Helsing

Director of Production

Washington, DC · Director

No sponsorshipDetected 62 days ago

Distributed SystemsLLMsComplianceSAPSupply ChainProcess ImprovementProcurementERPLeadershipCritical ThinkingNetSuiteOSHALean Manufacturing

About the role

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

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
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
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

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

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

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 de

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.

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.
Lead the stand-up and scaling of US manufacturing operations, establishing production lines, workflows, quality systems, and facility infrastructure
Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Supply Chain, Program Management, Contracts, and Finance to ensure production alignment on government contracts
Ensure full compliance with SSA governance requirements, maintaining appropriate separation protocols while optimizing production operations across the organization

This listing is sourced directly from Helsing's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.