At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the manufacturing of next-gen opto-chemical sensors and drive product development.
- Company: Mode Labs, a pioneering tech company focused on environmental monitoring.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, employee share options, flexible working, and generous leave.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a dynamic, innovative environment.
- Why this job: Join a mission-driven team making a real impact on environmental health.
- Qualifications: Experience in product industrialisation and complex hardware development required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 80000 £ per year.
Build the manufacturing capability behind the next generation of opto-chemical sensors. Mode Labs is developing an autonomous opto-chemical sensing platform for remote environmental monitoring. We are looking for a senior, hands-on engineering leader to own the productisation and industrialisation of our first commercial sensor platform.
THE ROLE
You will lead the translation of our proven engineering MVP into a robust, compliant, serviceable and manufacturable product. You will define and manage the route from existing prototype through engineering, design and production validation to controlled release. Working across engineering, quality, operations and supply chain, you will balance performance, reliability, compliance, cost and manufacturability. This role begins as a senior individual-contributor and technical-lead role, combining strategic ownership with hands-on involvement in builds, testing and problem-solving. You will then build and lead a wider manufacturing team to deliver your vision.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Productisation and NPI Own the industrialisation roadmap, development stages, release gates and production-readiness criteria.
- Lead DFM, DFA, design-for-test, service and reliability activities across optical, mechanical, electronic, fluidic and sensing-chemistry interfaces.
- Establish a controlled product definition covering bills of materials, drawings, specifications, software dependencies and manufacturing data.
- Lead pilot and pre-production builds, converting results into prioritised design and process improvements.
Verification, Compliance and Market Access
- Determine the applicable regulatory and certification routes for the product’s intended markets and use.
- Own the verification and validation strategy, including requirements traceability, test methods, acceptance criteria and treatment of failures.
- Coordinate pre-compliance and formal testing with specialist advisers and accredited laboratories.
- Build the evidence required for applicable UKCA or CE conformity, technical files, declarations and product labelling.
- Define appropriate environmental and reliability testing for remote deployment, including ingress, temperature, humidity, corrosion, shock, vibration and accelerated life testing.
Manufacturing, Quality and Scale-up
- Develop and release repeatable assembly, inspection, calibration and end-of-line test processes.
- Specify the tooling, fixtures, reference standards and test infrastructure required for production.
- Establish proportionate process controls, PFMEAs, control plans, traceability, change control and non-conformance processes within the QMS.
- Define production metrics covering yield, quality, cycle time, capacity and unit cost.
- Select and develop key suppliers and manufacturing partners, managing qualification, transfer and supply-chain risks.
- Ensure service, repair, calibration and field-return requirements are reflected in the product and manufacturing design.
- Mentor colleagues and help establish the manufacturing practices and capabilities needed as the company grows.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
Within your first 100 days, you will have:
- Built a detailed understanding of the MVP, intended use, architecture, current prototype build process and principal technical risks, transferring knowledge from the existing engineering team.
- Completed a productisation gap assessment covering design maturity, reliability, compliance, manufacturing, supply chain and serviceability.
- Agreed an integrated industrialisation roadmap with clear stages, owners, budget, schedule and readiness criteria.
- Defined the verification, compliance and certification strategy, including external test requirements.
- Led or supported a representative build and test cycle, turning the findings into a prioritised action plan.
- Identified the critical suppliers, long-lead, single-source and make-versus-buy decisions.
By the end of your first year, you will have:
- Scoped and recruited an appropriately scaled manufacturing team, including a roadmap for future expansion.
- Delivered an agreed production baseline achieving the required performance, reliability, compliance, cost and manufacturability targets.
- Completed the planned engineering, design and production validation stages, with remaining risks formally understood and owned.
- Achieved the applicable conformity, certification and market-access milestones.
- Released repeatable assembly, calibration and test processes with suitable tooling, controls and traceability.
- Demonstrated agreed production performance through pilot or pre-production builds.
- Qualified the critical supply chain and established a scalable NPI and manufacturing operating system.
ABOUT YOU
You are a hands-on product industrialisation leader who brings structure to ambiguity. You have taken complex hardware beyond prototype and understand the trade-offs required to make it reliable, compliant, manufacturable and supportable. You have the ability to balance evolving design with the need to deliver MVP units to customers. You have substantial industry experience and may have a degree, HND or apprenticeship in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline.
