Director of Production

Who we are

The role

The day-to-day

• Lead the stand-up and scaling of US manufacturing operations, establishing production lines, workflows, quality systems, and facility infrastructure

• Develop and execute the production strategy aligned with program milestones, government contract deliverables, and company growth objectives

• Implement production processes for AI-enabled hardware systems, ensuring repeatability, quality, and compliance with defense manufacturing standards

• Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing production team — including manufacturing engineers, technicians, quality inspectors, and production planners — capable of supporting rapid growth

• Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Supply Chain, Program Management, Contracts, and Finance to ensure production alignment on government contracts

• Establish and manage quality management systems (QMS) compliant with AS9100, ISO 9001, and applicable DoD manufacturing requirements

• Own production KPIs and reporting, including yield, throughput, cost-per-unit, on-time delivery, and defect rates, and present board-level updates that drive executive decision-making

• Collaborate with the supply chain and procurement teams to design cost-efficient sourcing strategies that satisfy federal and/or state procurement requirements, including managing tariff exposure on imported goods and materials

• Ensure full compliance with SSA governance requirements, maintaining appropriate separation protocols while optimizing production operations across the organization

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies to reduce waste, improve cycle times, and increase production capacity

• Manage relationships with contract manufacturers, tooling vendors, and facility partners to supplement and scale internal production capabilities

• Support CAPEX planning and facility buildout in partnership with Finance, ensuring sound investment frameworks for equipment, tooling, and infrastructure

• Ensure workplace safety and regulatory compliance across all production environments, including OSHA, environmental, and cleared facility requirements

You should apply if you

• You have 10+ years of progressive manufacturing/production experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership role overseeing production operations

• You've operated within the Automotive, Aerospace, Defense, or National Security technology sector and understand the nuances of government contract deliverables, ITAR/EAR, and defense manufacturing requirements

• You've built or scaled production functions at a startup or high-growth company and know how to balance scrappiness with rigor

• You have experience standing up manufacturing lines from greenfield or near-greenfield conditions, including facility layout, equipment selection, and workforce planning

• You possess a strong command of production planning, capacity modeling, and resource allocation strategies

• You have demonstrated experience with quality management systems (AS9100, ISO 9001, or equivalent) and continuous improvement methodologies

• You communicate complex operational concepts with clarity and influence to technical and non-technical stakeholders alike

• You're energized by ambiguity, thrive under pressure, and are motivated by mission-driven work
• Ability to be granted and maintain a SECRET clearance, including US Citizenship.

Note: We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarized in a few bullet points.

Nice to Have

• Direct experience working under a Special Security Agreement (SSA) or Proxy Agreement structure with a foreign-owned parent company

• Background working with cleared facilities, FOCI mitigation, and DSS/DCSA interactions

• Familiarity with FAR/DFARS manufacturing and quality clauses, DCMA oversight, and first article testing (FAT) requirements

• Experience with hardware production for autonomous systems, edge computing platforms, drones/UAS, or electronic warfare systems

• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems (Deltek Costpoint, NetSuite, SAP, or similar) and production management tools

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt certification

• Experience managing ITAR-controlled production environments

• Engineering degree (Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or Electrical) or MBA with a production/operations focus

• Active or current SECRET or above clearance

Join Helsing and work with world-leading experts in their fields

• Helsing’s work is important. You’ll be directly contributing to the protection of democratic countries while balancing both ethical and geopolitical concerns

• The work is unique. We operate in a domain that has highly unusual technical requirements and constraints, and where robustness, safety, and ethical considerations are vital. You will face unique Engineering and AI challenges that make a meaningful impact in the world

• Our work frequently takes us right up to the state of the art in technical innovation, be it reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, or deployment infrastructure. The defense industry is entering the most exciting phase of the technological development curve. Advances in our field of world are not incremental: Helsing is part of, and often leading, historic leaps forward

• In our domain, success is a matter of order-of-magnitude improvements and novel capabilities. This means we take bets, aim high, and focus on big opportunities. Despite being a relatively young company, Helsing has already been selected for multiple significant government contracts

• We actively encourage healthy, proactive, and diverse debate internally about what we do and how we choose to do it. Teams and individual engineers are trusted (and encouraged) to practice responsible autonomy and critical thinking, and to focus on outcomes, not conformity. At Helsing you will have a say in how we (and you!) work, the opportunity to engage on what does and doesn’t work, and to take ownership of aspects of our culture that you care deeply about

What we offer

• A focus on outcomes, not time-tracking

• A generous compensation and benefits package (in addition to base salary) that includes, but may not be limited to, insurance coverage (medical and travel), flexible paid time off, paid holidays, and remote and/or hybrid work available depending on position. All compensation and benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the underlying plans or programs, as applicable and as may be amended, terminated or superseded from time to time.

• Growth toward global roles in our Finance organization

The base salary offered to the successful candidate will be determined by a variety of factors including relevant experience, qualifications, education, skill level, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

Helsing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetics, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.