Global Head of Manufacturing
About this role
UFORCE exists to make aggression unaffordable.
Founded in Ukraine and headquartered in London, UFORCE is a defence-technology company with operations across Europe, the United States and Asia.
UFORCE builds uncrewed vessels, ground robotics and aircraft, autonomy software, and the command-and-control layer that operates them together. Each platform is deployable on its own, and stronger as part of the system. Its product lines include the MAGURA family of uncrewed surface vessels, the NEMESIS family of strike platforms, the LIUT family of ground robotic platforms, and counter-UAS systems.
About the Role
We’re looking for a Global Head of Manufacturing to build and lead UFORCE’s manufacturing capability as we turn battle-proven autonomous systems into high-quality products delivered reliably at scale.
You’ll bring together teams across Portugal, Poole and our expanding US manufacturing footprint behind one practical production strategy. You’ll work closely with Product, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain and Global Demand & Delivery to turn customer commitments into accepted hardware, while keeping the rapid engineering and field feedback that make UFORCE effective.
This is a hands-on leadership role. You’ll establish the operating discipline, capacity and leadership needed for sustained growth while staying close to the factory floor and the problems that affect delivery today. The role reports initially to Global CEO, with reporting expected to transition to the EU CEO or Global COO once the relevant leader is hired.
What You Will Do
Own manufacturing delivery across contracted programs. Establish achievable production and recovery plans, identify material and capacity constraints, and address risks before customer commitments are missed.
Build a resource-constrained global production plan across Portugal, Poole and planned US sites, balancing near-term execution with longer-term capacity, staffing, equipment, supplier and test needs.
Work with Global Demand & Delivery through the S&OP process to align site capacity and production commitments with the consolidated demand forecast.
Shape the manufacturing footprint and investment roadmap. Evaluate expansion, production transfers, make-versus-buy decisions and automation with Finance and cross-functional leaders, using demand scenarios, delivered cost and capital requirements.
Partner with Engineering, Product and Quality to prepare new products and major changes for production, improve manufacturability and bring field feedback into controlled, rapid changes.
Establish consistent production controls for bills of materials, work instructions, configuration, inspection, testing and traceability. Work with Quality and site leaders to resolve critical defects and safety or readiness gaps.
Use production data and time on the factory floor to improve yield, cycle time, labor productivity and unit cost. Address bottlenecks, shortages, rework and downtime with the teams closest to the work.
Partner with Supply Chain on critical material availability, supplier recovery and alternate sources, and escalate competing priorities with clear options and recommendations.
Build and develop site and functional leaders, clarify decision rights, strengthen technician skills and establish a consistent operating rhythm across the manufacturing network.
What We're Looking For
A track record of taking complex hardware from early builds into sustained production, with direct ownership of delivery, output and quality through a ramp.
Experience leading manufacturing across multiple sites or countries through site managers, including building teams, developing leaders and establishing common standards while retaining local expertise.
Strong manufacturing engineering and industrialization judgment, including design for manufacture, assembly methods, tooling, test, configuration control and engineering change.
Demonstrated results improving production flow, first-pass yield, cycle time or cost through practical problem solving, continuous improvement and direct engagement on the factory floor.
Experience building quality and safety into production, including traceability, acceptance testing, root-cause actions and relevant aerospace, defense or comparable quality systems.
Sound commercial and financial judgment, with experience evaluating capacity, inventory, capital investment, automation, outsourcing and supplier capability against delivery and unit economics.
Ability to align Engineering, Product, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance and commercial teams around achievable commitments, communicate risks early and resolve difficult trade-offs.
A hands-on, accountable leadership style and the ability to build useful structure in a fast-changing organization without slowing down execution.
Nice to Have
Experience manufacturing uncrewed systems, robotics, maritime or aerospace products, or other complex defense hardware.
Experience integrating acquired manufacturing operations or transferring production between sites while maintaining delivery.
Experience scaling manufacturing across Europe and the United States.
Experience translating field or customer feedback into production improvements in a fast-moving hardware environment.
The nature of combat has changed.
Tomorrow’s battlefield success depends on autonomy, speed, and adaptability.
And UFORCE is ready.
Are You?
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