Essential experience
- Significant experience in NPI, product industrialisation, manufacturing engineering or complex hardware development.
- A track record of taking at least one multidisciplinary hardware product from prototype through validation and into controlled production.
- Experience defining and managing product verification, compliance and external certification testing.
- Strong practical knowledge of DFM, manufacturing process development, production test, tooling and quality planning.
- Experience leading pilot builds, process validation and data-led improvements in yield, reliability, capacity or cost.
- Experience developing relationships with suppliers or transferring products and processes to manufacturing partners.
- Working knowledge of engineering change, non-conformance, root-cause analysis and corrective action within a QMS.
- Ability to lead cross-functional programmes, communicate risks clearly and make sound decisions with incomplete information.
- Willingness to remain hands-on with product build, test and troubleshooting.
Desirable experience
- Optical systems, spectroscopy, precision alignment or fibre technologies.
- Fluidics, wetted materials, contamination control, sensor chemistry, reagents or consumables.
- Connected or battery-powered instruments intended for remote or outdoor deployment.
- Electrical safety, EMC, radio, ingress-protection, RoHS or WEEE requirements.
- Environmental and accelerated-life testing.
- Low- or medium-volume manufacture of complex scientific, analytical or industrial instruments.
- ERP or product-lifecycle systems and ISO9001-aligned quality management systems.
Eligibility
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the right to work in the UK and be willing to travel to suppliers, manufacturing partners and test laboratories in the UK and occasionally overseas.
Benefits
Salary: £70,000 - £80,000 p.a. depending on skills and experience.
- Employee share-option scheme.
- 25 days paid leave plus bank holidays.
- Company pension contributions matched up to 5%.
- Group life & legacy cover.
- Annual discretionary training allowance.
- One paid charity volunteering day per year.
- Travel-to-work loan and cycle-to-work salary sacrifice schemes.
- Flexible working arrangements where practical.
- Flexible or hybrid working arrangements may be available, although regular on-site presence in Oxfordshire will be essential given the hands-on nature of the role.
HOW TO APPLY
Please apply via the application link, submitting your CV and a short statement explaining why you would be a strong fit for the role. Closing date: Open until filled. Applications will be reviewed as received.
Preferred start: By January 2027.
Interview Process: Shortlisted candidates will complete an initial telephone or video call followed by an in-person interview. The interview may include a short technical exercise or presentation based on relevant previous experience; details will be provided in advance.
Disclaimer: Whilst we will aim to get back to everyone who applies, we are a small company and may not be able to provide feedback to all applicants. We apologise for this inconvenience.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
We are an equal opportunities employer and commit to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace whilst creating an environment which promotes dignity and respect for all. We post our job descriptions across a wide range of recruitment platforms to enable us to attract the most diverse range of candidates we possibly can.
ADJUSTMENTS & PROVISIONS
We want our recruitment process to be accessible. If you need a reasonable adjustment at any stage, please contact us and tell us what would help. You do not need to disclose a diagnosis to request an adjustment.
ABOUT MODE LABS
Mode Labs is a customer-driven technology company developing the next generation of autonomous chemical sensing systems for environmental monitoring. Based in Oxford, UK, the company was founded in 2024 as a spin-out from the University of Oxford's Chemistry and Materials departments. Our vision is to bring chemical understanding outside the laboratory, delivering clear measurement data where it is needed most: precision sensing, anytime, anywhere. Our mission is to protect the environment and human health by monitoring and reporting changes to our ecosystems.
Head of Manufacturing in Oxford employer: Mode Labs
Mode Labs is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Oxford where innovation meets hands-on engineering. With a strong focus on employee growth, the company provides opportunities for professional development through training allowances and a supportive culture that values collaboration and diversity. Employees enjoy competitive salaries, flexible working arrangements, and the chance to contribute to meaningful projects that protect the environment and human health.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Manufacturing in Oxford
✨Join Local Manufacturing Groups
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Consider participating in workshops or open days at manufacturing companies. It's a great way to show off your hands-on skills in a real-world environment and can sometimes lead to job offers right on the spot. Keep an eye on announcements from local manufacturers for these opportunities!
✨Leverage the Power of Internships
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✨Apply Directly Through Company Websites
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Manufacturing in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to Mode Labs specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mode Labs
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with Mode Labs, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
✨Align Your Values with Quality and Safety
In a full-time role, companies like Mode Labs value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
