# Head of Manufacturing H/F

**Company:** [Alta Ares](http://jobs.workable.com/companies/dTjqj5nvsJLNhfSDY12XbG.md)
**Location:** Toulouse, France
**Workplace:** on site
**Employment type:** Full-time
**Department:** Manufacturing

[Apply for this job](http://jobs.workable.com/view/022ac64f-b37d-442f-b828-3a2febccb5f1)

## Description

###   
About Alta Ares

Alta Ares is a deeptech startup founded in 2024, building real-time AI for defense operations (ISR, C-UAS). Our primary clients are NATO-aligned militaries, with regular deployments during live exercises. Raised €2M pre-seed in May 2025 Products include:  

-   Real-time AI ISR module deployable on drones and tactical platforms
-   Counter-UAS solution enabling autonomous drone takeover under GNSS-denied environment
-   Full-stack MLOps platform for training & deploying military-grade AI models
-   Data fusion and trajectory prediction  
    

### Position details

-   Location: France (on-site at manufacturing and integration facilities), with regular travel within France and NATO
-   Reports to: CEO & Chief of Staff
-   Position objective: Build, structure, and scale Alta Ares’ manufacturing capabilities from early-stage production to industrial-scale operations, ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality, defense-grade counter-drone and detection systems while maintaining strict standards of quality, traceability, and supply security.
-   Contract: Full-time, permanent position (CDI)

### Role & Mission

As Head of Manufacturing, you are responsible for building, structuring, and scaling Alta Ares’ manufacturing capabilities to support the rapid growth of our counter-drone and detection systems (BlackBird, X-Wing, Gamma Box). You lead the transition from small-batch production to industrialized manufacturing while maintaining the quality, reliability, and traceability required for defense applications.

-   **Strategic Manufacturing Leadership**
-   Define and execute Alta Ares’ manufacturing strategy aligned with business growth and customer demand
-   Build and structure the manufacturing organization, including hiring, team organization, and processes
-   Define KPIs, production targets, and capacity plans aligned with the sales pipeline
-   Drive make-vs-buy decisions and long-term supplier strategy

-   Report directly to the CEO and Chief of Staff on capacity, costs, risks, and delivery timelines  
    

**Operations & Production Scaling**

-   Scale production from current volumes to meet 2026–2027 demand forecasts
-   Establish and optimize assembly, integration, testing, and QA operations
-   Implement production planning and scheduling to meet customer commitments
-   Balance efficiency with flexibility to support ongoing R&D iterations
-   Drive continuous improvement across workflows, tooling, and layouts  
    

**Supply Chain & Vendor Management**

-   Build and manage a robust supplier and subcontractor ecosystem
-   Implement supplier qualification and audit processes suitable for defense applications
-   Manage procurement to balance cost, quality, lead times, and supply security
-   Implement inventory management and forecasting systems
-   Develop contingency and risk-mitigation plans for supply chain disruptions  
    

**Quality, Compliance & Traceability**

-   Establish quality control systems compliant with defense and high-reliability standards
-   Implement full traceability for components, assemblies, and finished systems
-   Define and maintain production documentation and records for defense contracts
-   Work with QA to define test protocols, acceptance criteria, and release processes
-   Coordinate with compliance teams on export control and regulatory requirements  
    
-   **Cross-Functional Collaboration**
-   Partner with R&D to ensure manufacturability of new designs (DFM/DFA feedback)
-   Work closely with Sales and Customer Success to align production with delivery commitments
-   Collaborate with Finance on manufacturing budgets, cost models, and margin improvement
-   Interface with Deployment and Field teams to support installation, maintenance, and feedback loops

## Requirements

### Candidate profile

You are a hands-on manufacturing leader with a strong industrial mindset and experience scaling production in demanding, regulated environments. You combine strategic vision with operational execution and are comfortable building organizations and processes from the ground up.  

-   10+ years of experience in manufacturing or operations, including 5+ years in leadership roles
-   Proven track record scaling hardware production from early stage to industrial volumes
-   Experience in defense, aerospace, robotics, or other high-reliability industries
-   Strong background in electronics assembly and mechanical integration
-   Experience building manufacturing teams, processes, and KPIs
-   Strong understanding of supply chain, procurement, and vendor management
-   Experience implementing quality systems and traceability
-   Ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels
-   Strong leadership, decision-making, and communication skills

-   Comfortable working in fast-growing, execution-driven environments![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/68c2f2730eeb5d84dd5e303d/68caede7fe01c79b90fc1185_bounding%20fixed.webp)  
      
    **Nice to Have**

-   Experience manufacturing defense or dual-use systems
-   Familiarity with export control, ITAR-like constraints, or NDAA compliance
-   Experience working with contract manufacturers and hybrid make/buy models
-   Exposure to New Product Introduction (NPI) in fast-moving R&D environments
-   Experience setting up ERP / MRP systems
-   Background in startup or scale-up industrial environments
-   Experience working with international supplier ecosystems