Head of Manufacturing

Overview PLEASE NOTE: This role is targeted for commencement in January 2026. This full-time in-person role is open to candidates located outside of Australia. About Kite Magnetics: Kite Magnetics, founded in 2022 and headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, is an advanced materials engineering and manufacturing company. Our Aeroperm nanocrystalline magnetic material delivers high efficiency for electric motors and generators, designed for weight-sensitive and energy-intensive applications. We aim to transform global energy efficiency through cutting-edge materials science. Position Overview We are expanding into new R&D and pilot manufacturing premises and seek a dynamic, experienced Head of Manufacturing to commission our pilot-scale production line and lead the establishment of our first advanced manufacturing facility. The role covers operations, planning, verification, installation, commissioning, validation, and scaling of production processes, driving process improvements, and ensuring capability, capacity, and modular scalability targets are validated for subsequent volume manufacturing operations. What this position will look like in the first 3, 12 and 24 months In the first 3 months, you will learn Aeroperm nanocrystalline magnetic material production and its conversion into radial-flux motor cores end-to-end. You will map the current process maturity and constraints and design the next-generation pilot line to prove the steps toward mass production. By 12 months, you will have authored and socialised a plan to design, build and commission our first mass-production lines, owning the program schedule and budget while actively recruiting and shaping two new engineering teams. By 24 months, you will have led the build and commissioning of those lines to readiness for deployment at our international facilities, locking in capability, capacity and quality targets, and establishing an operating system that scales, with a repeatable playbook for global replication. If you love turning breakthrough materials into repeatable factories, this is your moment. Reporting to Chief Executive Officer Location Notting Hill, Victoria, Australia Hours Permanent full-time (38 hr/week) in-person role Key Responsibilities Manufacturing Strategy and Leadership Establish a global, modular manufacturing strategy (design for replication, capacity modelling, site-readiness playbooks) aligned to company growth. Lead industrialisation from pilot to mass production using stage-gates and clear launch metrics (capability, Run at Rate, SOP readiness). Build a high-trust, continuous-improvement culture with tiered daily management and lean practices. Process Development and Optimisation Own process design for scalability and stability. Integrate QMS data flows to enable traceability, genealogy and real-time performance management. Drive cost, yield and takt improvements against target goals. Production Equipment: Design, Build and Lifecycle Define architecture and standards for in-house production equipment; design and build standard modules and fixtures for global replication. Run RFQs where needed, manage build site acceptance; own documentation, spares strategy and maintenance plans. Ensure compliance with machine safety and electrical standards (e.g., ISO 13849, IEC 60204-1) and customer/market regulatory needs. Safety and Risk Management Partner with HSE to embed safe systems of work, machine guarding/LOTO, and program-level risk registers with mitigations. Conduct design and operational risk reviews; ensure environmental and regulatory compliance from pilot through scale. Program, Financials and Governance Own industrialisation programs (scope, schedule, budget, risk) and capex/opex business cases with ROI and should-cost models. Stand up launch governance (stage-gate reviews) and report on KPIs. Team Leadership and Capability Building Assist our internal recruiter with the recruitment and development of two core teams: Manufacturing Engineering/Industrialisation and Maintenance-Reliability/Automation. Build training, certification and job-rotation frameworks to sustain two-shift readiness and global tech transfer. Supply Chain and Production Planning Foundations Define capacity planning, foundations for materials flow; enable supplier readiness for pilot and mass production. Set the standards, data and documentation required to replicate lines at international sites. Growth and Global Expansion Plan and execute the first mass-production lines; deliver Run at Rate, PPAP with customers. Create the replicable “pilot-to-series” playbook, then prepare deployment to international facilities with trained local teams. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field. Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or related discipline (highly regarded). Experience 10+ years in manufacturing leadership roles, preferably in materials engineering, automotive, aerospace, or defence sectors. Track record of developing and executing manufacturing strategies that drive operational excellence and growth. Extensive experience in process optimisation, lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, high-speed automated systems, and web handling. Experience managing large-scale manufacturing operations. Demonstrated success in leading and developing high-performing teams. Experience with APQP processes is highly regarded. Personal Attributes Honest, curious, inclusive, collaborative, transparent, and responsible. Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills. Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and make informed decisions. Strong leadership, team management, and mentoring skills. Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic start-up environment, managing multiple projects simultaneously. Benefits Competitive salary of $200,000 + statutory superannuation Opportunity to join Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) post-probation Collaborative and inclusive work environment Flexible working hours (6:30 to 9:30 am start with corresponding end times) Kite Magnetics is an equal-opportunity and equal-outcome employer. We celebrate you and the diversity you bring and are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees, suppliers, and customers. #J-18808-Ljbffr