Head of Manufacturing

Job Title: Head of Manufacturing

Location: London, UK

Salary: £200K

A pioneering AI and robotics company in the UK is seeking a Head of Manufacturing to lead the transition from prototype to full-scale production of advanced, next-generation robots. The successful candidate will play a mission-critical role in building a scalable, high-performance manufacturing operation for intelligent robotics systems designed to transform industrial labor.

The Head of Manufacturing will be responsible for defining and executing a comprehensive manufacturing strategy—moving from low-volume prototyping to scalable global production. This individual will build and lead a world-class team, establish new production facilities, and implement modern manufacturing systems with a focus on precision, automation, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end manufacturing strategy from prototyping through to high-volume production.

• Build and manage a high-performing team across production, quality, and operations functions.

• Oversee the development of the first manufacturing facility, including site selection, layout design, and procurement of equipment.

• Create capacity plans that align with strategic business goals and demand forecasts.

• Establish lean, automated, and high-precision manufacturing processes.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize efficiency, quality, cost, and throughput.

• Implement KPIs and control systems to ensure consistent manufacturing performance.

• Partner with R&D, engineering, and design teams to ensure smooth new product introduction (NPI) and manufacturability (DFM).

• Align with supply chain, procurement, and finance to ensure readiness and cost-effective production.

• Contribute to product development with insights on design-for-manufacture and factory feasibility.

• Build and enforce robust quality and compliance systems in accordance with safety and certification standards (e.g., ISO, CE, UL).

• Lead problem-solving efforts and root cause analysis for production issues.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 10+ years in manufacturing leadership within robotics, automotive, aerospace, or similar sectors.

• Proven experience scaling hardware products from prototype to mass production.

• Deep expertise in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Industry 4.0 technologies.

• Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, and integrated software systems.

• Demonstrated leadership of cross-functional teams and collaboration across product, engineering, and operations.

• Proficiency in capacity planning, cost optimization, and manufacturing analytics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience launching greenfield manufacturing sites or scaling operations from startup phase.

• Familiarity with ERP/MES systems and digital manufacturing platforms.

• Knowledge of DFM/DFA principles and automation of complex electro-mechanical systems.

• Passion for robotics, AI, and shaping the future of human-machine collaboration.

Click apply or speak to Mark Ainscough for the full details at mainscough@kensingtonadditive.com