About this role
Overview
Cambridge Aerospace are looking for a Manufacturing Operations Lead – to own end‑to‑end manufacturing operations Poland, from industrialisation and production planning through to delivery, quality, and cost performance.
You will combine strategic leadership with hands‑on operational oversight, working closely with our UK and European engineering, supply chain, and programme teams ensuring our Polish manufacturing operations are integrated into a single, high‑performing network. To be successful, you will ideally be an experienced manufacturing leader with understanding of factory scaling in a high‑compliance and high‑reliability environment.
Please note, this role will be based on site in Warsaw.
Key responsibilities
Requirements
What We Offer
About Us
The mission of Cambridge Aerospace is to eliminate the risk of existential war in Europe. That risk comes from the air – low-cost drones and cruise missiles now manufactured in colossal volumes by our adversaries, ballistic missiles capable of ending the world as we know it, and a new generation of hypersonic weapons that evade every existing defence. We’re building low-cost interceptors that defeat these threats, and the surveillance systems to detect and target them – at a cost taxpayers can afford, at the pace the threat demands, and with sovereign supply chains that assure delivery. We have immense backing from the world’s best venture funds. We’re one of the fastest growing defence technology companies in history. And we’re hiring the best engineers to prosecute the mission. If you are in the top 1%, willing to work harder than you ever have, build technology better than anyone else, and contribute to the defining challenge of our time, now is the time to join us.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.
Cambridge Aerospace are looking for a Manufacturing Operations Lead – to own end‑to‑end manufacturing operations Poland, from industrialisation and production planning through to delivery, quality, and cost performance.
You will combine strategic leadership with hands‑on operational oversight, working closely with our UK and European engineering, supply chain, and programme teams ensuring our Polish manufacturing operations are integrated into a single, high‑performing network. To be successful, you will ideally be an experienced manufacturing leader with understanding of factory scaling in a high‑compliance and high‑reliability environment.
Please note, this role will be based on site in Warsaw.
Key responsibilities
- Build, lead, and develop the manufacturing organisation in Poland, including production, industrial engineering, maintenance, and manufacturing support functions.
- Own delivery, quality, cost, and safety KPIs for the Polish site(s), ensuring reliable execution against customer and internal commitments.
- Lead the industrialisation of new products, including transfer of work, NPI ramp‑up, and scaling to serial production in close collaboration with design and programme teams.
- Implement and continuously improve manufacturing systems and processes (Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, standard work, visual management) to drive productivity and yield.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant standards and regulations (e.g. ISO 9001/AS9100, defence export controls, HSE requirements) in a defence/aerospace context.
- Oversee capacity planning, resource allocation, and capital investment to support current programmes and future growth.
- Partner with Supply Chain and Quality to secure material availability, supplier performance, and robust incoming and in‑process quality control.
- Establish a strong safety culture, ensuring that EHS policies are implemented, understood, and continuously improved.
- Prepare and manage the manufacturing budget, including cost control, make/buy optimisation, and productivity improvement roadmaps.
- Represent the Polish manufacturing operations to internal and external stakeholders, including customers, partners, and regulatory bodies, as required.
Requirements
- Strong manufacturing leadership experience ideally from complex, high-reliability industries such as aerospace, defence, automotive, or equivalent sectors.
- Strong operational leadership capability, including full accountability for manufacturing sites, production facilities, or major value streams.
- Demonstrated experience in industrialising new products and scaling from prototype to serial production.
- Expertise in modern manufacturing methodologies, including Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, performance management, KPI development, and data-driven operational decision-making.
- In-depth knowledge of quality management systems and regulatory compliance standards, including ISO 9001, AS9100, or equivalent frameworks within audited manufacturing environments.
- Fluent Polish and professional-level English communication skills, both written and verbal.
What We Offer
- Opportunity to build and shape a key manufacturing hub for a fast‑growing defence and aerospace company in Europe.
- High degree of autonomy and direct impact on strategic and operational decisions.
- Competitive compensation package with performance‑based components.
- Private medical care and other benefits aligned with senior leadership roles in Poland.
- An environment that values initiative, transparency, and continuous improvement.
About Us
The mission of Cambridge Aerospace is to eliminate the risk of existential war in Europe. That risk comes from the air – low-cost drones and cruise missiles now manufactured in colossal volumes by our adversaries, ballistic missiles capable of ending the world as we know it, and a new generation of hypersonic weapons that evade every existing defence. We’re building low-cost interceptors that defeat these threats, and the surveillance systems to detect and target them – at a cost taxpayers can afford, at the pace the threat demands, and with sovereign supply chains that assure delivery. We have immense backing from the world’s best venture funds. We’re one of the fastest growing defence technology companies in history. And we’re hiring the best engineers to prosecute the mission. If you are in the top 1%, willing to work harder than you ever have, build technology better than anyone else, and contribute to the defining challenge of our time, now is the time to join us.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.
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