Head of Supply Chain UK

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board. Help Build Europe's Hypersonic Capability At Hypersonica, we're redefining what's possible in European defence technology. We exist to deliver speed, resilience, and technological independence at a pace that sets a new standard. We are a small, elite team working on problems that matter, and solving them fast.

As our Head of Supply Chain UK you're not stepping into a predefined role. You're joining a talent dense environment where every individual shapes the direction of the company. Our philosophy is to hire a small number of exceptional people with broad, deep technical capability, strong judgement, and the ability to operate autonomously. We hire for talent, not rigid boxes. This role represents a business need, but the way it evolves will be shaped by the individual. If you've achieved what others said was impossible, or you bring a unique combination of skills that doesn't fit a traditional mould, we want to hear from you. The work you do here directly contributes to Europe's technological independence.

What you'll do

• Build and own Hypersonica's UK supply chain capability from first principles, establishing a secure, resilient, and execution focused procurement function for complex aerospace hardware.
• Lead sourcing and contracting across long lead, highly regulated propulsion and flight critical subsystems, ensuring schedule integrity under demanding national security constraints.
• Develop and qualify a trusted supplier network across advanced materials, precision fabrication, high performance electronics, military grade avionics, and specialist manufacturing partners.
• Negotiate and structure commercial agreements that balance cost, schedule, export controls, and security requirements within a UK defence acquisition environment.
• Establish supplier onboarding, audit, and performance management frameworks aligned with aerospace quality standards and future AS9100 certification.
• Work directly with engineering to translate technical requirements into executable procurement strategies, managing configuration changes and rapid iteration without compromising compliance.
• Build the operational backbone of UK procurement: processes, tools, documentation discipline, and supplier risk management in a fast scaling defence start up.
• Serve as the primary UK interface for controlled components, export considerations, and sensitive supply chain pathways, ensuring resilience against geopolitical and regulatory disruption.

Who you are

• An experienced aerospace or defence supply chain leader who has owned procurement of complex, high consequence hardware programmes.
• Comfortable sourcing long lead propulsion adjacent systems, flight critical electronics, and military grade subsystems within tightly controlled regulatory environments.
• Experienced operating under export control and UK national security frameworks, with strong instincts for compliance and discretion.
• Proven in building supplier networks from scratch or transforming immature procurement functions into disciplined, scalable systems.
• Commercially sharp and technically literate, able to challenge engineering assumptions while protecting schedule and cost.
• Calm under pressure, capable of securing critical supply in constrained markets where availability and reliability matter more than price alone.
• Energised by building something from nothing in a small, elite team where supply chain performance directly determines mission success.
• Motivated by sovereign capability and the responsibility that comes with delivering nationally significant defence hardware.

What we offer

• A mission driven environment with the opportunity to work on one of Europe's most consequential defence challenges, with direct impact on sovereign capability and security.
• Daily collaboration with top experts across engineering, operations, and defence, with real opportunity to learn from the best, contribute, and grow.
• High ownership and autonomy; no time tracking, no micromanagement, just clear objectives and accountability for outcomes.
• A fast paced environment where good ideas are implemented quickly, and feedback from test and flight drives real decisions.
• A culture that values clarity, integrity, and excellence, and supports people who take initiative and push boundaries responsibly.
• Competitive compensation and real share options aligned to responsibility and impact, not tenure or hierarchy.

At Hypersonica, every hire raises the bar. We are deliberately small, intensely capable, and deeply mission-driven. If this role feels like a strong fit, or if you believe you bring something exceptional that goes beyond the description, we encourage you to apply. Hypersonica is an equal-opportunity employer and assesses candidates solely on merit, capability, and potential. You can apply directly to this role or reach out to Nathan Sweeney, Head of Talent. We review every application and aim to respond to all candidates within two weeks, whether the answer is yes or no.