Head of Manufacturing

Job type:  Full-time

Team:        Production

Start:         Q4 2026

Please note that preference will be given to candidates already residing in the Netherlands to ensure a smoother onboarding process. At this time, we are not able to provide relocation support.

ABOUT THE JOB

At Qlayers, we’re transforming the way large industrial assets, such as ships and storage tanks, are coated. Our patented robotic technology delivers higher-quality coatings, improves efficiency, and helps reduce the environmental impact of industrial maintenance.

Qlayers’ painting robots are complex electromechanical machines, assembled internally from 8 core submodules. We’re scaling fast — more than doubling monthly robot output while expanding from one robot type today to two, and potentially three, next year.

As Head of Manufacturing, you’ll lead this scale-up end to end: developing the manufacturing operation, building the team and processes around it, and making sure we can increase volume and product variety without compromising quality, cost or delivery.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys building as much as improving. You’ll set the direction for manufacturing, build the systems and partnerships needed to support growth, and personally tackle the risks and bottlenecks that come with scaling a complex product.

WHAT YOU’LL OWN

Manufacturing Strategy & Scaling

• Define the direction, goals and operating model needed to scale manufacturing as robot volume and product variety grow.
• Proactively identify and mitigate manufacturing risks before they become bottlenecks or line stoppages.
• Build the international supply chain needed to support 2x+ monthly volume across multiple robot types.
• Establish strategic partnerships with suppliers, contract manufacturers and logistics partners to support Qlayers’ growth.
• Continuously improve the way we build, test and deliver our robots.

Manufacturing Operations & Delivery

• Own the robot delivery schedule and keep stakeholders aligned on priorities and timelines.
• Design and maintain the “Assembly Flow” — the framework for how robots and their submodules are assembled, tested and delivered, and how this process adapts across different product types.
• Establish clear manufacturing processes, documentation and ways of working that provide a reliable source of truth for what is being built and when.
• Ensure manufacturing schedules and priorities are clearly communicated across Engineering, Sales and Management.
• Balance quality, cost and delivery as production volume increases.

Manufacturing Team & Operations

• Build, lead and develop the manufacturing team as volume and product complexity increase.
• Set and manage the manufacturing budget.
• Hire and develop the Leads needed across key manufacturing workstreams, including COGS monitoring, robot assembly, manufacturing feedback, design freezes and new product introduction.
• Create a culture of ownership, accountability and continuous improvement.

Cost & Financial Accountability

• Own the flow of manufacturing cost and cash-flow information to Finance.
• Provide accurate COGS data and insights to Engineering to support cost-reduction opportunities.
• Monitor COGS per production batch and drive the organization towards agreed cost targets.
• Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing efficiency without compromising quality or delivery.

Industrialisation, Engineering & Suppliers

• Provide DFM (Design for Manufacturing) feedback to Engineering and ensure it is translated into the Assembly Flow.
• Work closely with Engineering to establish and maintain design freezes that protect long-term part availability and manufacturing stability.
• Determine how engineering and design changes are introduced into manufacturing without unnecessarily disrupting production.
• Own the introduction of new articles, parts and assemblies into manufacturing.
• Act as a technical point of contact for suppliers during manufacturing, together with the Supply Chain Manager.
• Work closely with Engineering to make sure new products and design changes are manufacturable, scalable and ready for production.

WHAT YOU BRING

• A proven track record of scaling a manufacturing or assembly operation, ideally through significant increases in volume and/or product-line expansion rather than only managing steady-state operations.
• Experience in industrial machinery, robotics, automation or other complex electromechanical products is a strong plus.
• Strong financial acumen and the ability to confidently own COGS, budgets and cost-reduction discussions with Finance and Engineering.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to build manufacturing processes and systems from scratch and keep them working as complexity increases.
• Experience managing and negotiating with suppliers and other manufacturing partners.
• Experience building or scaling an international supply chain.
• The ability to move comfortably between strategic topics — manufacturing direction, partnerships and risk — and operational challenges such as delivery schedules, COGS, suppliers and manufacturing bottlenecks.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to align Engineering, Supply Chain, Sales and Management around manufacturing priorities.

You are someone who

• Leads by example and enjoys working alongside the team and staying close to the product.
• Likes building and improving, rather than simply maintaining the status quo.
• Takes ownership and isn’t afraid to make decisions.
• Solves problems in a structured and pragmatic way.
• Has a keen eye for quality, efficiency and continuous improvement.
• Can bring structure to a fast-growing environment without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Thrives in a high-tech scale-up where the products are complex, the challenges are real, and no two days are the same.

WE OFFER:

• Gross monthly salary €4000 – €5400. The exact amount depends on the seniority of the candidate.
• 8% holiday allowance
• 25 vacation days
• Flexible working hours
• Pension plan
• Tight-knit team
• Growth opportunities
• Self-development opportunities
• Flat hierarchy while still maintaining professional management.