Head of Production Quality

Who we are

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.

As democracies, we believe we have a special responsibility to be thoughtful about the development and deployment of powerful technologies like AI. 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

As Head of Production Quality, you will own all quality activities across Helsing's EN9100-certified production facility, from incoming inspection through to final assembly line checks. You will maintain a quality management system that meets the demands of defence manufacturing, set the quality strategy, and drive continuous improvement at every stage of the production flow. Working closely with engineering, operations, and programme teams, you will lead the production quality team and serve as the primary point of contact with certification bodies and customers on all quality matters, with direct influence over how Helsing scales its production capability

The day-to-day

• Own and maintain Helsing's EN9100 quality management system across the full production flow, from incoming inspection and goods receipt through to final assembly line checks, ensuring the facility remains audit-ready at all times
• Lead, develop, and manage the production quality team, setting clear objectives, building capability, and fostering a culture of quality ownership at every stage of the production process
• Lead the internal audit programme, manage non-conformances end-to-end, and report quality metrics including first-pass yield and defect rates to senior leadership, translating data into actionable improvement programmes
• Partner with engineering and supply chain to embed quality at source, from first article inspection and design reviews through to production acceptance and customer delivery
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external audits, customer quality reviews, and regulatory enquiries, protecting Helsing's EN9100 certification status and sustaining customer confidence

You should apply if you

• Have led quality functions within an EN9100 or AS9100-certified aerospace or defence manufacturing environment, with direct ownership of the full production flow from goods receipt to final acceptance
• Have designed, implemented, and maintained a quality management system end-to-end, including audit programmes, document control, and non-conformance management
• Have built and managed production quality teams, setting direction, developing people, and holding a team accountable for quality outcomes across a live manufacturing environment
• Can translate complex quality data into clear decisions and communicate them credibly to both technical teams and senior leadership
• Are fluent in German and English, written and spoken, and can operate with equal confidence across both languages in a professional and technical context

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

• Familiarity with AQAP 2110 or AQAP 2131 within a defence manufacturing context, such as quality plan development or NATO customer interface
• Experience operating within a scaling or growth-stage organisation, where processes and structures are still being built and improved

What we offer

• Competitive salary and VSOP options
• 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: regular 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 specific sites.

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.

Helsing's Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found here .