Composites Manager

Are you ready to revolutionise the world with TEKEVER?

At TEKEVER, we lead innovation in Europe as the European leader in unmanned technology, where cutting edge advancements meet unparalleled innovation.

Digital Defence Security Space

We operate across four strategic areas, combining artificial intelligence, systems engineering, data science, and aerospace technology to tackle global challenges - from protecting people and critical infrastructure to exploring space.

We offer a unique surveillance as a service solution that delivers real time intelligence, enhancing maritime safety and saving lives. Our products and services support strategic and operational decisions in the most demanding environments - whether at sea, on land, in space, or in cyberspace.

Become part of a dynamic, multidisciplinary, and mission driven team that is transforming maritime surveillance and redefining global safety standards.

At TEKEVER, our mission is to provide limitless support through mission oriented game changers, delivering the right information at the right time to empower critical decision making.

If you're passionate about technology and eager to shape the future - TEKEVER is the place for you.

Mission: Build and run the composites manufacturing capability for Tekever UK Swindon Site drone structure manufacture. From concept to a fully equipped and staffed cell producing the composite airframes and structures that go into every aircraft we build.

This is a build it from scratch role. You will outline the space, how the product is made, recruit the team and then drive to hit the production rate the business needs. You will own the area end to end: layout and footprint, pre preg lay up capability, material, tooling, mould control and trimming and finishing.

You will spend your time on the shop floor as much as at a desk. Priorities such as outlined lay up and cure layouts, interviewing and onboarding your team, creating dedicated trim and inspection cells and driving production to hit rate. You will also work across our European plant network, drawing on proven layouts, processes and lessons learned from sites that are already established and building the supply chain relationships needed to outsource key materials and components where it makes sense to do so.

Key Responsibilities Facility design and footprint

• Outline the space allocation and factory footprint for composites manufacture - layout, workflow, material flow, climate controlled lay up and clean areas, cure, trim, inspection and storage.

• Source and commission the equipment, tooling and fixtures needed to build composite structures at target rate such as cutting tables, autoclaves/ovens, vacuum bagging equipment, trim booths and inspection equipment. Partner with Facilities, Manufacturing Engineering and Supply Chain on selection and installation.

• Plan the physical build out in phases, aligned to the wider factory ramp and production milestones.

• Visit and benchmark our established production plants across Europe, and translate proven layouts, equipment choices and ways of working into the design of the facility.

• Deploy the dedicated cure, trim and inspection cells specifying equipment, safety systems, instrumentation, data capture and processes.

Composite lay up and material process ownership

• Own laminate schedules, resin systems, fibre (carbon, glass, aramid) and core materials (honeycomb, foam) - specification, approval and ongoing control.

• Own material preparation - cutting, kitting, ply book adherence, prepreg freezer storage, out time / out life tracking and full material traceability from goods in to lay up.

• Operationally own and mould design, manufacture, maintenance and calibration, ensuring tools are fit for purpose and available to the production plan.

• Own mechanical and manual trimming and finishing of composite components.

Cross plant collaboration and best practice transfer

• Build working relationships with your counterparts at our established production plants across Europe key learning of proven composite processes, tooling, lay up and test methods.

• Lead knowledge transfer exercises to capture, validate and adapt existing composite build processes, work instructions and lessons learned into your facility.

• Represent this facility's own innovations and lessons learned back into the network, so best practice flows in both directions.

Supply chain and outsourcing

• Work with Procurement/Supply Chain and Manufacturing Engineering to select material and outsourcing partners - resin, fibre, core and tooling - against cost, quality, lead time and supply security ensuring key component rate achievement is protected. Ensuring all outsourced materials and components meet quality standards.

Team build and leadership

• Recruit, build and lead the composites unit manufacturing team scaling in line with the production ramp.

• Define the team structure, role profiles, shift pattern and skills matrix; identify training needs and own the training plan.

• Onboard new team members set clear performance expectations and manage performance throughout.

• Build a culture of safety, ownership and continuous improvement within the team.

Quality and test

• Own documentation and quality assurance for the composites area - work instructions, ply by ply build records, cure records, batch and material traceability and non conformance management.

• Own the inspection and test regimes - visual and dimensional inspection, NDT, witness and coupon testing - defining pass/fail criteria, test procedures and data capture ensuring every component that leaves the cell meets specification.

• Partner with the Quality function on root cause analysis, corrective and preventive action, and non conformance management and drive measurable improvement in first pass yield, scrap and rework.

• Ensure the area operates within the relevant quality management system (e.g. AS9100 / ISO 9001) and any applicable safety or export control requirements.

Production delivery

• Own the daily, weekly and monthly output of the composites area against the production plan delivering to schedule, to quality and to cost.

• Ensure production rate as volumes ramp is achieved, identifying and resolving constraints in real time.

• Run a structured day start / shift routine with clear KPIs across safety, quality, delivery, cost and people.

• Plan and balance capacity across material preparation, lay up, cure, trim, inspection and finishing.

Continuous improvement

• Own the lean operating system for the area: 5S, standard work, visual management and structured problem solving and Kaizen.

• Lead improvement projects with measurable gains in safety, quality, throughput, lead time and cost.

• Use data to drive decisions, and champion a data led approach across the team.

Health, safety and compliance

• Hold ultimate accountability for the safety of everyone working in the composites area, including resin, solvent and prepreg handling, cutting, trimming and cure operations.

• Ensure full compliance with UK health and safety legislation, COSHH for resins, hardeners and solvents, dust and fume extraction, fire safety around prepreg, ovens and autoclaves, and site procedures.

• Ensure correct PPE, handling and storage controls for composite materials, and safe operation of cutting, trimming and cure equipment.

What You'll Bring Essential

• Experience in composites manufacture - aerospace, automotive, marine, motorsport, UAV/model aircraft or similar structural composite products.

• Practical, hands on experience of both wet lay up and pre preg lay up processes, including laminate, resin, fibre and core material selection and control.

• Experience in building a new manufacturing cell, line or facility including layout design, equipment selection, process definition and ramp to rate.

• Working knowledge of mechanical and manual trimming and finishing methods for composite components.

• A track record of recruiting, building and retaining a shop floor or workshop team.

• Working knowledge of quality systems, documentation and material traceability in a regulated or precision engineered environment.

• Practical continuous improvement experience: Lean, 5S, standard work, structured problem solving.

• Confidence with ERP/MES systems and shop floor data.

Desirable

• Experience working across a multi site or multi country manufacturing network, including transferring processes or best practice between plants.

• Comfortable with European travel and working with colleagues across languages and sites.

• Experience with additive manufacturing / 3D printing as a production support capability.

• Experience in aerospace, defence, motorsport or automotive composite structures manufacture.

• Experience commissioning a new factory, cell or line as part of a capacity expansion.

• Six Sigma Green Belt or above.

• Engineering qualification (HNC / HND / Degree in Composites, Mechanical, Manufacturing or related discipline) - or equivalent demonstrated experience.

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