Production Leader (Battery)

Overview

Join to apply for the Production Leader (Battery) role at Vertical Aerospace.

Our mission is to pioneer electric aviation. The VX4 is our eVTOL aircraft designed for zero-emission operations, with a goal to have the VX4 in service by 2030. We aim to redefine aerospace best practices and scale from a prototype business to a growing SME.

What You\’ll Do

• Lead day-to-day operations of the battery production area, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets are met.
• Take a hands-on approach to problem-solving, process validation, and actively engage with technicians and engineers on the shop floor.
• Oversee execution of build plans, work instructions, and quality control processes for prototype and production battery systems.
• Collaborate with engineering, procurement, and quality teams to ensure smooth transition from R&D to scalable manufacturing.
• Support equipment specification, purchasing, and commissioning—including FAT/SAT and integration into production.
• Manage CAPEX and OPEX budgets for battery production infrastructure and tooling.
• Drive process optimisation through PFMEA, root cause analysis, and lean manufacturing principles.
• Ensure compliance with AS9100 and other relevant aerospace standards.
• Lead development builds to validate manufacturing processes and gather data for continuous improvement.
• Own and optimize battery build processes, including cell preparation, module assembly, and pack integration.
• Identify and implement lean manufacturing initiatives to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance safety.
• Monitor and report key production metrics (OEE, yield, cycle time).
• Use digital tools to track build progress and escalate issues proactively.

What You\’ll Bring

• Proven experience in battery manufacturing, aerospace, or high-performance automotive environments.
• Strong leadership background with a track record of scaling up production and driving cultural change.
• AS9100 knowledge or Lead Auditor certification preferred.
• Experience managing CAPEX/OPEX budgets and equipment procurement.
• Familiarity with lean tools (5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping).
• Excellent communication and coordination skills, with the ability to lead without formal authority.
• Comfortable working in a hands-on, shop-floor-focused leadership role.

What can you expect from us?

We’re on a mission. Working at Vertical isn’t your average role; it’s a challenge in a flexible, supportive organisation with an incredible team. We promote ingenuity and courage, and we work toward our goal through safety-focused, open collaboration.

Our Benefits

• 26 days holiday, plus bank holidays
• 5 extra days per year to buy (or sell)
• 5 extra days holiday when you get married or enter a civil partnership
• Additional 4% of your salary to spend on extra benefits
• Award-winning digital health and wellbeing service (Help@Hand)
• Company performance-based bonus
• Company Share Scheme for all employees
• Company Pension Scheme – 5% with employer match
• Breakfast on us, every day

Disclaimer Statement

We encourage you to apply even if you may not have all the experience listed in the advert. We recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to providing opportunities that create growth, diversity, and inclusion. As part of our processes, we may ask questions related to these aspects during the application process. For more information on how we will use your data, see our Legal section.

Job details

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Management and Manufacturing
• Industries: Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing