Production Technician in Plymouth

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. We take this responsibility seriously. We are an ambitious and committed team of engineers, AI specialists and customer‑facing programme managers. 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.

The role Helsing's Resilience Factory in Plymouth designs and produces the SG‑1 Fathom; a subsurface glider that redefines underwater surveillance. Mass‑manufacturable and designed for deployment at scale, hundreds of SG‑1s can monitor vast underwater areas, patrolling in swarms or holding position on the seabed. Integrated with Helsing's Lura platform, SG‑1 provides real‑time detection and classification at the edge, in environments where bandwidth is low and data volumes are high.

As a Maritime Production Technician, you will be responsible for assembling, testing and quality‑assuring the SG‑1 glider as it moves from design into production. This is a hands‑on role at the heart of Helsing's hardware capability. You will work closely with the production engineering team to build and refine the processes that allow us to manufacture at the pace and standard our mission demands. The work requires precision, attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high standards in both product quality and workplace safety.

For someone at the start of their career in defence manufacturing, this is an opportunity to contribute directly to a capability that is already reshaping how democratic nations protect their waters.

The day‑to‑day:

• Interpret and follow assembly drawings and detailed work instructions to build SG‑1 glider components and sub‑assemblies to specification.
• Assemble electro‑mechanical components manually, ensuring each unit meets the quality standards required for subsurface deployment.
• Operate digital tooling to automate production tasks and improve throughput.
• Conduct functional testing on assembled products, identifying and documenting defects before units leave the factory floor.
• Perform quality control checks throughout the assembly process, contributing to a first‑time‑right culture that minimises rework and waste.
• Maintain a clean, organised and efficient workspace in line with production safety standards.
• Collaborate with the production engineering team to evolve and develop tooling, jigs and procedures — feeding back practical insights from the build line to improve future production runs.
• Support lead functions with factory‑specific tasks, contributing to the smooth day‑to‑day running of the Resilience Factory.

You should apply if you:

• Hold a trade qualification in engineering, electrical, mechanical or a maritime‑related field.
• Have experience working with electro‑mechanical assemblies in a production or manufacturing setting.
• Demonstrate strong problem‑solving ability and a methodical approach to diagnosing and resolving build issues.
• Communicate clearly and precisely, both verbally and in writing — particularly when documenting quality findings or raising concerns.
• Are eligible for UK Defence Security Clearance, hold an unrestricted right to work in the UK, and hold a valid, unrestricted driving licence.

Note: We operate in an industry where women, as well as other minority groups, are systematically 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.

Nice to Have:

• Experience in a quality assurance or inspection role within a manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with ERP systems and digital production platforms.
• Exposure to maritime, subsea or defence manufacturing environments.
• Experience with potting, soldering, conformal coating or similar specialist assembly techniques.

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 technical innovation, be it reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, or deployment infrastructure. The defence industry is entering the most exciting phase of the technological development curve. Advances in our field of world are not incremental: Helsing is part of, and often leading, historic leaps forward. In our domain, success is a matter of order‑of‑magnitude improvements and novel capabilities. This means we take bets, aim high, and focus on big opportunities. Despite being a relatively young company, Helsing has already been selected for multiple significant government contracts.

We actively encourage healthy, proactive, and diverse debate internally about what we do and how we choose to do it. Teams and individual engineers are trusted (and encouraged) to practise responsible autonomy and critical thinking, and to focus on outcomes, not conformity. At Helsing you will have a say in how we (and you!) work, the opportunity to engage on what does and doesn’t work, and to take ownership of aspects of our culture that you care deeply about.

What we offer:

• Competitive salary and stock options (ESOP).
• Relocation support: up to €2,500 and 4 weeks temporary accommodation.
• Learning: €500/£450 yearly allowance.
• Health & wellness: gym membership and mental health support (Nilo.health).
• Social: regularly company events and monthly social allowances.
• Enhanced parental leave: 22 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers & 6 weeks for secondary caregivers.
• Family support: 5 days of paid family emergency leave, 100% remote work option during pregnancy and phased return to work.

These are the core benefits across all locations, there may be additional benefits in certain locations. Helsing is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.