Manufacturing & Supply Chain Lead

Manufacturing & Supply Chain Lead Stand up Feldspar's manufacturing from scratch. Take a force-sensing sports platform from prototype to contract manufacture, set the quality bar, and build the supply base we'll own. Position Overview Feldspar builds intelligent athletics surfaces and force-sensing platforms for elite sport. Our first venue installations are going live in the UK and internationally, and we are scaling from engineered prototypes into contract manufacturing. This role owns that transition. You will build Feldspar’s manufacturing and supply chain function from the ground up: establishing the supply base we will own, the quality foundations for a precision measurement product, and the disciplines that make us an intelligent customer of our engineering and manufacturing partners. The role feeds directly into Feldspar’s product delivery roadmap and manufacturing strategy. Key Responsibilities Supplier Deliverable Acceptance Own the review and acceptance of engineering deliverables against Feldspar’s requirements documentation, which defines per-line deliverables and acceptance criteria for our product iterations. Agree acceptance test methods with partner engineers and hold work packages to their acceptance criteria. Contract Manufacturing Transfer Own the plan that moves manufacture into contract manufacturing. Lead technical diligence on candidate manufacturers, including component versus assembly capability, quality systems, and scale-up routes. Ensure the transfer package (design documentation, work instructions, jigs, fixtures, tooling, test equipment and calibration methods) is complete, Feldspar-owned, and genuinely transferable. Quality and Traceability Establish the quality foundations for low-volume production: per-unit traceability with serial numbers, calibration records and test results; goods-in and end-of-line test definition; and quality plans for upcoming venue builds. Certification Own the product certification roadmap across applicable product safety, materials and sport governing body standards on production representative product. Supplier Commercial Disciplines Working with the commercial lead, maintain the commercial disciplines agreed with suppliers: rate structures, quote validity, tooling and test equipment ownership, materials cost transparency, and written change control. Key Performance Indicators Manufacturing quotations received, reviewed and aligned to budget with clear scope decisions Acceptance test methods agreed and documented across the requirements set Contract manufacturing transfer readiness checklist produced and progressing to plan Certification roadmap in place with dates and owners Venue builds delivered through a defined quality and acceptance process Per-unit traceability operating across all production units Required Qualifications & Experience Significant experience taking electro-mechanical products from prototype into contract manufacture, ideally including sensor-based or precision measurement products Hands-on NPI and design-for-manufacture experience, comfortable challenging engineering partners on scope, effort and test methods Supplier development and management experience across fabrication, electronics and assembly Working knowledge of product certification requirements for electro-mechanical products and quality management practice (ISO 9001 environment or equivalent) Comfortable operating in an early-stage environment: pragmatic, hands-on, and able to build just enough process; comfortable with international travel Desirable: experience of UK to Asia manufacturing transitions, and of calibrated or certified measurement hardware Terms Interim engagement of approximately three days per week at a market day rate, starting as soon as possible, with the intention to convert to a permanent leadership role as the company scales. All work product, documentation and supplier relationships developed in the role are Feldspar property. Remote status Fully Remote Employment type Contract Employment level Executive/Senior Level London Applicant tracking system by Teamtailor