About HyLight
At HyLight, we are reinventing aerial inspection to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent ecological disasters. We develop hydrogen-powered airships (dirigibles) dedicated to the automated monitoring of critical infrastructure (such as power lines and pipelines).
After successful initial flights and a growing interest from major European energy operators, we are accelerating. Our goal is clear: transition from a prototype phase to a robust, repeatable industrial production line.
We are looking for our first Production Manager to structure our workshop, lead our technicians, and drive our production ramp-up.
The Mission: What you will achieve
As our Head of Production, your main goal is to scale our manufacturing capabilities. You will transition HyLight from building initial operational units to a steady, predictable, and scalable industrial cadence to meet our ambitious delivery roadmap over the next few years.
You will be instrumental in separating daily production operations from pure R&D, implementing a structured, predictable, and quality-driven manufacturing process.
Key Responsibilities
1. Production Planning & Execution (Ramp-up)
Take ownership of the master production schedule to drastically reduce current lead times and achieve our target cadence.
Anticipate and secure the production of extra units and sub-assemblies to cover operational margins and testing needs.
Coordinate closely with the Supply Chain and Purchasing team to align the delivery of key custom and off-the-shelf components with shop floor needs.
2. Workshop Management & Team Leadership
Manage, mentor, and grow the technician team on the shop floor.
Instill a rigorous production culture while keeping the agility and fast-paced mindset of a deep-tech startup.
Implement daily shop floor routines based on standard industry frameworks (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery) through quick stand-ups to eliminate daily roadblocks.
3. Process Optimization & Infrastructures
Define, optimize, and document standard operating procedures (SOP) and assembly sequences ("Write what we do, do what we write").
Structure the physical workshop layouts, tools, and infrastructure to optimize material flow and assembly efficiency.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to significantly increase the overall reliability and operational uptime of our airships.
4. Quality Collaboration & Cross-functional Routines
Act as the direct counterpart to our Quality team and the CTO to enforce strict Quality Gates.
Ensure that no subsystem enters production without full validation, and support the integration of advanced ground testing phases before any flight.
Participate in daily management meetings to escalate roadblocks and implement immediate corrective actions.
About You
Education: Engineering Degree (Master's / Bac+5) with a strong mechanical or aerospace background.
Experience: 3 to 5 years of hands-on experience in production management, manufacturing engineering, or workshop scheduling, ideally within a hardware startup, scale-up, or demanding industrial environment (small series, aerospace, automotive, or robotics).
Leadership: You know how to talk to, respect, and drive a team of technicians. You are structured but know how to roll up your sleeves when needed.
Mindset: You thrive in fast-changing startup environments. You are obsessed with execution and delivery ("getting things done") while maintaining high professional standards.
Languages: Fluent in French (shop floor daily operations) and professional English (interactions with international suppliers and partners).
Why Join HyLight?
High-Impact Mission: Direct contribution to decarbonizing industrial inspection and protecting environments.
Ownership: You are the first pure Production hire; you will entirely design and build our assembly routines and factory culture.
Deep Tech Adventure: Work on unique hardware integrating cutting-edge aerodynamics, custom structures, and hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Location: Brétigny-sur-Orge / Région Parisienne
Recruitment Process
Screening Call (30 min) with our Talent/HR team or Head of Mechanical Engineering.
Technical & Situational Interview (60 min) to dive deep into your manufacturing experience.
On-site Visit & Team Meet to see our workshop, the current airships, and meet Josef (CTO) and the engineering team.
Final round with the CEO
Skills Required
- Master's level Engineering degree (Bac+5) in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
- 3 to 5 years hands-on production management, manufacturing engineering, or workshop scheduling experience
- Experience managing, mentoring, and growing a technician/shop floor team
- Fluent French for shop floor operations
- Professional English for supplier and partner interactions
- Experience defining, documenting, and implementing SOPs and assembly sequences
- Experience with production planning, master production scheduling, and coordinating with supply chain/purchasing
- Background in hardware startups, aerospace, automotive, robotics, or small-series industrial environments
- Strong focus on Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery and driving continuous improvement initiatives
What We Do
HyLight is a French deeptech startup that develops autonomous, hydrogen-powered airships for the high-precision inspection of critical energy infrastructure, such as power lines and pipelines. By combining AI and advanced sensors, the company provides a zero-emission, cost-effective alternative to traditional helicopters and drones, focusing on enhancing societal resilience by detecting infrastructure risks and methane leaks before they lead to disasters.
