Director of Production

About this role

Who we are

Helsing develops artificial intelligence-enabled capabilities to protect and defend democracies. We are growing our US operations, cultivating an ambitio u s and committed team of mission-driven professionals to apply their skills to solve challenging problems.

The role

You will serve as the operational architect during a pivotal growth phase — standing up and scaling US-based production capabilities, driving manufacturing excellence, and partnering directly with executive leadership to deliver AI-enabled defense products to the warfighter. This is more than managing assembly lines; it's an opportunity to make a tangible impact in the Defense Tech space while building production infrastructure from the ground up and navigating the unique complexities of manufacturing and AI. If you thrive in fast-paced, high-stakes environments where your work directly enables breakthrough technologies for the warfighter, we want to hear from you.

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

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