Who we are
Helsing is a defence AI company. Our mission is to protect our democracies. We aim to achieve technological leadership, so that open societies can continue to make sovereign decisions and control their ethical standards.
As democracies, we believe we have a special responsibility to be thoughtful about the development and deployment of powerful technologies like AI. We take this responsibility seriously.
We are an ambitious and committed team of engineers, AI specialists and customer-facing programme managers. We are looking for mission-driven people to join our European teams – and apply their skills to solve the most complex and impactful problems. We embrace an open and transparent culture that welcomes healthy debates on the use of technology in defence, its benefits, and its ethical implications.
The role
The Lead / Team Leader Manufacturing Engineer is a seasoned professional responsible for providing technical leadership and strategic direction to a team of productionengineers focusing on mechatronic systems, assemblies and components. This role involves overseeing complex projects, driving significant process improvements, and mentoring junior engineers, all while ensuring that manufacturing operations meet stringent quality, cost, and schedule requirements for advanced aerospace and defence products.
The day-to-day
• Provide technical leadership, guidance, and mentorship to a team of Manufacturing/mechatronic engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and technical growth.
• Lead and coordinate complex mechatronic system integration and assembly projects from concept to production, ensuring alignment with business and engineering objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and lead loss reduction exercises, leveraging advanced Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies to enhance operational efficiency and minimize waste in mechatronic system production.
• Act as a primary technical liaison between design engineering (mechanical, electrical, software), assembly, quality, and other cross-functional teams, resolving complex technical problems related to system integration and influencing design-for-manufacturing (DFM), design-for-assembly (DFA) and design-for-test (DFT) decisions.
• Develop and manage annual engineering plans for mechatronic system development and production, ensuring successful delivery against agreed objectives and key performance indicators.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and maintenance of assembly, integration, and testing processes for mechatronic systems, including fixtures, test equipment, and associated documentation.
• Conduct complex system integration and performance analyses to ensure mechatronic system capabilities meet design requirements.
• Contribute to strategic planning for mechatronic system production capabilities, including technology maturation and full-rate production scale-up of complex integrated products.
• Manage project scope, budgets, resources, milestones, and timelines for program execution plans related to mechatronic system development.
• Participate in recruiting activities, candidate evaluation, and drive team development and growth.
You should apply if you
• Bachelor's degree in Mechatronic Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering with a strong mechatronics focus, or a related technical field. A Master's degree or specific certifications (e.g., Six Sigma Black Belt, PMP) are often advantageous.
• Minimum of 5+ years of progressive experience in mechatronic system development, integration, or production within industries such as robotics, industrial automation, consumer electronics, or complex machinery, with at least 1-3 years in a leadership, senior, or mentorship capacity.
• Proven experience leading teams of engineers and support personnel, with strong interpersonal and leadership skills, and the ability to lead by influence.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical problems related to the integration of mechanical, electrical, and software components, and drive root cause analysis effectively.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• In-depth knowledge of advanced assembly and integration techniques for mechatronic systems, quality management systems (e.g., ISO 9001), and relevant industry standards (e.g., robotics safety, automation).
• Proficiency in CAD software (mechanical and/or electrical), simulation tools (e.g., for system dynamics, robotics), and potentially PLC programming or embedded system development tools.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to present technical data and collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience with New Product Introduction (NPI) processes and product lifecycle management for complex mechatronic systems.
Note: We operate in an industry where women, as well as other minority groups, are systematically under-represented. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarised in a few bullet points.
Join Helsing and work with world-leading experts in their fields
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Helsing’s work is important. You’ll be directly contributing to the protection of democratic countries while balancing both ethical and geopolitical concerns
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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
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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 defence 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
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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
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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 practise 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
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A focus on outcomes, not time-tracking
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Competitive compensation and stock options
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Relocation support
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Social and education allowances
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Regular company events and all-hands to bring together employees as one team across Europe
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A hands-on onboarding program (affectionately labelled “Infraduction”), in which you will be building tooling and applications to be used across the company. This is your opportunity to learn our tech stack, explore the company, and learn how we get things done - all whilst working with other engineering teams from day one
Helsing is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. 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.
Helsing's Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found
here.
