Head of MAITE - Manufacturing Director - Aerospace - AIT - Assembly (Relocation Valencia, Spain) in London

Relocation to Valencia (Spain) is required for this position. Salary: from 120K € to 160K€.

Mandatory experience:

• Having experienced a Ramp-up and mass production in very complex and demanding environments.
• Management of multidisciplinary teams.
• Space experience not mandatory but preferred experience in Aerospace, Defense or even automotive, within complex and demanding environments.

We are seeking a HEAD of MAITE to lead the end-to-end deployment and operational readiness of a satellite integration facility. We are hiring on behalf of an international leader in satellite manufacturing, employing more than 700 people. The company operates commercial satellite constellations and delivers critical insights to clients across sectors such as defense, intelligence, maritime, insurance, disaster management, and finance.

You will be responsible for leading multidisciplinary teams in a facility where most processes, structures and production lines still need to be built from the ground up. We are looking for someone ready to take ownership of a demanding and high-impact role, with a significant workload and strong responsibility from day one.

Key responsibilities:

• Build, manage, and lead the Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration and Testing teams responsible for spacecraft production.
• Oversee mechanical team, electrical team, and system-level assembly team activities to ensure compliance with production and quality standards.
• Plan and optimize manufacturing facility layouts and support facility expansion to increase production capacity.
• Manage and develop multidisciplinary teams including Cleanroom, Quality, AIT engineers, testing engineers, production technicians, facility managers, supply chain managers, and process Innovation team.
• Ensure new team members receive appropriate training and onboarding to support production operations.
• Manage satellite production schedules and ensure subsystems and spacecraft progress through manufacturing and testing phases on time.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, configuration management, and supply chain teams to plan and execute spacecraft manufacturing activities.
• Coordinate with quality assurance and integration teams to ensure hardware is delivered according to program timelines.
• Support inventory management for manufacturing equipment, tools, and consumables.
• Ensure adherence to all production procedures, quality processes, and safety standards.
• Continuously identify opportunities to improve production processes, tools, and work environment.
• Promote a culture of ownership, safety, and operational excellence.

Required skills and competencies:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Systems Engineering (or related field).
• 15+ years of experience in facility deployment, manufacturing operations.
• Proven ability to manage end-to-end technical deployment projects in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Experience coordinating with construction, logistics, and external vendors.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Fluent in English; proficiency in the local language of the site is a strong advantage.
• Strong problem-solving mindset and fast-paced, proactive approach.

What they offer:

• A meaningful role in a pioneering space technology company with a mission-driven culture.
• An independent position with both local ownership and global collaboration.
• Occupational healthcare and accident insurance.
• Annual benefit budget for wellness, commuting, or leisure activities.
• Modern equipment and phone subscription.
• Relocation and travel support, as required.
• Opportunities for training, professional development, and conference participation.
• Inspiring offices and focused workspaces designed to help you excel.