational excellence.
• Experience delivering complex capital equipment or highly regulated products.
• Demonstrated success leading supply chain transformation and supplier development.
• Experience managing large operational budgets and capital investment programmes.
• Excellent stakeholder management with the ability to work across engineering, programme management, and executive leadership.

Technical Knowledge

• Aerospace manufacturing
• Production systems
• Lean Manufacturing
• APQP / PPAP (or equivalent product introduction methodologies)
• Configuration management
• Digital manufacturing and Industry 4.0
• Quality management systems (AS9100 and related Aerospace standards)
• Supply chain strategy
• Production planning and control
• Test operations
• Strategic and systems thinker
• Strong execution focus
• Builds high-performing teams
• Collaborative leader
• Customer and mission focused
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-growth environment
• Employee Participation Program: Share in our…