Head of Manufacturing

Manufacturing Site Lead

The Why:
Blackwave is scaling. Fast. The next phase of our mission depends on one thing: a manufacturing operation that can match the ambition of our engineering. This role exists to build that operation from the ground up — not inherit it, not maintain it. Build it. You own the architecture, the team, the performance, and the culture on the shopfloor. If production doesn't scale, we don't scale.

It's that simple.

The What:
You build and run a manufacturing system that enables Blackwave to move from prototype to serial production without losing quality, speed, or people. You own the full picture — from process design to KPIs to team development — and you operate with full cost and budget responsibility. You are the person production decisions stop with.

These are non-negotiables:

• Build and scale the manufacturing site in Garching, including production architecture, US scaling strategy, and new HQ setup
• Design and implement a high-performance production system (Lean, 5S, Kanban, SOPs) and sign off on production lines before SOP
• Lead, coach, and develop team leads with a clear focus on shopfloor culture and performance
• Own manufacturing cost, efficiency, and budget — including scrap, downtime, and rework reduction
• Ensure full traceability of flight hardware, audit-ready documentation, and robust QMS processes
• Establish and maintain a measurable zero-accident safety standard

The core deliverables are:

• Define, align, and drive production targets in close collaboration with sales, quality, and supply chain
• Establish, track, and continuously improve key manufacturing KPIs (OEE, yield, scrap, throughput)
• Build an end-to-end production and material flow concept; ensure on-time material availability ≥ 97%
• Own tooling and equipment management, including lifecycle and maintenance strategies
• Drive process automation and industrialization initiatives
• Build and implement structured qualification and training systems for production teams

You have a high impact when done well:

• Continuously increase production rates, capacity, and equipment utilization
• Work closely with quality assurance to establish effective quality control processes
• Represent manufacturing in cross-functional stakeholder discussions with sales, engineering, and leadership

Must haves:

• 5+ years leading teams of 10+ in complex manufacturing — aerospace, high-tech, composites, or comparable
• Deep technical understanding of advanced manufacturing: composites, metal welding, winding, or similar high-performance processes
• Proven track record building and stabilizing serial production of complex products
• Hands-on experience with production control systems, production planning, and lean manufacturing
• You know what OEE, yield, and throughput actually mean — and you've moved them
• Strong stakeholder management in technology-driven environments or scale-ups
• Fluent German and English — equally comfortable on the shopfloor and in the boardroom
• Full on-site presence required

Nice-to-haves:

• Degree in mechanical engineering or comparable technical field
• Experience building and scaling manufacturing teams from scratch
• Background in regulated or safety-critical environments
• Audit experience — quality, customer, or regulatory

Our Code:
We're looking for someone who takes full ownership without being asked, holds themselves and their team to a high standard, and communicates directly — even when it's uncomfortable. You lead through the hard phases, not just the good ones.

What We Offer:

• Real ownership — full responsibility for an operation that directly determines whether the mission succeeds
• Scale-up energy — flat hierarchies, short decision paths, no bureaucracy
• Individual benefits — Deutschland Ticket, Egym Wellpass, or Give Card (€50 net/month, your choice)
• Daily shared lunch — fresh, healthy, varied
• The rooftop — Alpine views, after work, included
• Growth that's real — you'll grow through projects that actually matter, alongside people who know their craft