Head of Production (Advanced Manufacturing / Robotics)
Advanced Robotics & Autonomous Systems
Paris, France
Salary: Competitive + variable + equity
Airbotics Talent are partnered with a well-funded European robotics company developing a new generation of advanced autonomous systems.
We are looking for a Head of Production to build the manufacturing and production capability required to take complex hardware from early prototype builds through industrialisation and scalable production.
This is not a purely managerial position. Initially, you will be close to the hardware and workshop floor: building, integrating, testing and improving real systems while establishing the processes, supply chain and manufacturing infrastructure around them.
The Role
You will own the journey from prototype production through repeatable, scalable manufacturing.
This includes:
- Establishing production and workshop capability from the ground up
- Leading assembly, integration, test and qualification of early systems
- Taking new hardware through NPI, process definition and production ramp
- Working directly with engineering teams to embed DFM/DFA from early product development
- Building and qualifying the supplier network across critical components and manufacturing processes
- Establishing supply chain, sourcing, logistics and inventory capability
- Developing manufacturing tooling, fixtures and production processes
- Establishing quality, configuration management and product traceability
- Introducing appropriate ERP/MES and digital manufacturing systems as the organisation scales
- Creating rapid feedback loops between production and engineering to continuously improve both product and process
- Building and leading the production and industrialisation team
You will operate as a player-coach: capable of solving problems directly on the workshop floor while designing the manufacturing organisation and systems required for significant future scale.
The Person
This role is suited to a manufacturing leader who has personally helped turn complex hardware prototypes into real, repeatable products.
You are likely to have:
- 7+ years of manufacturing, production or industrialisation engineering experience within complex hardware
- Experience taking a physical product from prototype through NPI and into production
- Strong hands-on understanding of assembly, integration, testing and hardware debugging
- Strong DFM/DFA experience working directly with product and engineering teams
- Experience establishing or scaling manufacturing processes rather than simply operating mature production lines
- Experience building and managing supplier networks, sourcing, logistics and inventory
- Strong understanding of quality systems, configuration management and product traceability
- Experience developing tooling, fixtures and manufacturing processes
- Previous experience building and leading production or manufacturing teams
- Experience within aerospace, space, robotics, automotive, motorsport, defense, medical devices or another high-reliability hardware environment would be particularly relevant.
- ERP/MES deployment, production automation and experience scaling manufacturing across multiple lines or sites would be advantageous.
This role is unlikely to be a fit if:
- Your experience is primarily managing established high-volume production operations
- You have limited hands-on experience taking new hardware from prototype into production
- Your background is primarily supply chain or operations without strong manufacturing engineering capability
- You have not worked closely with engineering teams on DFM/DFA and product industrialisation
- You are looking for a purely strategic or people-management leadership role
Why Join?
- Build the production and manufacturing capability for a completely new generation of autonomous systems
- Take complex hardware from early builds through industrialisation and scalable production
- Establish manufacturing processes, supply chain and production infrastructure from the ground up
- Remain close to real hardware while operating at leadership level
- Build and lead the production organisation as the company scales
- Join a well-funded European deep-tech company at a formative stage of growth
This position is based in Paris and requires regular hands-on access to production, hardware and engineering facilities. Relocation support is available.
The search is international, with our client interested in exceptional European talent currently based across Europe, the US and other global technology hubs who would consider relocating to Paris.
Our client is looking to make this hire immediately. Please apply with a CV for consideration.
Airbotics Talent are committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunities. All candidates are assessed solely on suitability for our clients’ requirements without regard to age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, medical history or marital status.