Head of Production / Produktionsleiter (m/f/d)

Responsibilities

We are representing a confidential space technology organization seeking a Head of Production to establish and lead scalable manufacturing operations in München. In this role, you will own the complete production function, ensuring stable output, quality adherence, and on-time delivery as the organization scales.

Your core responsibilities include:

• Full accountability for production output, quality metrics, delivery schedules, and productivity performance
• Hands-on management of daily operations through active shopfloor presence and engagement
• Building and implementing a KPI-driven production system tracking plan fulfillment, first-pass yield, scrap rates, rework, cycle time, and delivery reliability
• Structuring the production organization with clear roles, responsibilities, decision authorities, and escalation paths
• Ensuring robust capacity and workforce planning while systematically eliminating operational bottlenecks
• Maintaining compliance with standardized processes and documentation requirements
• Driving lean management principles and continuous improvement methodologies throughout production
• Leading, developing, and upskilling production team members
• Serving as the primary interface between production and quality, supply chain, sales, planning, and program management functions
• Providing transparent performance reporting to executive leadership and escalating material risks appropriately
• Ensuring production issues are systematically analyzed, clearly owned, and sustainably resolved

What We're Looking For

Professional Experience:

• Multiple years of leadership responsibility in operational production as Production Manager, Head of Production, Operations Manager, or equivalent
• Background in technically demanding production environments with high quality and process requirements, preferably aerospace, space, medical technology, automotive, defense, or precision manufacturing
• Demonstrated experience building and scaling production organizations
• Experience in variant-rich small-batch or series production including assembly, inspection, and testing processes
• Proficiency in capacity planning, production control, workforce planning, and bottleneck management
• Proven collaboration with quality, supply chain, and customer-facing functions

Technical Competencies:

• Strong understanding of shopfloor management and operational production leadership
• Experience establishing and managing relevant production KPIs
• Solid knowledge of lean management, continuous improvement, standard work, 5S, problem-solving, and root cause analysis
• Track record improving scrap, rework, throughput time, and delivery performance
• Clear understanding of quality management, traceability, process discipline, and documented work instructions
• Familiarity with ERP, MES, or digital production planning systems
• Strong technical comprehension of assembly, manufacturing, and testing processes

Leadership and Personal Qualities:

• Pronounced hands-on mentality with high shopfloor visibility
• Clear, committed, and consistent leadership with strong results orientation
• Ability to define responsibilities, make decisions, and ensure follow-through
• High problem-solving capability with structured, data-driven, pragmatic approach
• Ability to develop, train, and align team members around clear standards
• Resilience and composure in a dynamic, fast-growing environment
• Strong communication and cross-functional competence with ability to represent operational requirements to executive leadership
• Entrepreneurial mindset, high sense of ownership, and willingness to personally drive operational change

Education and Languages:

• Completed technical or engineering degree (mechanical engineering, production technology, mechatronics), or technical vocational training with master craftsman, technician certification, or equivalent plus extensive relevant leadership experience
• Fluent German and English required

How We Work With You

Candidates apply directly through Get A Job.ai. Our talent team will conduct an initial screening to understand your background and match you with this opportunity. If there is mutual interest, we will submit your profile to our client for consideration. Please do not contact the client organization directly—all communication flows through our recruiting process to protect both your candidacy and client confidentiality.

Pay

Compensation details will be discussed during the screening process based on your experience and qualifications.

This is a permanent, full-time position (40 hours per week) based in München. Benefits include 30 days annual leave, flexible working hours, bicycle leasing, wellness subsidies, public transport support, complimentary beverages, and company events.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Get A Job.ai is committed to inclusive recruiting practices. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background, identity, or circumstance.