Helsing is a Munich-based defence AI and drone company that develops defence software, drones, and military systems for air, land, sea, and underwater operations.
<h2><strong>Who we are</strong></h2> <p><span data-contrast="auto">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.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">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.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">We are an ambitious and committed team of engineers, AI specialists and customer-facing programme managers.<span data-contrast="auto"> 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.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"> </span></span></p> <h2><strong>The role</strong></h2> <p>As a Manufacturing Engineer at Helsing, you will be a hands-on individual contributor sitting at the intersection of design and production — the person who makes sure what is designed can actually be built, reliably and at scale. Working directly with our design engineering and R&D teams, you will shape how new products are introduced to the factory floor, own the process from NPI through to stable production ramp, and apply your practical knowledge of manufacturing processes to solve real problems before they become production constraints. This is not a coordination role — you will be in the detail, on the floor, and accountable for the quality and efficiency of the processes you define. Your work directly enables Helsing to translate advanced technology into fielded capabilities that protect democratic nations.</p> <h2><strong>The day-to-day</strong></h2> <ul> <li class="text-start ">Define, design, and validate manufacturing processes for new product introductions (NPI) and significant design changes, owning delivery from concept through to stable production ramp</li> <li class="text-start ">Embed with design engineering from the earliest concept phase, providing hands-on DFM and DFA input that materially improves producibility and reduces downstream risk</li> <li class="text-start ">Analyse manufacturing capacities, define cycle times and Taktzeiten for new production steps, and perform line balancing to hit throughput and efficiency targets</li> <li class="text-start ">Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and process risks early, and develop concrete equipment or process strategies to eliminate them before they reach production</li> <li class="text-start ">Define requirements for, and actively support the procurement and qualification of, manufacturing tools, fixtures, jigs, and automation equipment</li> <li class="text-start ">Apply Lean Manufacturing principles — Value Stream Mapping, SMED, Poka-Yoke — and Six Sigma methodologies to drive measurable waste reduction and efficiency gains</li> <li class="text-start ">Partner cross-functionally with R&D, quality, supply chain, and production as a technical peer, not a coordinator, to deliver manufacturing excellence at each stage of the product lifecycle</li> </ul> <h2><strong>You should apply if you</strong></h2> <ul> <li class="text-start ">Have delivered at least one full NPI cycle end-to-end - from DFM input through to production ramp - and can speak concretely to the decisions you made and the trade-offs you navigated</li> <li class="text-start ">Bring hands-on, practical knowledge of manufacturing processes such as machining, casting, precision assembly, or surface treatment, including their real-world capabilities and failure modes</li> <li class="text-start ">Have defined and executed process validation activities (IQ/OQ/PQ) and applied statistical tools such as CpK and PpK to qualify and control production processes</li> <li class="text-start ">Have designed tooling, fixtures, or factory layouts using CAD software (SolidWorks, NX, or CATIA) and can read and interpret complex engineering drawings including GD&T</li> <li class="text-start ">Have applied Lean or Six Sigma methodologies to solve a real production problem — not in theory, but on the floor, with measurable results</li> <li class="text-start ">Are comfortable working as a hands-on individual contributor in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment where the product and the process are evolving simultaneously</li> </ul> <p><em data-renderer-mark="true"><em data-stringify-type="italic">Note: We operate in an industry where women, as well as other minority groups, are systematically</em> <em data-stringify-type="italic">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.</em></em></p> <h2><strong>Nice to have</strong></h2> <p><em data-renderer-mark="true"><em data-stringify-type="italic"></em></em></p> <ul> <li class="text-start ">Experience with automation integration within a production line context — robotics, vision systems, or end-of-line testing</li> <li class="text-start ">Familiarity with regulated or certified manufacturing environments (e.g., AS9100, ISO 9001, or equivalent)</li> <li class="text-start ">Exposure to hardware or product development in a high-growth, low-legacy environment where processes are being built from scratch rather than inherited</li> <li class="text-start ">Experience with ERP or MES systems in a manufacturing context</li> </ul> <h2><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Join Helsing and work with world-leading experts in their fields</span><span data-ccp-props="{"> </span></strong></h2> <ul> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Helsing’s work is important. You’ll be directly c